sports physical can help parents spot health issues

Most young people require a sports physical before they can take part in school athletics or activities — at least when the season is predictable.

Before school starts again, it’s a good idea to schedule a physical for fall sports and activities, says Dr. Scott Grindel, a physician with Sanford Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in Fargo.

“Our hospital has done a very good job of limiting who can come in,” he says. “Whether they have symptoms or not, everybody wears a mask inside. It’s relatively safe. I wouldn’t have any concerns bringing my kids in.”

Autumn Nelson, a family nurse practitioner with Sanford Health in Fargo, offers the following helpful tips for parents.

The requirement for when and how often a physical is needed is mandated by each state.

It is recommended that these checkups be completed six weeks prior to the start of ei - ther the school or activity season that your child is participating in.

This six-week period allows time for any additional check-ins needed that may stem from this physical appointment. That may include therapy to an injury that is yet to be fully healed and could possibly limit the child from performing at full health and put them at a greater risk to re-injure themselves.

During the check-in, a nurse or provider will check for several items with an overall goal of understanding the well-being of the child performing any physical activity. Past medical history is assessed first to be aware of any past illness or surgeries, along with any past injuries or concussions.

This check-in will also go through basic height, weight and arm circumference to check for any concerns or abnormalities.

Additionally, the appointment includes a mental health check.

“Particularly this year, because kids get isolated, they get depressed, they get anxious,” Grindel says. “They may be very anxious about going out in public again, or getting sick. So addressing those things, and treating them as they occur is very important.”

Heart health is very important as well and can determine if children can sustain physical exercise without putting themselves at risk for cardiovascular concerns. Identifying a lung condition or shortness of breath problem are also very important to address. These can often go unnoticed without a trained professional looking for them.

Everything that is covered at a young age remains important as a child grows. As the child ages, more in-depth questions about social history, such as drug use, are addressed. This is a good age to start this discussion and allow parents to be aware and children to understand the risks of their choices. At every sports and activity physical, preventive steps of a healthy lifestyle, such as eating habits and remaining active, are addressed.

If a child or parent has any questions about how to stretch a certain muscle or do a stretching routine daily at home, primary care providers are qualified to recommend this type of basic therapy.

This is also a time to check if a past injury has been fully healed. If the child is still feeling a substantial amount of pain, that is when providers refer them to a physical therapist who can go in depth into rehabbing this injury.

These young athletes are also told several times that if they take any sort of strong hit to the head they should tell their parents and coaches right away so they can be evaluated for a concussion.

Providers and nurses also can recommend sports gear that they think is safer than other products. They also recommend that students take advantage of trainers who are on site at their school. These trainers can go further into preventive gear and care, and things such as taping ankles or wrists.

This is also a great time for the parents or children to ask any questions they may have, even if it is not related to their sport or activity.

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