Sports Physicals 101

Every year, approximately 27 million¹ K-12 students in the US warm up for sports, pick up an instrument for marching band, or gear up for a long camping trip. And for many of them, a sports physical is an important step that made it possible. 

If you’ve never heard of this or done one before, it can feel like one more thing on an already long back-to-school list and you often don’t realize your child needs one until it’s urgent. In reality, it’s a routine examination that is common across the country. And at Carbon Health, it’s also quick and convenient. In this post, we’ll explain why it exists, what to expect, and how to get it done on your schedule (even if that means “I need this done today”).

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What’s a sports physical?

A sports physical (also called a Preparticipation Physical Evaluation, or PPE) is a check that your child is physically ready to participate in an activity. It’s required for most K-12 sports, and often for other activities like competitive dance, carting, and outdoor adventures.

This is not the same as an annual physical or well child visit. Think of it instead as more of a readiness check: is this specific body, at this time, cleared for physical activity?

“We offer sports physicals because timing is often the biggest barrier for families. A pediatrician’s office might be booked out for weeks, but a sign-up deadline doesn’t move. We can close that gap.” Emily Kriegh, Austin, TX Center Manager

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‍A note on age: because these are usually a K-12 requirement, this post focuses on student-athletes under 18. If you’re a college student or adult requiring a sports physical, most of this still applies to you (and you can book an 18+ visit here).

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What’s the difference between a sports physical and well child visit?

We get this question a lot, so to be direct: a sports physical is not the same as a well child visit with their pediatrician, nor a substitute for one.

A well child check is much more comprehensive and, when done regularly, monitors overall health, growth and development over time. A sports physical’s focus is narrower. It’s a standardized checklist that helps screen for factors that increase the risk of injury, health impacts, or even death as a result of sports participation. This is why a doctor’s note usually can’t be accepted on its own.

‍Tip: If your child already has a pediatrician, you can often have the sports physical form completed at the same time as the annual visit. But if that visit isn’t happening soon enough, that’s when having a same-day option is worth knowing about.

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How do we prepare for a sports physical?

A little prep before your visit can make your experience faster and smoother:

• Get the PPE form from your school or sports organizer. You will need to bring a physical copy to your visit, so copies are often available on campus or at tryouts. This form is often available on a school website, too. 
• Fill out the medical history ahead of time. Every form includes a medical history section. A parent or legal guardian should fill this out before the appointment and bring it with them. This is the biggest time-saver!
• A parent or legal guardian must be present. Please prepare for this, it is not a “drop off” visit.
• Bring glasses or contact lenses, if your child uses them. There will be an eye test.
• Bring the usual visit materials: including a photo ID, insurance card and form of payment. While sports physicals are typically self-pay and not covered by insurance, bring your card anyway so it’s on file for any future visits.

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What actually happens during the exam?

The visit takes about 20 minutes and includes three main components:

1. Checking vitals
   ‍During this portion, we’ll check vision, blood pressure, height and weight to understand if they are within expected ranges.
2. Medical history review
   Your provider will review the history that you’ve filled out in advance and follow up on anything that could affect readiness for physical activity.
3. Physical exam
   We’ll evaluate the heart, lungs, and musculoskeletal system - the parts that matter for sports. 

“The medical history section is the most important part of the whole visit. The more complete and honest that history is, the better we can assess your child.” Dr. Acey Albert, National Medical Director

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Once the evaluation is complete, there are three possible outcomes:

1. Cleared
   Your child is good to go. The clearance is good for one year and usually covers any activities that happen in that year, as long as your school or program accepts the same PPE.
2. Cleared, with further evaluation
   Sometimes, your child will be cleared for an activity but not all. As an example, a child might not pass the vision test, but this is common during this age. We will clear them and provide a referral to get their eyes checked by an optometrist. 
3. Not cleared
   This is uncommon, but isn’t a dead-end. What it means is that something needs to be looked at more closely, typically by a specialist, before it’s safe to participate. For example, an unexplained fainting episode. Fainting in 100 degree weather because they forgot water can be explained, but fainting without a clear cause should be cleared by a specialist.
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‍Why should I go to Carbon for this?‍

For families: we know a sports physical often needs to happen now. That’s why we offer same-day appointments and accept walk-ins, too. No existing primary care or pediatrician relationship is required. 

Speaking of pediatricians, one misconception is that these physicals need to be performed by a doctor/MD. This is usually not the case. For example, in the image below taken from a real PPE form, there are multiples types of providers listed:

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For school and sports organizers: we work with many schools, athletic departments and sports clubs to make this administrative process as easy as possible. 

"In our local community, I partner with the local school districts to let parents know we are a local, convenient choice. We are very familiar with the requirements, so we can make each visit as convenient and quick as possible.” Madison Mueller, Aurora, CO Center Manager

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Have questions about scheduling a sports physical for your child, or how we can make this easier for your students or team? Find a Carbon Health near you and ask to speak with the Center Manager to get started.

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K-12 sports run on the dedication of guardians, coaches, athletic directors, and volunteers - thank you for all that you do! And big thanks to our team members who bring this to life, especially Dr. Acey Albert, Emily Kriegh, and Madison Mueller.

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References:

1. https://projectplay.org/youth-sports/facts/participation-rates