Why Sports Physicals are Important and Needed for Your Student-Athlete

4/16/2019

Chad Griffin

What to expect:

For anyone who hasn’t been through a sports physical before, here’s what you can expect. The most important part for the parent is filling out the form. The first page of the national standardized form covers the young person’s health history, and the second page is for recording the student’s vitals and exam results. Remember, complete honesty is vital on this. Your student-athlete’s health is way more important than a game.

Sports physicals typically take 15 minutes. Students getting their physicals at the school’s gym or venues outside of a clinic can expect to spend about 30 minutes total with about 10 minutes spent with a doctor for the actual exam. The rest of the time is spent getting blood pressure, height, weight, and vision checked. The physical exam covers essentials such as general appearance, eyes/ears/nose/throat, lungs and heart, abdomen, and the musculoskeletal system (joints, bones, muscles, etc.). The doctor will examine the athlete’s neck, back, and various joint systems for range of motion and strength. Depending on the sport your child intends to play, the doctor might pay closer attention to certain areas. “I’ll focus on the feet or ankles of a runner,” explained Dr. deWeber. For kids in baseball and other throwing sports, the focus might be on arms or shoulders.

Bottom line, these check-ups are an essential part of helping kids stay healthy—both in the game and out.

CDS students sports physicals are tomorrow, April 17th, for more information please reference the resource boards.

_{Chad Griffin is the Athletic Director for Calvary Day School. He is thankful for the ability to serve our student-athletes, coaches, and support staff through athletic endeavors. Griffin sincerely believes the values of “Building Champions through Christ,” and uses this motto to challenge our student-athletes to be the best young men and women they can be. Griffin prays that student-athletes will not only find individual success, but also spiritual success through true salvation that matters — a relationship with Jesus Christ.}

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