Prepare for the Upcoming Year with American Family Care®

Most schools and sports teams require children to undergo a physical before the new school year starts. These exams assess a child’s health to ensure that they are physically fit to go to school or participate in athletic activities.

If the school year is coming up quickly and you haven’t had time to schedule an appointment with your regular pediatrician, don’t worry!

At American Family Care, we offer sports and school physicals for walk-in patients.

The Importance of Sports Physicals

Physical activity is great for children, but it is important to have their physical condition assessed to make sure they aren’t at serious risk for injury. One of the most important parts of the sports physical is examining the strength of the heart. Though it is rare, some children are born with a heart condition that can go undetected during regular physicals. Strenuous physical activity can trigger a serious cardiac event which could be fatal. Thankfully, heart condition screening is something that is offered in most sports physicals and can help prevent this from happening.

Our physicians can also provide parents and athletes with tips on how to prevent injury. This includes instructions for simple stretches and exercises that can be done before any physical activity. 

Childhood is a time of rapid physical, mental, and emotional growth. Your child’s annual school physical is a great opportunity to get an update on their current development. This is also the ideal time to get caught up on any vaccinations they may have missed. Some schools have mandatory vaccination requirements that your child will have to get before they can be enrolled for the new school year.