What Is A Sports Physical?
Officially known as The Pre-participation Physical Evaluation, a sports physical is an exam by an approved health care provider meant to help maintain the health and safety of athletes. The exam requires completion of a standardized form, so health care providers deliver a consistent examination experience for student-athletes.
What Is It Like To Get a Sports Physical at Parker Performance Institute?
The Preparticipation Physical Evaluation form includes limited review of a brief health history and some observations, examinations, and tests for overall health as well as ailments or impairments known to cause risk of injury and/or a severe adverse health episode during participation in sports.
Because there are physical, cardiovascular, and neurological components to a sports physical, Parker Performance Institute uses an integrated approach to match the best type of health care provider with these components. Typically, a chiropractor with a master’s degree in neuroscience and/or sports medicine will perform the physical aspects of the exam such a muscles and joints while a medical professional such as a nurse practitioner or physician assistant will perform the vascular, heart, lungs and disease process aspects of exam and if there is a specific neurological issue detected, one of our medical neurologists will review the findings and may perform additional tests.
The exam costs $30.00 and takes about 40 minutes.
Why Should A Young Athlete Get Their Sports Physical At Parker Performance Institute
At Parker Performance Institute, we offer more than the standard clinic – because we’re the first integrated brain and body clinic. One critical component of our ability are our concussion assessment services as optional services in addition to the sports physical.
A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that’s caused by some form of impact to your head, or body, that results in the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. Concussion injuries are very prominent in youth sports and can go undetected over time. We make it easy for young athletes and their parents to learn if they are experiencing any effects from a concussion injury.
The cost of a concussion assessment is only $175.00 and your comprehensive sports physical is free when purchased in conjunction.
A season pass can be purchased for $395.00 that covers three concussion assessment – one performed preseason, one during mid-season, and one post season so parents and young athletes can track brain health over the entire season.
You can learn more about the Parker Performance Institute concussion assessment here.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sports Physicals
What happens during a sports physical?
This may slightly vary depending on the doctor you go to, but typically they will include the following:
- Check of blood pressure, oxygen saturation, heart rate and rhythm
- Details regarding dietary supplements, medications or prescriptions for your child
- Evaluation of flexibility, joints, posture and strength
- General physical exam to check the ears, nose, throat, heart, lungs and abdomen
- Height and weight measurement
- Review of the athlete and the family’s medical history
- Vision check
How is a sports physical different from an annual physical exam?
A sports physical is different because it focuses on you or your child’s current health status and medical history to ensure that you or your child meet the necessary health requirements for the sport.
