What is the Importance of Sports Physicals for Young Athletes After Covid-19 Diagnosis?

Mar 30, 2021

Sports physicals for young athletes

Many young athletes are returning to the field with school and league sports beginning to resume after a long COVID-prompted off-season.

Having sports physicals for young athletes is an essential step before returning to the game - especially after having symptoms of COVID-19.

But what exactly are sports physicals, and why is it required?

Does COVID-19 Virus Affect Young Athletes' Ability to Play Sports Safely?

The good news is that most young people are doing well after having the COVID-19 virus, and most of them can return to sports without facing any problem.

If at any point your child tested positive or had symptoms of COVID-19, they must visit their provider before returning to sports.

Research shows that after a COVID-19 infection, a patient is sometimes at low risk of developing myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) or multi-system inflammation syndrome (inflammation of multiple parts of the body) in children.

What Are Sports Physicals & What Is The Importance of Sports Physicals For Young Athletes?

Sports physicals for young athletes help to find out whether it is safe for them to participate in sports or start a new sports season. They can also help identify and treat health problems that could affect participation or athletic performance. The health care provider can also provide tips on training and injury prevention.

Almost 25,000 Americans undergo ankle sprains daily. Injuries are all too common, and sports physicals help to prevent them.

Note: Sports physicals for young athletes are not a substitute for their regular medical care or routine checkups.

What Should You Expect During Your Child’s Sports Physical Exam?

The sports physical exam is divided into two parts:

Part One: Medical History
Personal medical history
Family medical history
Part Two: Physical Exam

1. Medical History: During the medical history part, the service provider will ask key questions about critical illnesses among family members; Current or previous medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, or epilepsy; Previous injuries, and more.

2. Physical Exam: During the second half of the visit, the health care provider will perform a physical exam. The sports physical exam measures the athletes' vital signs. Check the athletes' lungs and heart. Evaluate strength, flexibility, vision, and more.

What Happens After The Sports Physical Exam?

Post Exam Clearance: After the exam, the service provider will complete and sign a form indicating the fitness of your child to participate in sports, if everything is okay.
Additional Follow-Up: Yet, in some cases, the service provider may recommend a follow-up examination, additional tests, or specific treatment for medical problems.
Young athletes should not be concerned about extra follow-up care. The sports physical's ultimate goal is to ensure athletes' safety while playing sports and not stop them from playing.
Additional follow-up can be as simple as re-checking blood pressure in a few weeks.

How Long Should Athletes Wait To Return To Sports After a COVID-19 Diagnosis?

Those athletes who had minimal or no symptoms should wait at least 10 days after testing positive, as long as they had no fever for 24 hours and other symptoms also improve.

Those who experienced moderate or severe symptoms should wait at least 10 days without having covid-19 symptoms and also have received an appropriate assessment.

Guidelines for Athletes for Playing Sports after COVID-19 Infection

The American-College-of-Cardiology & American-Academy-of-Pediatrics recommend that anyone diagnosed with COVID-19 should not participate in sports until a doctor has examined them for heart symptoms. These symptoms include:

Chest pain
Fatigue
Fainting
Arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat
Breathing difficulty or shortness of breath

Note: This examination should occur even if your child has mild or no symptoms from the COVID-19 infection. The virus can still damage the heart.

Takeaway: Advice for Athletes Who Have Had COVID-19 Virus

Take your recovery seriously. Even if you have experienced mild or no symptoms, you must follow health care steps.

Regardless of your age or fitness level, returning to high-intensity activities can be very dangerous. And the importance of sports physicals for young athletes can’t be denied!

If you're looking for fun activities and exercise programs for your kids and teens reach out to us at Gantry Kids & Teens in New York. We're looking forward to working with you and your kids. Whether a novice or elite athlete, we got you covered with classes, after school, camps, the occasional Saturday night, private training or even celebrating a special event. We’re Building Tomorrow’s Leaders Today! Contact us today.

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