Cleared to Play! Why Every Athlete Needs a Sports Physical

Comprehensive medical examinations are a must for people participating in sports. Also known as sports physicals, they ensure an athlete’s safety, prevent injuries, and even improve performance. Medical clearance for sports is even more important for athletes in competitive sports and endurance events. A thorough sports physical is an important component of sports injury prevention and can uncover unknown conditions that make participation dangerous.

Sports physicals shouldn’t be restricted to participants in high-impact contact sports like boxing, wrestling, and football. Cycling and basketball are associated with more injuries annually than football, and all sports have the potential for injuries and death. Even if your state doesn’t mandate a sports physical before participation, a comprehensive pre-participation medical examination has benefits for athletes of all ages.

Medical Conditions Diagnosis

Unsuspected medical conditions may be uncovered at a sports physical, potentially saving athletes from harm or death. The most common cause of sudden death during sports participation is heart disease. Young people are likely to have congenital or genetic conditions, while older athletes more often have atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. 

Several types of heart disease affect young people, and your healthcare provider may detect them by asking about fainting episodes (syncope), other symptoms, and family history. Some conditions are diagnosed by an electrocardiogram (EKG), but sometimes a heart condition will first show itself with a heart attack. If your physician suspects an underlying condition, they may ask for specialized testing like stress tests or echocardiography. 

A sports physical may also uncover conditions like asthma or raised blood pressure, which need to be well controlled for safe sports participation. 

Health Monitoring

Your healthcare provider will also assess your general health and any significant changes since your last physical. They will assess how regular you are about the treatment of any known health conditions and if they are well controlled. 

Additionally, if you have an injury, they will evaluate your recovery and determine if your body is ready for the strain of participation again. Your provider may recommend physical therapy or conditioning programs to bring your injured body part back to normal strength, reducing the risk of repeated injury.

Sports Injury Prevention

Thousands of athletes are injured every year while playing. Common injuries related to sports are:

• Strains and sprains
• Ligament tears
• Muscle injuries
• Bone injuries
• Head trauma

Collision sports like rugby and football have higher risks, but even track and field events and cycling can cause severe injuries. A complete sports physical will find potential risk factors for such injuries, such as joint weaknesses, muscle imbalances, and gait abnormalities.

Sports injuries are not always a single major mishap. They often result from repetitive stress on bones, muscles, or joints. A regular medical evaluation can identify any vulnerabilities, protecting you from dangerous situations. A physical therapist, trainer, or coach can help you strengthen some muscles and adjust your technique and intensity, preventing further injury and allowing you to enjoy your sport for a long time.

Performance Enhancement

The assessment of your physical condition can enable your healthcare provider to recommend therapy and training programs to improve performance. Your provider will test your strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular fitness. This data can help formulate a customized training regimen that enables you to achieve the best possible performance.

The sports physical will also delve into your nutrition, and you will get advice about hydration and diet to improve your energy levels, endurance, and recovery. 

Regulatory Compliance

Organizations managing competitive sports are rightly concerned about preventing injuries and other health mishaps. Many states require regular sports physicals for young athletes at the start of a season and before joining any new sport. These mandatory pre-participation medical evaluations are meant to increase safety. 

Even if these medical evaluations are not compulsory in your area or league, it is wise to get one annually to make sure you are healthy enough and in good physical shape for your chosen sport.

Mental Health Matters

Physical strength and endurance are emphasized in sport, but mental health is also vital. The sports physical may include a mental health assessment to assess athletes’ readiness for the hard work of training, competition, and pressure. 

Anxiety, stress, and other psychological factor frequently affect an athlete’s performance. Diagnosing and treating them has a positive effect on confidence, resilience, and focus, enhancing performance and the enjoyment of the sporting activity.  

What to Expect at a Sports Physical

Your provider will do a thorough physical examination, of course, including measuring your weight and height, and the examination of the respiratory, circulatory, and other systems. But underlying health conditions of concern reveal themselves through symptoms you have experienced. Some questions your provider may ask:

• Have you ever had any episodes of fainting, seizures, chest pain, palpitations, or breathlessness?
• Are you on any regular medication for any health condition? Do you have any chronic conditions like diabetes, asthma, or sickle cell disease?
• Do you take any substances to improve sports performance? Anabolic steroids, stimulants, and peptide hormones are now a frequent cause of heart disease in young and middle-aged athletes. 
• Has any member of your family died unexpectedly while participating in sports or soon after? Are there any diseases that run in your family?
• Have you had any injuries before (sprains, concussions, fractures, others)?
• Do you have any severe allergies? These can be to foods, insect stings, inhaled allergens, and others to which you may be exposed on the sports field.

The healthcare provider may also ask about periods (girls) and testicular pain (boys). They will also want to know about any habits — smoking, vaping, alcohol, and recreational drugs.

Playing on a team or taking on a physical activity on your own is a wonderful way to improve your health. But all such activities carry the risk of worsening existing diseases, injuries, and even sudden death. A sports physical is your safeguard against these dangers. Ideally, you should have one 6-8 weeks before the sports season begins, so that you have time for any specialist referrals or corrective actions prescribed by your provider. 

Next Level Urgent Care offers affordable, comprehensive care to Texas communities. We’re offering $10 Sports Physicals from April 15th to May 15th. We have 45 clinics across Houston, Beaumont, Austin, and San Antonio, all open daily from 9 AM to 9 PM. Click here to find a location near you.