Summer may have just started, but before you know it, it’ll be time for your son or daughter to get back to sports practice. Whether they’re involved in softball, football, swimming, tennis, track and field, or any other sport, they’ll need a sports physical before the school year to make sure they’re healthy, injury-free, and ready to go. Even if it’s not required by your school system or recreation league, it’s essential to know whether your child has any health concerns that could impact their ability to play sports.
Dr. Jay Michael Trussler and our skilled team of health care professionals in Manchester and Monteagle, Tennessee offer sports physicals to children, teens, and young adults of all ages. We want to make sure they are healthy to play whatever sport they want. It’s also a good idea to make sure your child is up-to-date on immunizations as required by the Tennessee Department of Health. The necessary vaccinations include Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTaP), hepatitis, polio, and measles.
The best time for your child to get a sports physical is 6-8 weeks before the beginning of practice. This gives ample time for any additional testing or follow-up appointments that may be needed. For example, if Dr. Trussler is concerned about pain in an ankle or a knee, your child may need to get an X-ray to make sure there isn’t a fracture.
You will need to fill out medical forms before the physical exam. On these forms, we ask about child and family health history, previous surgeries or hospitalizations, allergies, and a current list of your child’s medications.
During the physical exam we:
If everything is okay, we’ll give your child the green light to play sports. If there are any concerns, we’ll order additional tests or send them to a specialist.
We want your child to be active and participate in sports, but we need to make sure they’re healthy, and it’s safe for them to play. Sometimes, a child doesn’t pass the sports physical because of conditions like a heart murmur, concussion, hernia, or severe asthma that isn’t well controlled. Our decision is based on the severity of the condition, how strenuous the sport is, and how the two will interact to affect your child.
If your child wants to play sports this school year in the Manchester or Monteagle area, now’s the time to schedule their appointment for a sports physical. It’s also the perfect time to make sure their immunizations are up-to-date. To make an appointment, give us a call or use our online booking tool. See you soon!
