DuBOIS — Before long, student athletes participating in fall sports will hit the gyms and fields to practice for the season ahead.

Whether your child participates in football or cheerleading, soccer or track, their safety on and off the field is one of your key concerns. A sports physical can help keep them healthy and injury free.

Why are sports physicals required?

“Sports physicals can uncover underlying health risks in children and adolescents before they become problems,” said Dr. Thomas Sisk, a family medicine physician who is a sports medicine specialist in Finleyville. “In addition, some pre-existing conditions could make the athlete more susceptible to injuries and it is better to know in advance so preventive measures can be taken.”

A sports physical provides a comprehensive evaluation of the athlete’s health status that serves as a baseline for monitoring changes in health. For example, if a runner injures their leg during a track event, the physician will have a detailed record of their health to help guide effective treatment.

“During childhood and adolescence, body changes occur rapidly and we can address injury prevention, nutrition and safe training practices during the exam,” Sisk said. “The physical also is a great time to help the child or teen understand how to care for their changing bodies to reduce injuries.”

If your child has an annual physical or recent sick visit, do they need a sports physical?

Annual exams and sick visits should never replace a sports physical. A sports physical evaluates the ability of the child or teen to safely participate in athletics while an annual physical is more comprehensive.

Who needs a sports physical?

The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) requires all students who wish to participate in an interscholastic sport to have an initial pre-participation sports physical evaluation by a licensed physician of medicine or osteopathic medicine, a certified physician assistant, a certified registered nurse practitioner or a school nurse practitioner. Most club sports, travel leagues and other recreational sports organizations also require sports physicals before students can participate.

When should you schedule your student athlete’s sports physical?

It is best to check with your school district or sports organization for details about when the physicals need to be completed, but most require the physicals to be completed and submitted before the first practice. Some of those practices can begin as early as the first week in July. The start of the school year and the fall sports season is a busy time for primary care providers, so be sure to schedule your child’s sports physical early.

For more information or to schedule a sports physical, visit phhealthcare.org/familymedicine.