Now's the Time to Schedule Your Child's School Sports Physical for the Upcoming Fall Season

Your children may be focused on fireworks and summer fun, but as a parent, you know the new school year is just around the corner. If your child plays sports, it’s also time for a sports physical, and the sooner you schedule your child’s exam, the better.

At One World Pediatrics, Jag Ambwani, MD, FAAP, Dolly Ubhrani, MD, April Mieswinkel, NP, Richard Lam, FNP, Gabrielle Yates, CPNP-PC, and  Audrey M. Merrill, MD, provide kids and teens with sports physicals tailored to their activity and their unique health needs. In this post, learn more about sports physicals, including why now is the ideal time to schedule one for your child.

Scheduling now: A smart move

With school still several weeks away, it’s tempting to put off scheduling a sports physical for your child. But booking that visit now offers some important advantages.

1. You avoid the rush

As the summer wears on, lots of families begin the annual scramble to schedule a sports physical before practice season begins. That means it’s going to be more difficult to book a visit that works with your schedule. Scheduling now avoids that last-minute rush and worries about having the physical completed in time.

2. There’s time for follow-up (if needed)

Sports physicals evaluate your child’s health to ensure they’re ready for the rigors of play. In some instances, we may recommend additional testing for issues like asthma, diabetes, or other concerns. Having an exam as early as possible leaves plenty of time for lab tests or other follow-up testing, if needed.

3. No worries about scheduling conflicts

Summer is packed with activities, like vacations and summer events. For many parents and kids, that means their schedules fill up quickly. Scheduling your child’s exam now makes it a priority and avoids scheduling conflicts that could lead to postponing the exam, and possibly missing the cutoff date for your child’s sport.

4. You can combine it with a regular physical

Kids of all ages benefit from annual physical exams to keep track of their health and development and to screen for health issues early. If your child plays a sport, consider scheduling their annual physical at the same time to streamline your schedule and check off one more item from your to-do list. 

Scheduling both exams for one visit ensures your child gets their annual flu shot as soon as it’s available, too.

5. It helps your child prepare

During your child’s physical, our team can provide plenty of information about ways to prevent injury and the importance of healthy habits, like proper nutrition, hydration, and sleep. Scheduling a physical now gives your child time to fine-tune their habits so they’re better prepared when the season begins.

Don’t skip your child’s sports physical

While plenty of schools and community groups require a sports physical prior to play, some may not — but it’s still important to schedule an exam for your child. Remember, the primary purpose of a sports physical isn’t to meet the requirements of your child’s team; it’s to protect your child from injuries. 

Even if a sports physical isn’t required for participation, it’s still important to schedule for your child’s benefit. To learn more about sports physicals or to schedule one for your child, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at One World Pediatrics in Longwood and Apopka, Florida, today.