Sports Physical Exams from Pro-Care Medical Center

What are sports physical exams?

The Pro-Care Medical Center offers sports physicals in the greater Austin, Round Rock, and San Antonio areas for youths and teens who are planning to join a competitive sport or activity. During sport physical exams, the doctors look at a variety of symptoms and conditions to be able to tell whether the patient is or should be eligible to engage in physical activity. The doctors at Pro-Care provide in-office exams on a one-to-one basis and can make a trip to the school, youth group, or church sponsoring the sports team to provide sports physicals to all potential team members. Below are some of the conditions that our providers will assess during this quick but thorough examination:

• Height
• Weight
• Blood Pressure
• General Appearance
• Nutritional Status
• Posture/Motor Behavior
• Skin
• Sight
• Hearing
• Nose
• Throat
• Mouth
• Teeth
• Neck
• Heart
• Lungs
• Abdomen

Why does a youth need a physical before joining a sports team?

A young person’s health and well-being can change and develop a lot over the course of a year. Routine checkups provide the opportunity to monitor your child’s growth and development, and to safeguard against any potential issues. Sports physicals supplement annual exams and focus specifically on your child’s physical health and ability to participate in sport. Requirements vary depending on school district. Many schools and sports teams require an annual physical and vaccination record to protect the overall well-being of the classroom or sports teams.

What is the difference between an annual exam and a sports physical?

An annual physical exam monitors the development and health of a child. The doctor will perform a variety of tests and checks to record the child’s progress. The sports physical specifically checks the youth’s health and physical condition to ensure that he or she is fit and capable of participating in a specific sport. Many of the tests will be similar to those of a standard annual physical or wellness, with a specific view as to how the results indicate the child will perform in his or her sport.