How Sports Physicals Prepare Your Child for the School Year

There is a lot of planning and chaos that goes into preparing your child for school. Parents often ease their child back into the new school year with back-to-school shopping and gradually readjusting their bedtimes from the once-lax summer ones into more strict school-centric sleeping schedules. Preventative care is another measure you should take to prepare your child for the coming year at school.

Teachers and students in classrooms are often exposed to different infections and viral conditions, and schools typically try to update parents about any potential health concerns. One great way to combat any new health warnings is for your child to participate in our low-priced sports physicals! We offer the best prices throughout the Phoenix area, starting at $20 per exam!

During your child’s sports physical, the medical provider will go over your child’s vital signs and gauge mobility. They will also review their immunization history and make recommendations when necessary. Special note: If your child plans to participate in any extracurricular activities such as band, cheerleading or sports, acquire a medical release form prior to visiting the clinic, and get your practitioner to sign or stamp it. This form will authorize your child’s participation in these types of after-school activities.

In the meantime, schools and government programs are doing their own back-to-school preparation. This includes updating curriculums and the suggested immunization (vaccination) schedules. According to the CDC^[1], all children from infancy to 18-years-old are highly recommended to keep up on their vaccinations, since this will protect their immune systems from life-threatening conditions. Doing so helps protect their fellow classmates and teachers too.

Popular preventative care shots include meningococcal, hepatitis A and B, MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella), tetanus and flu shots. Below we have included summaries of what these conditions are, and how they affect your child.

Meningococcal - This shot helps reduce the risk of your child contracting meningitis, a potentially fatal infection that affects the brain and spinal protective lining^[2].

Hepatitis A - This highly contagious infection affects the liver and can be contracted by other individuals via contaminated food or drink^[3].

Hepatitis B - Similar to hepatitis A, this is another incurable liver infection. Children are more susceptible to this condition, but if infected in adult years, full recoveries are common ^[4].

Measles - This virus often affects children and can be potentially fatal. It typically presents cold-like symptoms accompanied by a rash. Early treatment and preventative vaccinations can help curb this viral infection before it appears or worsens^[5].

Mumps - This viral infection attacks certain ear, nose and throat glands and can potentially lead to hearing loss. Mumps is a worldwide epidemic, although studies have shown that early preventative care has dropped the number of cases in the U.S. ^[6]

Rubella - While sharing some of the same characteristics as measles, rubella is another viral infection that appears as a red rash and bumps. Thankfully, it is not known to progress as seriously or as infectiously as measles^[7].

Tetanus - Tetanus is a bacterial disease that targets the nervous system, which can result in painful neck and jaw muscle contractions as well as other physical side-effects. This disease is incurable and can be found worldwide^[8].

Influenza - Also known as the flu, this virus attacks the nose, lungs and throat. Talk to your physician about updated flu prevention shots, as this virus often changes origins and requires different combative vaccinations every year^[9].

Don’t let your child become another statistic of these infections or diseases. Protect your child and their friends today by coming to one of our three valleywide locations in Tempe, Phoenix and Surprise!

Phoenix Family Medical Clinic providers have served the Valley of the Sun for over 30 years combined. We know you will love our integrative medicine and walk-in experience. Learn more handy preventative health tips on our Facebook or Google+!

^[1]CDC. “Recommended Immunization Schedule for Persons Age 0 Through 18 Years: United States, 2014.” 31 January, 2014. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Retrieved August 8, 2014 from http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/child-adolescent.html.

^[2]Mayo Clinic. “Diseases and Conditions: Meningitis.” 19 March, 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2014 from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/meningitis/basics/definition/con-20019713.

^[3]Mayo Clinic. “Diseases and Conditions: Hepatitis A.” 01 September, 2011. Retrieved August 8, 2014 from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-a/basics/definition/con-20022163.

^[4]Mayo Clinic. “Diseases and Conditions: Hepatitis B.” 01 September, 2011. Retrieved August 8, 2014 from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-b/basics/definition/con-20022210.

^[5]Mayo Clinic. “Diseases and Conditions: Measles.” 24 May, 2014. Retrieved August 8, 2014 from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/measles/basics/definition/con-20019675.

^[6]Mayo Clinic. “Diseases and Conditions: Mumps.” 05 October, 2012. Retrieved August 8, 2014 from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mumps/basics/definition/con-20019914.

^[7]Mayo Clinic. “Diseases and Conditions: Rubella.” 09 June, 2011. Retrieved August 8, 2014 from >http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rubella/basics/definition/con-20020067.

^[8]Mayo Clinic. “Diseases and Conditions: Tetanus.” 24 April, 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2014 from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tetanus/basics/definition/con-20021956.

^[9]Mayo Clinic. “Diseases and Conditions: Influenza.” 21 February, 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2014 from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/flu/basics/definition/con-20035101.

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