What Are Back-to-School and Sports Physicals, and Why Now Is the Time to Book Your Child’s?

By the time your child is school-aged, you’ve likely brought them to the pediatrician’s office for more than a few visits. Some of these appointments might have been for physical exams, which evaluate your child’s health and often their growth and development. 

Unlike a sick visit, a physical exam focuses on your child’s wellness instead of symptoms or illness. 

A typical pediatric physical covers all of your child’s basic health parameters, from their vital signs (e.g., heartbeat and respiration) to hearing and vision. 

Some pediatric physical exams provide a general overview, while others serve more specific purposes, like school physicals and sports physicals. 

Board-certified pediatrician Min Jung, MD, is here to ensure you schedule your children’s school and sports physicals at the best possible time, which is right now. 

At Sunny Hill Pediatrics in Frisco, Texas, Dr. Jung and our team provide detailed school and sports physicals to ensure your child is ready for the new school year by the end of summer break. 

Here, we detail why school and sports physicals are important and what to expect during these visits. 

Understanding sports physicals

Sports physicals are also called preparticipation physical exams, because your child needs one before participating in any athletic activity through school or any other activity program. 

Most pediatric organizations recommend children get 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise every day. Enrolling in organized sports helps your child meet that recommendation and experience the health and wellness benefits of regular physical activity. 

Even if your child already meets or exceeds a daily hour of exercise, a sports physical ensures that they’re healthy enough to participate in sports. 

The goal of a sports physical is to identify any medical conditions or preexisting injuries that could limit your child from fully engaging in their sport of choice. Asthma and cardiovascular conditions are a couple of examples of conditions that could affect their participation. 

Understanding school physicals

School physicals are comprehensive medical exams every child must get before a new school year starts. Most schools have enrollment requirements for children, and verifying their health through a physical examination is one of them. 

In some cases, school physicals identify health conditions that need treatment or management. Physical and mental health conditions can affect your child’s school performance and overall well-being, and a school physical might be the best opportunity to discover and treat them. 

During a school physical, Dr. Jung might identify:

• Asthma
• Anxiety and depression
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Epilepsy
• Eating disorders
• Obesity
• Sleep problems

Each of these conditions and others can affect your child’s well-being while in school. 

School physicals also present the perfect opportunity to update your child’s vaccines ahead of the upcoming school year.

Are school and sports physicals the same?

School and sports physicals may not serve the same purpose, but they share a few similarities. Sports physicals primarily focus on physical fitness, while school physicals take a more comprehensive overview of your child’s health. 

During both visits, you can expect to answer a few questions about your child’s health. Dr. Jung may ask about your child’s medical history, diet, and lifestyle. During the exam, you’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions about your child’s health.

Dr. Jung documents your child’s school or sports physical to verify their clearance to participate in sports or enroll in school for the new year. 

Don’t wait until the end of summer to book your child’s school or sports physical — schedule at Sunny Hill Pediatrics in Frisco, Texas, today. For school and sports physicals, call our office or request an appointment online.