It has been said that a school is a child’s second home. Like parents, school administrators take all proactive measures to safeguard children’s health and well-being. Through school and sports physicals, school administrators are able to identify any health problems that may threaten their students’ academic and sports performance.
AT EMC Express Care, we strongly support the goal of parents and learning institutions to make sure children are in their optimal state of health and well-being. This is why we offer school and sports physicals, which are both a vital part of every child’s healthcare.
If your child’s school has required school and sports physicals and you’re wondering if your child only needs one or both, here is some information that can help you decide.
What Happens During a School Physical?
School physicals are essentially wellness checkups that need to be completed before a school year starts. A school physical is required for your child to be able to participate in any school activity. It is more comprehensive and broad than a sports physical.
During your child’s school physical appointment at EMC Express Care, the doctor will have questions about your child’s medical history as well as their family history. This helps the doctor identify any patterns of chronic illness that your child may have or that may run in the family.
We will then proceed with the following assessments:
- Abdomen, chest, and neck exam
- Eyes, ears, nose, lymph nodes, and throat exam
- Heart and pulse rate and blood pressure check
- Height and weight measurement
- Bone and spine check
- Vision and hearing acuity assessment
We will also go over your child’s immunization records and verify whether all mandatory vaccinations are up to date.
What Happens During a Sports Physical?
A sports physical is aimed at identifying any health or physical problems that may hinder a child from participating in a certain sport or physical activity. Most schools require students to undergo sports physicals before they can engage in a new sport or start a new competitive season.
At EMC Express Care, our sports physicals are focused on both illness and injury prevention.
During your child’s sports physical appointment with us, we will perform a comprehensive physical exam and review of your child’s health history, which includes the following:
- Heart rhythm and heart rate check
- Injury and illness risk factor assessment
- Joint strength and flexibility assessment
- Posture check
- Reflex test
- Respiratory assessment (to check for wheezing)
- Vision and hearing acuity tests
Our provider will also give you some training tips to help reduce your child’s risk of injury. A sports physical takes a much closer look at your child’s musculoskeletal health to determine if there will be any potential issues during movement and exercise.
School and Sports Physicals in North Richland Hills, TX
At EMC Express Care, we are a multidisciplinary urgent care practice that also provides high-quality physical exams—such as school and sports physicals—and lab test services for a variety of patient needs.
If you need to see us for any type of physical exam, you can simply visit our walk-in clinic. However, if you want to save time, you may call us at (817) 503-8800 or use our online check-in form to schedule an appointment. We are open every day of the week, between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. We’re always glad to serve you!
