What to Expect at Your Child's Sports and School Physicals
Does your child need sports and school physicals, but you aren't sure what that entails?
Dr. Carol Calabrese, Dr. Inna Meskin, Dr. Alexis Capozzoli, Renee Thomas, APN, and Joe Larena, APN can help you and your child with school and sports physicals. Skylands Pediatrics in Sparta, NJ, has been a part of the Sparta community, offering pediatric services since 1976, and are the sports physicians for several of the area schools in the district.
Explaining Sports and School Physicals
Sports and school physicals are different from a routine wellness checkup. Our pediatrician looks for specific things, especially during these physicals.
The main reason for the physical is to ensure your child is fit enough to participate in a sports program or gym class regularly. Here are things that our doctors look for during your child's physical.
- A thorough medical history should be provided by the parent, including any past injuries to their child.
- Our pediatricians will perform baseline vitals, take your child's height and weight, and explore their vision and hearing abilities.
- As this is a school or sports physical, our doctor will focus on the function of the heart and lungs to ensure nothing to hold your child back from strenuous activity.
- During school and sports physicals, our pediatrician at Skylands Pediatrics, located in Sparta, NJ, will also want to check your child's bone structure and spine alignment. Our doctor may ask your child to touch their toes while examining their spine formation and alignment.
How to Prepare For Your Child's Sports and School Physicals
If your child is young or has never had a physical before, talk with them about what to expect at the time of the exam.
Suppose you have any pertinent information for the doctor to include in his paperwork, such as allergies, past injuries, medications, or a list of past immunizations. In that case, you should bring that information with you.
If your child is new to our practice, that information will form the basis for your child's future care. Be prepared to have additional testing performed and prepare your child for this possibility. Additional testing can include immunizations, X-rays, and blood work. Our doctor may order blood work to compare future blood levels.
Starting a new school or sports program is an exciting time in your child's life. That is why it's crucial to establish a solid foundation of good health practices every year.
Call Dr. Calabrese, Dr. Meskin, Dr. Capozzoli, Renee Thomas, APN, and Joe Larena, APN of Skylands Pediatrics, today at 973-729-2197 in Sparta, NJ, to schedule school and sports physicals. Our doctors await your appointment and want to give your child a clean bill of health for their safety during school activities.