School and sports physicals
There are two main parts to a sport physical, the medical history and the physical
exam.
Medical History
This part of the exam includes questions about:
- Serious illnesses among family members
- Illnesses that you've had or have now, such as asthma, diabetes or epilepsy
- Previous hospitalizations or surgeries
- Allergies (e.g., insect bites)
- Past injuries (e.g., concussions, sprains or bone fractures)
- Whether you've ever passed out, felt dizzy, had chest pain or had trouble breathing
during exercise
The medical history questions are usually on a form that you can bring home, ask
your parents to help fill in the answers. If possible, ask both parents about family
medical history.
Looking at patterns of illness in your family is an indicator of any potential conditions
you may have. It's important that you answer any questions about medical history
accurately and honestly, don't try to guess the answers. Most sports medicine doctors
believe the medical history is the most important part of the sports physical exam,
take time to answer the questions carefully.
Physical
Examination
This part of the exam includes:
- Height and weight
- Blood pressure and pulse (heart rate and rhythm) reading
- Testing vision
- Checking your heart, lungs, abdomen, ears, nose and throat
- Evaluating your posture, joints, strength and flexibility
Although most aspects of the exam are the same for males and females, if a person
has started or gone through puberty, the doctor may ask girls and guys different
questions.
The doctor asks questions about a person's use of drugs, alcohol or dietary supplements,
including steroids or other performance enhancers that affect a person's health.
Some schools require a sport physical to include an electrocardiogram (EKG) for
all students. The test takes about 10-minutes and measures the electrical activity
of a person's heart. Electrodes, that measure a person's heart rate and rhythm,
are placed on the chest, arms and legs.
Note: EKGs are not painful.
At the end of the exam, the doctor fills out and signs a form, in some cases recommend
a follow-up exam, additional tests or specific treatment for medical problems.
Why is a sport physical important
A sports physical can help you find out about and deal with health problems that
might interfere with your participation in a sport.
Note: In most cases insurance does not pay for camp and sport physicals
and will be an out of pocket expense for the patient.