Sports and annual physicals help you understand the current state of your
or your child’s health and how to maintain or improve it moving forward.
Sports and annual physicals have slightly different goals—the former
helps determine whether it’s safe for athletes to play sports based
on their health, and the latter is meant to be a top-to-bottom assessment
of overall wellness. Both exams involve a physical assessment and a conversation
about medical history. Sports and annual physicals provide crucial information
about well-being that patients and their providers can use to maximize health.
North Dakota and Minnesota require student-athletes who will be participating
in sports to have a sports physical (also known as a preparticipation
exam). A medical provider performs these to certify it’s safe for
students to practice and play in games. It’s a good idea to have
the exam several weeks before the sports season begins. That way, if the
sports physical reveals any issues, there’s time to address them.
During the medical history portion of the exam, the provider will ask about
personal and family health history, allergies and medications. The physical
evaluation will include checks of:
Height and weight
Vision and hearing
Blood pressure and pulse
Functioning and health of various body parts and organs, including the
joints, heart, lungs and stomach
Strength and flexibility
If the sports physical reveals any problems, the provider can recommend
additional tests, prescribe treatments or discuss adjustments to improve
safety during sports. The provider may also share tips for preventing
injuries or improving performance.
Physical exams are annual comprehensive health checkups with a family medicine
provider. Unlike sports physicals, which are specific to athletes, these
exams are for everyone.
Physical exams are broader in scope than sports physicals. In addition
to a discussion of health history and medications and a physical evaluation,
a physical exam may include:
Discussion about lifestyle factors that affect health—such as
smoking, nutrition, exercise,
sleep habits and stress—and how to modify them
Discussion about risk for chronic health conditions in the future, such as
diabetes,
heart disease and
stroke
Recommendations for age-appropriate screenings and vaccinations, such as a
mammogram,
colorectal cancer screening or vaccinations for flu or shingles
Lab tests to check blood cholesterol and blood sugar levels or other indicators of health
Need a Sports or an Annual Physical?
To schedule an appointment with a family medicine provider who can perform
an annual or sports physical, use
MyChart or call
701.780.2587.
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