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Even when a sports physical isn’t required as part of your registration for organized sports, it’s a good idea to schedule one for yourself or your kids.
At Redwood Family Health Center, board-certified family physicians Venkata Vallury, MD, and Visalakshi Vallury, MD, and our medical team offer sports physicals for adult and child athletes at every level. Whether you play professionally or just on the weekends, a sports physical ensures you’re healthy enough to participate.
A sports physical is different from your annual physical. This type of preventive physical exam is geared towards the sports you play. It gives us an opportunity to provide education and resources that lower risk for injury and can improve your performance in the game. Here’s what you need to know about sports physicals, including what conditions can affect the outcome of your exam.
A sports physical involves a comprehensive physical evaluation to confirm you’re healthy enough to play sports. A sports physical is recommended for anyone planning to play any sport, including basketball, wrestling, football, and soccer.
During your exam, our team notes important details about your health, including your:
We also assess your joint health, including its flexibility and strength, to confirm you can play sports safely. Athletes who need updates to immunizations that protect against contagious diseases like mumps, measles, and chickenpox can also get needed vaccinations during their exam.
If you’re taking any medications for an existing health issue, our team reviews the dosage you’re taking. We may order lab work to confirm your medications are working and not negatively affecting your health.
Typically, children and adults in good overall health pass a sports physical without issues. However, in some situations, a physical may reveal underlying medical problems that can make sports participation unsafe.
After completing your sports physical, we fill out any forms you need for sports registration. If you don’t pass, we discuss what to do next during your appointment.
Adults and children may not pass a sports physical if our team identifies health issues that can affect their ability to play certain sports or participate in any strenuous physical activity.
These health issues can include:
If you or your child have an issue that can make sports participation risky, it doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t play sports.
As family medicine specialists, our physicians offer high-quality medical care to get conditions like diabetes and asthma under control. Depending on your individual needs, we can customize a care plan to improve your health.
Once your health improves, we can perform another sports physical and determine if you’re healthy enough to play your chosen sport.
While sports are a great way to stay physically fit and active, they can also increase your risk for overuse injuries, fractures, and other sports-related injuries.
As part of your physical, we offer resources to help you improve your performance on the field and decrease your risks for painful sports injuries. We can teach you how to warm up properly to prevent muscle strains and ligament sprains.
We can also recommend proper sports gear and footwear that support and protect your body when playing any kind of sport.
Schedule a sports physical for you or your kids online or call the Redwood Family Health Center office near you today for an appointment.
