Your child's sports physical is supposed to be a routine step before the season starts. But what happens if the provider finds something that needs more attention?
Finding a health concern during a sports physical does not automatically mean your child will be unable to join their team or sit out for the entire season. Depending on what is found, the next step may be as simple as treating a minor issue, monitoring symptoms, or scheduling additional follow-up care.
AFC Urgent Care Stoneham provides school, sports, and camp physicals for families in Stoneham MA and surrounding communities. If you're trying to fit a physical into a busy back-to-school schedule, our clinic is open seven days a week from 8 AM to 8 PM, and walk-ins are welcome.
What Can a Sports Physical Find?
A sports physical is designed to look for health concerns that could affect your kid's ability to safely participate in physical activity.
During the visit, the provider will review your child's medical history and ask about previous injuries, medications, allergies, and any symptoms that happen during exercise. They may also ask about things like chest pain, trouble breathing, dizziness, fainting, or joint pain.
The physical exam can include:
● Blood pressure and other vital signs
● Vision
● Heart and lung function
● Strength and flexibility
● Joints and overall physical condition
If the provider identifies a concern, such as an old injury that hasn't fully healed or symptoms that need further evaluation, they can explain what additional care may be needed before clearing your child for participation.
Does Finding a Health Concern Mean Your Child Can't Play Sports?
No. In many cases, a concern found during a sports physical does not mean a student athlete will be permanently restricted from playing.
What happens next depends on the specific concern. Some issues can be treated quickly, while others may require additional information before a provider can determine whether it's safe to participate.
For example, your child may need:
● Treatment for a minor issue before being cleared
● Time to recover from an injury
● Monitoring for symptoms during physical activity
● Additional testing or evaluation from another medical provider
● Temporary activity restrictions while more information is gathered
What If Your Child Needs to See a Specialist?
Sometimes, the provider performing the sports physical may recommend seeing a specialist or another medical professional before providing full clearance.
This doesn't always mean something serious is wrong. It may just mean that additional testing, records, or an expert opinion is needed. For example, a provider may want more information about a previous injury or a symptom your child has experienced during exercise.
If this happens, make sure to keep any paperwork from the physical and follow the recommendations provided and bring the medical records and forms to the follow-up appointment. If your child's school or team has a deadline for submitting physical paperwork, it's a good idea to schedule any recommended follow-up as soon as possible.
Get a Sports Physical at AFC Urgent Care Stoneham
If your child still needs a sports physical before the upcoming season, AFC Urgent Care Stoneham offers convenient walk-in school, sports, and camp physicals for families in Stoneham and nearby communities.
Our clinic is located on Main Street and is open seven days a week from 8 AM to 8 PM. Walk-ins are welcome, and we accept most major insurance plans. For more information or to ask any questions call (781) 279-4000 and our team will happily assist you!