In the height of Seattle summer, it’s hard to believe we’re almost headed back to school and back to routines.
Back to school might mean a full schedule of school work, social activities and sports training. Your child likely needs a youth sports physical to participate in athletics. It’s also a good time check that your child is also up to date on immunizations. Taking care of both can help maintain a healthy body for sports and help keep kids from getting ill right as they are settling back into routines.
Back to school: the sports physical
Go, team! Sports can do our kids so much good –the fresh air, the exercise, the teamwork. Building a habit of physical activity can boost lifelong physical, mental and emotional health.
But injuries can happen in any sport. The best things we can do is protect our kids from getting injured in the first place. Your child will in most cases be asked to get a sports physical before they can participate. That is also known as a pre-participation physical examinations (PPE). Getting a sports physical sets kids up for healthy play, ensuring a child is healthy and physically ready to participate in sports safely.
The clinician (often your regular clinician or pediatrician) will do a physical exam to check vital signs like blood pressure and identify any medical or musculoskeletal issues that could pose a risk during activity. They will also look at your child’s medical history including past injuries and talk about any new symptoms or concerns. Your child may be cleared to play, cleared with limitations or referred for further evaluation. That might include physical therapy.
If your child’s health has changed, even if they are cleared to play, it’s a good idea to let their gym teacher or coach know.
Sports physicals are typically scheduled at least six weeks before your sports season starts in case there are treatment or tests needed. Sports physicals help determine if a child is healthy to play or what’s needed to make sure they are, not to prevent participation. If a followup exam or treatment is called for, it could be something that can be addressed before the season such as adjusting asthma medication, an updated eye exam or rechecking blood pressure.
Back to school: vaccinations
This is a good time to make sure your children are updated on all their vaccinations.
Immunizations against measles, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and other diseases help keep your child healthy and in school. Those diseases also pose a serious health threat and outbreaks can be prevented by keeping vaccinations up to date. Check with your health care provider to see what’s needed and plan when you’ll get vaccines for winter illnesses like influenza and COVID even if they aren’t available yet.
No one wants a bump in the road from getting ill or injured to disrupt that momentum just as the school year gets going. Getting set up for a healthy start will help make a happy and smooth return to routines.
