Starting Lineup: The Benefits of Sports Physicals for Youth Athletes
Do you have a child interested in playing sports? While youth sports are a great way to stay active, they also come with some risks–things like injuries or heat stroke. The benefits of youth sports physicals at Sievers Sports Medicine are numerous. But perhaps the most important is that they let you know for sure that your child is ready to play ball.
Most youth sports programs, particularly those done through school, require kids to have a sports physical (sometimes called a preparticipation physical evaluation, or PPE) before they can officially join up. Some parents may wonder why that’s necessary: if their kid is healthy, why would they need an evaluation beforehand?
For one, a child may look healthy but still have an underlying condition that isn’t showing symptoms. But even completely healthy kids still benefit. A comprehensive sports physical can give your young athlete the information they need to improve their overall performance and avoid injuries.
At Sievers Sports Medicine, we have extensive experience working with youth athletes throughout the Portales area, including serving as the team physician for three local school sports teams. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of youth sports physicals for your child!
What Do We Test During a Youth Sports Physical?
Your child’s sports youth physical is a comprehensive evaluation that includes several different health screens, all with the goal of identifying potential health or injury risks before they become a problem. A standard physical will typically include the following:
- Medical History: We’ll begin with a full family medical history to identify whether or not your child is at risk for hereditary health concerns.
- General Health: We’ll measure your child’s vital signs, blood pressure, height, weight, vision, and so on, checking for abnormalities. We may order lab testing if we suspect a chronic health condition (such as diabetes).
- Cardiovascular Health: We’ll assess for potential issues, such as heart murmurs, that could indicate a more serious problem. Typically, we do this by listening to the heart through a stethoscope; we can recommend additional testing if anything’s amiss.
- Musculoskeletal Health: We’ll run tests to help us understand how your child moves. These screens are particularly important in helping to prevent injuries; by identifying biomechanical issues early on, your child can begin working to correct them now.
- Neurological Health: We’ll run sensory, motor control, and reflex tests and review your child’s history of concussions, spinal cord injuries, or seizure disorders.
- Mental Health: While sports do contribute positively to most kids’ mental health, some young athletes are at risk for developing eating disorders, anxiety disorders, and other conditions. As with physiological issues, identifying psychological issues early on allows you to address them before they cause harm.
What are the Benefits of Youth Sports Physicals?
The primary reason for a youth sports physical is also its biggest benefit: it ensures that your child’s chosen sport is safe for them to play. A sports physical is much more comprehensive than a standard school physical or even an annual physical exam. We’re looking specifically for issues that might impact student-athletes.
For example, cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of cardiac arrest in young athletes. It’s a condition, often genetic, that makes it harder for your heart to pump blood, and it can affect people at any age. Our sports medicine providers can identify potential warning signs and help catch cardiomyopathy before it’s too late.
Youth sports physicals are also crucial in avoiding major injuries. A standard physical exam doesn’t usually include functional movement screens, which can help pinpoint muscular imbalances or postural alignment issues that can, over time, develop into potential overuse injuries or contribute to a major traumatic injury. But a sports physical does!
If we do find any musculoskeletal impairments, we can recommend exercises or cross-training activities to correct them. Not only will your child reduce their risk of an accident, but they may also see an improvement in their overall performance.
A sports physical is also an excellent time for young athletes to learn more about the proper nutrition and hydration for their needs. We can provide accurate, scientifically backed information about what they should eat and drink to ensure a good sports performance, helping them to avoid taking potentially dangerous advice from social media.
The benefits of youth sports physicals are many–so take full advantage!
All Athletes Experience the Benefits of a Sports Physical
Your child’s sports physical isn’t an unnecessary barrier between them and playing their favorite sport. It’s an essential health assessment that ensures they’ll have a great experience during the sports season, no matter what they’re playing. It also gives you the peace of mind that your child is healthy, happy, and ready to thrive.
While most pediatricians and schools offer youth sports physicals, the dedicated sports medicine specialists at Sievers Sports Medicine will have more insight into the potential issues young athletes face. We work with athletes every day in addition to being athletes ourselves, so we can provide you with the best information and recommendations for your young athlete.
Is your child due for a sports physical? Contact our Portales clinic to get them on the schedule today!
Sources:
https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/forefront/pediatrics-articles/school-and-sports-physicals https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/cardiomyopathy