Sports Physicals

Sports physicals are the path to joining a sports team and having a fun — and safe — experience. TopCare Family & Wellness Clinic is a clean and meticulously maintained facility where Shem Teya, DNP, FNP-C, Josephine Mogeni, FNP-C, and the knowledgeable team provide convenient sports physicals for student-athletes. Phone the Garland, Texas, office or make an appointment online now.

What are sports physicals?

Sports physicals are exams that determine whether your child is healthy and able to play competitive sports. Most schools and independent sports teams require children to have a sports physical before they can play. 

My child joined a sports team. When do they need their sports physical? 

Your child’s team leaders provide regulations before the season starts. Make a note of the submission deadline, or your child may have to sit out until they have their exam. 

TopCare Family & Wellness Clinic usually recommends scheduling your child’s sports physical about six weeks before the season begins. 

That way, if there’s a potential health problem, the TopCare Family & Wellness Clinic practitioners can help resolve it so your child can still join the team.

What does a sports physical involve? 

A sports physical focuses on all the areas relevant to sports participation. This includes checking:

• Height and weight
• Vision
• Muscles, bones, and joints
• Heart rate
• Lung health 
• Blood pressure
• Mental health (screening for depression and anxiety)

The TopCare Family & Wellness Clinic team also takes the time to ask your child about symptoms and discuss sports safety. In general, sports physicals don’t involve lab tests, but if your child needs them, the team can collect samples onsite.   

Are sports physicals and physical fitness assessments the same thing? 

No, they’re two different kinds of evaluations. Physical fitness assessments are required annually for all students in the state of Texas, starting from third grade. These assessments happen at school. They’re general fitness evaluations that are unrelated to school sports eligibility. 

Sports physicals happen at medical facilities outside the school, like TopCare Family & Wellness Clinic. Parents are responsible for scheduling sports physicals, while the school district takes care of everything related to physical fitness assessments. 

What happens after a sports physical?

After a sports physical, the TopCare Family & Wellness Clinic team provides immediate results. You receive a form to take to your child’s school. The results may be:

• Cleared to play, no restrictions
• Medically eligible for sports but needs additional evaluation
• Cleared to play only specific sports
• Not medically eligible for sports at this time
• Ineligible to play sports

Most student-athletes receive clearance and can start participating in practices, training, and games right away. 

Schedule an appointment online or call the office to book a sports physical at TopCare Family & Wellness Clinic today.