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Sports Physicals services offered in Gluckstadt, MS
Most schools and athletic organizations require athletes to undergo a sports physical before the start of a new season. At MS Express Health in Madison, Mississippi, Jeremy Hudson, FNP-C, Hunter Vaughn, NP, and the expert family medicine team provide sports physicals to people of all ages. Whether you need clearance to return to competition after an injury or simply want to enroll your child in the upcoming season, the team can help. Call MS Express Health today to schedule a sports physical, or book your appointment online.
What is a sports physical?
A sports physical is a routine checkup that ensures you or your child is healthy enough to participate in sports or other physical activities.
Most schools, camps, and athletic associations require all participants to complete a sports physical before starting a new competition. After the exam, your MS Express Health provider fills out a form that provides proof of the completed physical.
What happens during a sports physical exam?
MS Express Health tailors sports physicals to you or your child’s specific needs. Even so, most exams include three steps:
Step 1: A discussion of your health and lifestyle
First, your MS Express Health provider asks about your general health, family health history, and lifestyle. More specifically, they ask about your current fitness level, quiz you about any chronic medical conditions you have (like asthma), and review your medications.
Step 2: A physical exam
Afterward, your provider completes a physical. They:
- Listen to your heartbeat and respiratory rate
- Test your reflexes
- Assess your muscle strength, flexibility, and balance
- Gently press on your abdomen to assess the size and location of your internal organs
- Take your blood pressure
- Measure and weigh you
- Examine your ears, eyes, nose, and throat
- Check your skin for any abnormalities
During the exam, tell your provider if you’re experiencing any abnormal symptoms, like joint pain, difficulty breathing, or blurred vision.
Step 3: Lab testing
Last, your MS Express Health provider orders lab testing, including blood work and urinalysis. These measures can detect underlying health problems, like diabetes, high cholesterol, and thyroid disease.
What happens at the end of a sports physical?
If your MS Express Health provider determines it's safe for you or your child to play sports, they clear you to participate. They fill out any paperwork provided by the school or athletic organization and sign off on it.
If the exam identifies a health problem, like asthma, that could affect physical performance, they provide documentation. They also write you a prescription for an inhaler or other necessary medication.
You submit the final form to your child’s school or athletic organization where the form is kept on file so it can be referred to if there’s an accident or injury during the season.
Call MS Express Health today to schedule a sports physical for yourself or your child, or book an appointment online.