Sports Physicals

High school athletes are required by state law to have a physical examination before participating in sports. Most states also request a sports physical for middle school athletes. A sports physical is also called a preparticipation physical examination. More than a half dozen professional organizations also support the preparticipation sports exam, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, among others.

Years ago, sports physicals ensured growing children were safe to compete against one another. Today, we place more significance on the athlete's health history.

A sports physical is an examination that allows physicians to see a young athlete while they are healthy. This allows for important baseline measurements that can be used as a comparison if an athlete is injured or ill later. The sports physical is also an important opportunity to discuss topics like nutrition, social interactions, sex education and the hazards of drug and supplement use.

Sports physicals are often required for student athletes before they begin competing for a school team. Some summer camps or other organizations may also require them. In general, a sports physical is ideal to get annually for an active youth athlete. Sports physicals are an opportunity to ensure that athletes continue to compete at the top of their game.

First you will discuss your family medical history. This is essential. For example, if a family member died from heart disease before age 50, it heightens the athlete’s risk. Your physician may recommend a cardiac workup, including a chest X-ray, EKG and echocardiogram if you’re believed to be at risk.

During the physical, we focus on blood pressure, body mass index, visual acuity and obvious orthopedic issues. Blood pressure and visual acuity are tested to ensure an athlete can compete at the highest level. An orthopedic exam is performed to check for strength and flexibility imbalances that may predispose an athlete to injury. The athlete will also have a general physical exam, which includes checking the abdomen (liver and spleen), lungs (to check for wheezing that can indicate bronchospasm or asthma), genitalia (checking for hernias) and heart (listening for murmurs or irregular heart rhythms).

The sports physical does not include blood work, imaging or cardiac studies, unless there is a finding that needs further workup. If that is the case and something abnormal is found during the exam, our dedicated team will recommend further labs, testing, imaging or cardiac studies to ensure the athlete stays healthy and safe.

Remember that a sports physical is a screening, not a complete physical.  In the future, a sports physical exam would ideally include:

• Medical history
• Physical exam
• Cholesterol and vitamin D levels
• Cardiac screening (EKG and echocardiogram)
• Baseline cognitive function test (in the event of concussion)
• Vital signs
• Vision test
• Flexibility and balance

Sports physicals are usually done by your child’s primary care provider, such as a pediatrician or family medicine physician. A sports physical does not take the place of your child's annual well-child visit. If you have established primary care in the health system, you can request an appointment through MyChart. If your child does not already receive care in the health system, call 913-588-1227. We also offer discounted physicals for youth sports at our 5 urgent care locations throughout Olathe, Garner and Paola. These are for students in 4th through 12th grade.

The University of Kansas Health System Great Bend Campus offers sports physicals for student athletes. Sports physicals are available throughout the summer at the Convenient Care Walk-In Clinic and by appointment with the family medicine team at St. Rose Medical Pavilion or the pediatrics team at Great Bend Children’s Clinic. For family medicine school sports physical appointments at St. Rose Medical Pavilion, located at 3515 Broadway Ave. in Great Bend, call 620-792-2511. For school sports physical appointments at Great Bend Children’s Clinic, located at 1021 Eisenhower Ave. in Great Bend, call 620-792-5437.

Sports physicals are available without an appointment only at the Great Bend Convenient Care Walk-In Clinic during regular hours, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Students age 17 and younger will need a parent to accompany them.

If an issue arises during the sports physical, or later in the athlete’s career, we have a multidisciplinary team ready to help address it with a full range of care – diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and follow-up. You can also access specialists throughout the health system, like cardiology, pulmonology, orthopedics and more. Get all your care in one place.