Are you worried about your sports physical because you don’t know what to expect? We got you covered. Read these FAQs about sports physicals for student-athletes to clear up all your doubts. Log on to www.doralhw.org for a consultation.

FAQs about sports physicals for student-athletes

These FAQs help you understand everything you need to know about sports physicals for student-athletes:

1. What is a sports physical and why do athletes need one?

Ans. Sports physical is also known as preparticipation physical evaluation (PPE). This sports exam is conducted by a healthcare professional to ensure a student-athlete is healthy enough to participate in sports.

The exam checks their ability to compete without compromising their well-being. Most states require students to have a sports physical before they can play school sports, however, even when it’s not required, doctors still recommend getting one if you’re active in any sports. This test includes a medical history review and physical evaluation.

This test is important for the student-athlete’s safety because it can identify any concerns or potential health limitations related to sports participation. Identifying health issues during a sports physical gives the student-athlete a chance to get evaluated further and address any health concern in a safe and timely manner.

2. What are the benefits of sports physicals?

Ans. A sports physical is the best way to find out about and deal with health problems that may interfere with your sports performance or increase the chance of getting hurt. For instance, if you have frequent asthma attacks, the doctor can adjust your medicines so that you can breathe easily when you run.

Here are the benefits student-athletes can get from sports physicals:

• Ensuring optimal health and safety: Sports physicals are important for all athletes despite their ages and skill levels. It serves as a preventive measure to identify any underlying health issues that pose a risk during physical exertion. By conducting sports physicals, healthcare providers can ensure that athletes are in good health and reduce the chances of potential injuries or complications.
• Detecting Pre-existing Conditions: Sports physicals also provide an opportunity to detect pre-existing medical conditions that may not be noticeable without examination. Conditions such as asthma, heart murmurs, or musculoskeletal abnormalities can be identified during the examination and early detection also allows for proper treatment and management, which allows athletes to participate safely in sports activities.
• Evaluating overall fitness: The sports physical can evaluate an individual overall fitness which includes mental and physical fitness. Healthcare providers assess an athlete’s endurance, flexibility, strength, blood pressure, weight, heart and lung functioning, range of motion, muscle balance, visual and hearing ability, and overall conditioning. This evaluation ensures whether an athlete may need improvement in identified areas with training programs to enhance performance or prevent injuries or not.
• Medical history review: During the examination, the healthcare provider also checks the athlete’s medical history, including any previous injuries, chronic illnesses, surgeries, or family medical conditions. This information also gives important insights into potential risks or concerns that may affect the athlete’s participation in sports.

3. How to prepare for sports physicals?

Ans. Before the sports physical, here are certain things you may need for preparation:

• Collect all medical documents: You should gather all your relevant medical records, including previous physical examination results, immunization records, and a list of any medications or supplements you are taking. This information helps the healthcare provider to get a comprehensive understanding of the athlete’s health status.
• Fill out all the required forms and paperwork: In many schools, athletic organizations, or sports leagues ask athletes to fill out specific forms before taking sports activities, which also include medical history questionnaires, consent forms, and liability waivers. So, ensure that your parents and guardians fill out all forms accurately and submit them before the designated deadlines.
• Prepare mentally and physically for the exam: Athletes need to prepare mentally and physically for the exam which includes getting a good night’s sleep, staying hydrated, and being mentally ready to discuss any concerns or health issues with the healthcare provider. During the examination, you should wear comfortable clothing for easy movement.

4. What should you expect during the sports physical examination?

Ans. During the sports physical examination, you may expect the following:

• An open communication with the healthcare provider, so that you can comfortably discuss any health concerns and answer their questions about your physical well-being. Healthcare providers discuss your health history, previous injuries, and current symptoms.
• The physician may check your vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate.
• They’ll perform a thorough physical assessment, including an examination of the head, neck, chest, abdomen, limbs, and joints.
• They test your flexibility, muscle strength, and stability.
• They evaluate your reflexes and coordination.
• They check your vision and hearing capabilities.
• The doctor records your height and weight.

Actively taking part in the examination and sharing relevant information allows athletes to ensure that healthcare providers completely understand their health status and provide appropriate guidance.

5. What should you expect during a medical history review?

Ans. During medical history review, healthcare providers generally give you a form you can take home and ask your parents to help you fill in the answers. If possible, ask both parents about their family medical history. The medical history form may include questions about:

• Medical problems that run in the family.
• Medical problems and illnesses you have like diabetes, COVID-19, etc.
• Any previous hospitalizations or surgeries.
• Any allergies.
• Past injuries.
• Ever passed out, felt dizzy, had chest pain, or had trouble breathing during exercise?
• Any medication you are taking like over-the-counter medications, dietary supplements, and prescription medications.

Boys may be asked about testicle pain or girls about their periods. Additionally, the doctor may also ask about smoking and vaping, alcohol, drugs, diet pills, or performance-enhancing drugs. Make sure you answer all the questions honestly, don’t guess the answers, and give answers you think your doctor wants.

6. When should a sports exam be scheduled?

Ans. You should schedule your sports physical at least 6 weeks (about 1 and a half months) before your sports season starts, so that, in case the doctor finds a problem, there’s enough time for tests or treatment if needed.

7. How long do sports exam result last?

Ans. Usually, it lasts for 6 months or 1 year depending on the sports seasons or competition. Generally, it happens before every sports season.

Sports medicine exams are important for student-athletes to ensure they are ready for competition and physically fit for the field. These exams ensure athletes’ bodies are properly ready for the field and if they have some minor or major problem, it gets detected early so they get proper training programs or treatment options.

Need help with a sports doctor for sports physicals, visit our sports medicine doctor in Brooklyn clinic to book your appointment for your physical exam. Doral Health and Wellness has several urgent care clinics around New York that can cater to your family’s medical needs. We also have the best medical providers, physicians and staff that are highly trained in their respective specialties. To know more about the locations of our urgent care clinics, you can visit us at Doral Health and Wellness. If you are looking for urgent care near you, you can visit Doral Health and Wellness Urgent Care. We provide urgent care for common illnesses and injuries. Additionally, we also provide comprehensive care for any related injuries and health problems. We also offer other services, such as vaccinations, immunizations, and blood testing. For more info, visit us or call 1-347-384-5690.