School & Sports Physicals
The Benefits of School Physicals
What is a school physical? A school physical is a routine health check, often required by school districts or to participate in certain school activities.
School physicals are also a good time to ensure that your child is up-to-date with their immunization schedule. Missing even one vaccine on the state’s immunization schedule could delay enrollment, leading to headaches for you and your child on their first day of school.
Doctors providing school physicals will offer the necessary immunizations and an immunization record that you can then bring to the school district.
Benefits of a Sports Physical
Sports physicals give children and young adults the go-ahead to participate in various sports and are usually required before registration on a sports team. It’s a way to prevent injuries by identifying any problems before they start.
A sports physical will typically include the standard physical — measuring height and weight, vision and blood pressure — and additional exams of the joints, neck and back. A doctor may also do quick checks on your flexibility and posture and conduct checks on overall cardiovascular health.
On top of a general measure of physical fitness, sports physicals can also identify potential risks for injuries. Certain identified conditions can lead to more injuries when participating in sports. A doctor can share health tips, exercises or necessary accommodations you or your child will need to join the sports team.
What to Bring to a Physical
When arriving at a school physical exam in Los Angeles, whether that’s for an activity for meeting requirements for school enrollment, there are a few items you should bring with you for a smooth appointment.
Bring any forms the doctor needs to fill out during the appointment to ensure that the visit meets your purposes and you have all of the information you need. That can mean forms from the school, camp or sporting organization.
If your child has an existing immunization record, bring it with you. Some vaccines require multiple doses, and your current record will help the doctors make sure the child’s record is complete.
Finally, bring your insurance cards and method of payment for your visit.
