Sports physical exams ensure you or your child are healthy enough to participate in sports and other types of physical activity. They can also alert you to musculoskeletal problems, including poor posture, to lower your risk of an accident or injury. At Health Solutions in Tinley Park, Rockford, and Olympia Fields, Illinois, and Munster, Indiana, the team of board-certified family medicine specialists offers sports physical exams to people of all ages. To schedule an appointment for yourself or your child, call the office nearest you or book online today.
A sports physical exam is a preventive screening measure used to determine if you’re fit enough to play sports. Many school districts and youth sports leagues require all participants to undergo a sports physical exam before the start of a new season.
Aside from checking in on your health and well-being, a sports physical exam presents an opportunity for your Health Solutions doctor to make recommendations about warming up, cooling down, and injury prevention.
A sports physical exam includes two separate sections:
During the medical history portion of a sports physical exam, your Health Solutions doctor asks questions about your or your child’s medical history, including:
Your doctor also asks you about any prescription medications, vitamins, or nutritional supplements you’re taking. Make sure to write this information down prior to your appointment.
After gathering all of the necessary information about you or your child, your Health Solutions doctor conducts a physical exam. This includes:
Your doctor also asks you about your lifestyle, including diet, sleep habits, and if you drink alcohol or smoke. Make sure you’re open and honest during this part of the exam.
Sports physical exams are important because they provide key insights and information about your overall health. When you run, jump, throw a ball, or ride a bike, all of your body’s systems work together.
Over time, physical activity takes a toll on your joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Regular checkups ensure all aspects of your body are healthy enough to handle wear-and-tear that occurs on the court or playing field.
Additionally, sports physical exams can improve your performance. If your Health Solutions doctor notices that you slouch or have a gait problem, they can develop a treatment plan that improves your posture and makes physical activity easier.
If it’s time to schedule a sports physical exam for yourself or your children, call the Health Solutions office nearest you or book online today.
