Sports Physicals: A Must for Every Student Athlete

If your middle or high schooler plans to play sports, a sports physical exam is more than just paperwork—it’s an important step to help keep them safe. Also called a preparticipation physical evaluation (PPE), this exam is required before your child can practice or play sports with a public school team in the Livingston or Tangipahoa School Systems.

Here are three reasons a sports physical matters before the season starts.

1. Ensuring Safe Play

The main purpose of a sports physical is simple: to make sure your child can safely participate in sports. They are designed to identify health conditions that could put athletes at risk during physical activity. These exams can even catch rare but serious risks.

During the exam, your pediatrician or primary care provider (PCP) looks for issues like:

• Heart conditions that could lead to serious problems during exercise
• Breathing conditions such as asthma
• Past injuries that could worsen

2. Preventing Injuries

Sports physicals also focus on injury prevention. Doctors check joints, muscles, flexibility, and balance to see if your child is physically ready for their sport.

If your child has had previous injuries, like a sprained ankle or concussion, your provider can recommend ways to avoid re-injury. This might include strength training, stretching, or limiting certain activities.

The goal is not to keep kids out of sports, but to help them participate as safely as possible.

3. Meeting School Requirements

To participate in sports in the Livingston or Tangipahoa Parish School systems, junior high and high school student athletes must have an annual physical before practicing or playing in any games, per Louisiana High School Athletic Association regulations.

If your child missed North Oaks Physical Day this spring, you can schedule an appointment with their pediatrician or PCP for their annual sports physical.

What to Expect During a Sports Physical

A sports physical is usually quick and simple. It has two main parts: a health history review and a physical exam.

First, you and your child will complete a medical history form covering past injuries, medical conditions, medications, and any symptoms during exercise, such as chest pain or dizziness. This step is very important because it can reveal risks that aren’t obvious during the exam.

Next comes the physical exam. Your provider will:

• Measure height, weight, blood pressure, and heart rate
• Check vision
• Listen to the heart and lungs
• Evaluate strength, flexibility, and joint movement

Your child may be asked to bend, stretch, or move in certain ways to look for balance issues or old injuries that could cause problems.

At the end of the visit, your provider will decide if your child is cleared to play, needs follow-up care, or should take extra precautions.

Experts recommend scheduling the exam at least six weeks before the season starts, so there’s enough time to address any concerns.

Start Every Season the Safe Way

A sports physical is more than a requirement. It’s a key step in protecting your young athlete’s health. It helps identify hidden risks, prevent injuries, and ensure they are ready to participate safely.

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Need a sports physical form? Download the LHSAA Student Athlete Form Packet here.

Make an appointment or learn more about North Oaks Pediatric Clinic here.

Learn more about primary care services at North Oaks Health or schedule an appointment here.

Don't have a North Oaks healthcare provider? Find one here.