A sports physical, known in the medical field as a pre-participation physical examination (PPE), helps to determine whether or not a child (or adult) is physically able to participate in a sport safely. Any person that is starting a new physical activity should talk to a healthcare professional. Sports physicals offer the perfect opportunity to do so. A sports physical does not replace your regular annual check up because sports physicals focus on healthy history that might have a direct impact on someone's ability to play a sport.

Firstly, during a sports physical, a nurse will come and check the patient's vitals, such as blood pressure and pulse. Weight and height are also accounted for. The second portion is the eye exam. An athlete needs to be able to see properly when engaging in a sport. Next, the healthcare professional checks the patient's medical history. We do this in case there are restrictions that need to be put into place due to current conditions. Lastly, there is a fitness check. In the sports physical, the fitness check portion is a thorough physical exam of your athlete, including heart, lungs, and abdomen. We do this to make sure they don't have any physical limitations, like uncontrolled asthma, recent surgeries, or a hernia that might affect his or her ability to play safely.