Every August, an influx of parents call our clinic to schedule sports physicals that allow their children to participate in school-sponsored activities. With the beginning of the school year right around the corner, scheduling a physical becomes just one more thing to check off the list, but it shouldn’t be.
These pre-participation exams are important for several reasons. First and most obviously, student athletes need to be medically cleared to play sports. Without a thorough physical assessment by a qualified medical professional, teens and other school-age children could be at-risk for severe health complications, including muscle imbalances and reflex conditions. Additionally, adolescents are among the highest risk-takers of any age group. According to the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, athletic injuries account for about 20% of all injury-related emergency room visits for kids ages six to 19. Sports physicals help uncover hidden dangers that can keep your child safe on and off the field.
As a board-certified chiropractor and former collegiate athlete and personal trainer, Nate Wiechmann, D.C., specializes in treating and assessing student athletes. During each sports physical, he checks for the following:
- Muscle imbalances
- Joint pain or tenderness
- Curvature of the spine
- Problems with reflexes
Each sports physical includes a health history check to identify any previous injuries or conditions that may need to be addressed prior to the start of the season. In most cases, the athlete will be cleared to participate in his or her desired program. If something needs to be addressed, we may be able to treat the condition onsite, or we may refer your child to another specialist for further evaluation and treatment.
To schedule a sports physical, please use our online scheduling tool, or contact us for more information.
To accommodate patients in the Riverside Community School District, we’re once again offering discounted sports physicals for student athletes during back-to-school orientation on Aug. 9. For details, check out our blog post or contact Riverside High School.