Everything You Need to Know About Sports Physicals

A sports physical is specifically designed to determine if your child or adolescent is physically fit and safe to participate in sports and physical activities. Conducted by our experienced healthcare providers, this assessment is typically required before the start of a new sports season or before beginning any rigorous physical activity. The primary goal of these evaluations at our practice is to identify underlying medical conditions or health risks that could affect your child’s performance or increase their risk of injury.

At Town Center Family Practice, our sports physicals consist of two key components:

Medical History Review

Our providers will carefully review your child’s medical and family history information, including past injuries, chronic conditions (such as asthma or diabetes), previous hospitalizations, medications, and any symptoms experienced during exercise, such as dizziness, shortness of breath, or chest pain. This detailed review helps us spot potential health issues early and determine if further evaluation or specialized care is necessary.

Comprehensive Physical Examination

During the physical exam, your child’s provider will evaluate overall health by measuring height, weight, blood pressure, pulse, vision, and hearing. Our detailed evaluation also includes assessments of posture, joint flexibility, muscle strength, and joint function. Additionally, our providers will carefully examine your child’s heart, lungs, reflexes, and overall physical condition, ensuring they are ready for safe sports participation.

If our examination reveals any health concerns, our team will discuss next steps, which may include further testing, treatment recommendations, or guidelines on safely engaging in physical activities. Our primary aim is never to exclude young athletes, but rather to empower them and their families with the information and guidance necessary to participate safely and confidently.

A school physical is a comprehensive health examination designed to ensure your child is healthy and prepared for academic activities. During this evaluation, our providers check your child’s vital signs, vision and hearing, growth and developmental milestones, immunization status, and screen for any chronic or acute illnesses. The primary goal is to confirm overall health and wellness, identify any early health concerns, and address medical conditions that could impact your child’s educational performance or require special accommodations at school.

On the other hand, a sports physical—also known as a pre-participation physical examination—is specifically aimed at assessing your child’s readiness and safety to engage in sports activities. At Town Center Family Practice, this evaluation emphasizes areas critical for safe athletic participation, including cardiovascular health, lung function, joint stability, flexibility, strength, and coordination. Our providers will also discuss medical and family history, asking detailed questions about previous injuries, concussion history, and family medical issues such as cardiac events or sudden death. The purpose is to identify any underlying conditions or risks that might limit sports involvement or require modifications to ensure your child’s safety on the field or court.

While there is some overlap between the two examinations, especially regarding general health assessments, the key difference lies in their objectives. School physicals at Town Center Family Practice are aimed at general wellness monitoring and ensuring educational readiness, whereas sports physicals focus specifically on fitness assessments, injury prevention, and safe athletic participation.

A regular physical, often called an annual wellness exam, is a comprehensive check-up designed to evaluate your overall health and well-being. During this visit, our medical professionals at Town Center Family Practice will review your medical history, conduct a thorough physical examination, and may recommend preventive screenings, such as blood tests, cholesterol checks, or immunizations, based on your age and health status. These annual evaluations help us establish a baseline for your health, identify concerns early, and provide personalized preventive care to keep you and your family healthy year-round.

On the other hand, a sports physical—also known as a pre-participation physical exam (PPE)—is specifically designed to determine an individual’s readiness for athletic participation. At Town Center Family Practice, our providers focus this exam on uncovering potential health issues or physical limitations that could affect sports performance or increase the risk of injury. During a sports physical, we’ll pay close attention to cardiovascular health, musculoskeletal strength and flexibility, joint stability, respiratory function, and concussion history. This targeted assessment allows us to identify and address any medical conditions or past injuries that might influence your child’s safety and performance on the field, court, or track.

At Town Center Family Practice, we offer comprehensive sports physicals—also known as pre-participation physical examinations (PPE)—to ensure your young athletes remain healthy, safe, and ready for the season ahead. Typically, a sports physical remains valid for about one calendar year; however, validity periods can vary based on Virginia state regulations and local school district policies. Many schools and athletic programs in our community require these evaluations annually, usually performed before the start of the school year or athletic season.

Our dedicated providers believe that regular sports physicals are essential in closely monitoring your child’s health. Annual evaluations help detect any newly developed or previously undiagnosed medical conditions that could put athletes at risk during strenuous physical activities. Even if your child’s previous physical showed no health concerns, a yearly assessment provides our physicians an opportunity to reassess your child’s overall wellness, update medical records, and address any new questions or concerns you may have.

Additionally, if your child experiences a significant injury or develops a medical condition after their initial physical, our team is prepared to provide follow-up evaluations and medical clearances necessary to safely return them to athletic participation. We encourage families to contact their child’s school, athletic associations, or leagues directly to confirm specific requirements and expiration dates.

At Town Center Family Practice, we are committed to supporting the health and well-being of your entire family through every sports season. Book an appointment online or contact us for more information. We are conveniently located at 1642 N. Volusia Ave, Orange City, FL 32763. We serve patients from Orange City FL, DeLand FL, Deltona FL, DeBary FL, Lake Monroe FL, Sanford FL, and surrounding areas.