Prep for success with hassle-free sports and camp physicals

As summer approaches, parents and guardians should gather required health documents needed for participation in camp and sports activities.

Summer sports and camps often require a sports physical for participation. These exams help identify children at higher risk for injuries or other health conditions. Many schools and teams also require students to be caught up with immunizations.

"These are important and vital towards their care," said Jason Hefner, M.D., Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Piedmont Physicians of Canton, and a Piedmont Primary Care Regional Medical Director. "It’s a good time of year for getting kids physically and emotionally ready: reviewing their health, academic record, their emotional health, making sure their routine health is up-to-date, including their vaccines and physicals."

Sports and camp physicals are generally brief and include checking vitals, heart and lung health, joints, flexibility and medical history. A fitness assessment may also be performed to determine potential physical limitations.

"First thing you make sure of is that their heart is healthy: checking their blood pressure, typically listening to the heart and lungs, making sure their heart’s at a nice and normal rhythm," Hefner explained. "And then we perform an orthopedic exam to make sure that they're not set up for injury to the best of our ability to protect it."

Hefner also encourages parents and guardians to keep their child's wellness checks and preventative visits up-to-date (within the past year).

Schedule a sports physical at a Piedmont primary care office, Piedmont QuickCare clinics, or Piedmont Urgent Care clinics. To find a Piedmont clinic location near you, visit piedmont.org.