Sports Physicals in Houston, TX

Children who want to participate in school or club sports may be required to undergo a sports participation physical, sometimes referred to as a pre-participation physical exam (PPE), before they are allowed to play. The goal of a PPE is to determine whether the child can safely participate in the athletic activity.

The sports participation physical is not a replacement for your child’s checkup.

Steps of a Pre-Participation Physical Exam

1. Clinical staff will check your child’s vitals (pulse and blood pressure) as well as their height and weight
2. Your pediatrician will perform a basic eye exam to determine whether they may need prescription glasses or a visit to the optometrist (vision can be important to avoiding injuries while participating in athletics)
3. The pediatrician performing the PPE will want to review your child’s medical history, including recent illnesses, allergies, injuries, hospitalizations, surgeries or conditions like asthma
4. The pediatrician will perform a thorough physical exam to identify any potential health issues and check the child’s joints, flexibility and strength

Despite the resilience of children and their ability to heal more quickly than adults, they do have some unique injury risks. For example, sudden changes in height and weight from a growth spurt put added stress on bones, muscles and joints. Children who are going through or recently went through a growth spurt could have an increased risk for certain types of injuries.