Many urgent care clinics offer sports physicals for student athletes, providing a convenient option for busy families to check off an important item on their back-to-school checklist.
Next Level Urgent Care offers sports physicals at all 45+ locations. Walk-in appointments for sports physicals are available from 9 AM – 9 PM seven days a week, so you can get your athlete’s sports physical exam form handed in before the season deadline.
What’s Included in a Sports Physical
A sports physical is a routine health checkup. It confirms that a child or teen can safely participate in their sport. Most schools and youth sports leagues require athletes to submit a standard sports physical exam form signed by a healthcare provider.
The exam includes checking blood pressure, listening to the heart and lungs, and checking vision. In addition, the healthcare provider will ask questions about the athlete’s medical history, including:
- Family history of serious illnesses
- Underlying conditions like asthma or diabetes
- Allergies
- Previous surgeries, hospitalizations, or serious injuries
- Medications
- Any factors that would limit participation in sports
Benefits of Getting a Sports Physical at Urgent Care
Visiting an urgent care clinic is often more convenient than trying to get an appointment with the pediatrician or waiting a long time for one-day events where athletes can get their physical at school. Most urgent care clinics offer walk-in availability or same-day scheduling for sports physicals. You don’t have to plan weeks in advance to get your athlete in before the season starts.
Urgent care clinics are open weekends and evenings, so you can fit a sports physical in around work, school, and practice. The urgent care team can fill out required sports physical forms during your appointment, helping you turn them in to the school or sports league right away.
The staff at urgent care clinics are experienced in performing sports physicals and can complete your athlete’s exam quickly and efficiently without sacrificing thoroughness.
Urgent care is also a cost-effective choice for many families. Not all insurance plans cover sports physicals, so out-of-pocket costs at the doctor’s office may be high. Next Level Urgent Care offers transparent pricing for sports physicals, so you know your costs before you consent to the visit.
How Much Does a Sports Physical Cost at Urgent Care?
Next Level Urgent Care offers standard sports physicals for school-aged children for a low, one-time fee. Additional services are available, and you can check costs on our website before you come in.
What to Bring to Your Appointment
Before you come in for a sports physical, make sure you have all the necessary paperwork, including:
- Sports physical exam form from your school or league
- photo ID
- insurance card if applicable,
- list of current medications
- information on past injuries or surgeries, immunization records if requested
Parents can fill out the general information parts of the sports physical form in advance to speed up the visit.
What to Expect During the Visit
Sports physicals are generally short visits, taking less than an hour. Most kids and teens are cleared for play during their appointment, though athletes with underlying health issues may need further evaluation.
Your provider will do a thorough physical examination, including a vision screening, listening to the heart and lungs, and a flexibility and joint screening. They will ask questions about the athlete’s health history and medications that relate to athletic activity, such as:
- 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?
- 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.
After completing the exam, your provider will complete any necessary forms so you can take them with you when you leave.
Get Your Sports Physical Form at Next Level Urgent Care Today
Urgent care clinics, including Next Level, offer a convenient, walk-in option for children and teens who need sports physicals. You can visit any of our clinics in Houston, Austin, Corpus Christi, and San Antonio anytime between 9 AM – 9 PM, seven days per week, for an exam. Our experienced healthcare providers will clear your athlete for play, and you’ll walk out with all the necessary forms filled out, no waiting or coming back to pick them up later.
Stop by any of our Texas locations or use our mobile app to check in online.
