Are sports physicals different than routine physicals?
Kids who play sports often need medical clearance before the season begins, but what’s the difference between sports physicals and routine physicals/wellness exams?
“Sports physicals are different from routine wellness exams because they’re limited in scope and are focused on the physiological aspects of a child’s health as it relates to their ability to safely participate in athletics,” says Luke Warnken, PA-C, ATC, a board-certified physician assistant and physical trainer.
Warnken specializes in pediatric orthopedics at Mary Bridge Children’s and has a special interest in sports injury prevention, treatment and surgery.
“With sports physicals, the goal is to prevent injury before it happens by identifying any potential concerns and ensuring as best as we can that kids stay safe and healthy while enjoying their sport,” he says.
Children should still see their pediatrician for annual routine wellness exams, Warnken says. Those visits are designed to provide an overall picture of your child’s health and provide an opportunity for your child’s pediatrician to address things like immunizations and mental health screenings, as well as cognitive and developmental milestones or concerns.
Warnken is the only pediatric orthopedic provider who performs sports physicals at the Mary Bridge Children’s Orthopedics – Tacoma clinic, often helping patients who are already there for sports-related concerns.
“Sports medicine providers don’t replace primary care providers,” he says. “Rather, we work in partnership with them and are here to provide a hyper-focused perspective on areas of your child’s health that are easily impacted by physical activity, like knees, ligaments and exercise-induced asthma.”
Understanding the differences and similarities
Elements of both sports physicals and routine physicals:
- Medical history review
- Height and weight check
- Review of allergies
- Heart and blood pressure check
Elements of sports physicals:
- Strength and flexibility testing
- Bone health screening
- Vision and hearing
- Review of previous sports injuries
Elements of routine physicals:
- Review of previous hospitalizations or medical events
- Immunizations and lab work (if indicated)
- Mental health screening
- Cognitive and developmental screenings
- Preventive health screenings
- Nutrition and sleep habits
- Strength and flexibility testing
- Bone health screening
- Vision and hearing
- Review of previous sports injuries
When and where should kids get a sports physical?
Aim to have your child’s sports physical completed at least six weeks before their sports season begins — but the earlier, the better, because it leaves time to address any potential problems or concerns.
In addition to sports physicals through Mary Bridge Children’s orthopedic clinic, providers at Mary Bridge Children’s urgent care locations also offer sports physicals.
Most pediatricians within the Mary Bridge Children’s primary care network and affiliate clinics also perform sports physicals, but parents and caregivers need to specify the type of appointment when scheduling. Wellness exams include elements of a sports physical, so if your child needs both, communicate that when scheduling the appointment so the necessary paperwork is available.
Mary Bridge Children’s offers a network of pediatric care in Tacoma, Puyallup, Gig Harbor, Olympia, Auburn, Covington, Maple Valley, Federal Way, Bonney Lake and Silverdale. To find a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant near you or to make an appointment, visit our Find a Doctor page.
This post was originally published in Aug. 2023 and was updated in Aug. 2024.