As fall sports seasons loom and young athletes are required to get a sports physical to be eligible to compete, we find there is confusion between a sports physical and a well child exam.  

To put it simply, we recommend a yearly Well Child Exam because it is a more thorough and complete evaluation of your child's health and well-being. 

Difference Between a Sports Physical and Well Child Exam 

Sports Physical

The purpose of the basic sports physical is to be sure your child can physically participate in the sports they want to play. It is a requirement of the Minnesota State High School League and can be good for one to three years.  

A doctor will assess past injuries, concussion history, heart and lung function, joint and bone abnormalities, or any other health issue that would prevent an athlete from playing sports or put them at a greater risk of injury. It is a basic health exam and doesn't cover many other health issues including mental health. If we find something that needs a more indepth exam, you may have to come back for a second appointment. Whereas, it would be covered in a well child exam. 

Well Child Exam

The purpose of the well child exam is to assess a child's overall health and well-being and is much more comprehensive than a sports physical. A well child exam includes: 

  • A thorough head-to-toe physical evaluation 
  • Screening for depression and anxiety, which is increasing in young people 
  • Asthma check and creation of an asthma plan 
  • Vaccination update 
  • Detecting emerging problems 
  • Discussion of healthy eating habits and the importance of exercise 
  • Checks for issues with heart, blood pressure, vision, diabetes 
  • Tips for good sleep habits 

We'll also cover things like seat belt use, brushing teeth, personal hygiene and stressors at home and at school. A well child exam covers twice as much as a sports exam. 

Why a Yearly Well Child Exam is So Important 

Young people change physically, socially and emotionally at a tremendous rate. An 11 year old and a 14 year old are very different physically and mentally, and have very different risks and stressors.  

Life habits begin to be set at a young age and a yearly well child exam gives us the best chance to help your child address any health issues and behaviors, either physical or mental, that may arise. 

We used to tell parents that they didn't need to bring their kids in every year when they entered the teen years, but that has changed. Too much can happen in one year and waiting more than a year could leave health problems undetected.  

The Benefits of a Well Child Exam 

Parenting is hard work. A well child exam gives you the opportunity to ask questions and discuss concerns you have about your child. For teenage parents, you may want to discuss risky behaviors. Make a list of topics you want to discuss. Benefits of a well child exam include: 

  • Chance to ask questions and discuss concerns 
  • Build your child's medical history 
  • Build a relationship with a health care provider. Over time this helps them to see changes in your child that may indicate a problem and provides you with a partner in raising your child.  
  • Teach your child the importance of going to the doctor 
  • Detect emerging problems 

When Scheduling Your Well Child Appointment 

A sports physical will be covered in a well child exam. When making your appointment for your well child exam, be sure to tell the staff that you need the sports physical form filled out. Print out the form (https://www.mshsl.org/sites/default/files/2020-07/2020-21-sqpe-3-25-20.pdf) and fill out the parent part of the form on page 2 before-hand and bring it to the appointment.  That will save time for everyone involved. 

Appointments fill up quickly before school starts. Don't wait. Call today to schedule your children's appointments and start their school year out right. 

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Kathryn Obregon, MD
Perham Health Pediatrics