Convenient Sports Physicals for Busy Families in East Brainerd, TN
Does your child need a physical for their sports team? If you’re like many busy families, you barely have enough hours in the day to accomplish everything you need to get done, and this is just one more task to add to the list. Fortunately, if you’re in East Brainerd, Tennessee, or the surrounding area, you can get your child’s sports physical completed at Erlanger Express Care, where we offer all our services on a walk-in basis.
Who Needs a Sports Physical?
Most schools and athletic programs in Tennessee require a sports physical once a year for students participating in organized sports. This includes middle school, high school, and even some recreational league athletes. If your child is playing football, baseball, basketball, soccer, cheerleading, track, or any other school sport, chances are they’ll need a current sports physical on file before they can begin practice.
If your child has had a recent illness, injury, or chronic condition like asthma, diabetes, or a heart condition, it’s especially important to get cleared by a medical provider before resuming physical activity.
Sports Physical Exams vs. Annual Physical Exams
So, what is a sports physical, and how does it differ from an annual physical? The goal of an athletic physical is to determine whether a child is healthy enough to safely participate in their chosen sport. To answer this question, a medical provider will:
- Ask about the child’s personal and family medical histories
- Record the child’s vitals, including their blood pressure and pulse
- Measure the child’s height and weight
- Examine the child’s eyes, ears, nose, throat, lungs, abdomen, and joints
- Assess the child’s strength and flexibility
While sports physicals tend to focus on a child’s physical health, annual physicals are more comprehensive. During an annual physical, a practitioner will also assess a child’s developmental, emotional, and social health.
What to Bring to Your Child’s Sports Physical
To help your visit go smoothly, we recommend bringing:
- Your child’s school or league-provided physical exam form
- A list of current medications and dosages
- Records of past surgeries, hospitalizations, or serious illnesses
- Any glasses or contacts your child wears
- Your insurance card (if applicable) and a valid ID
Having these materials on hand can streamline the process and ensure your provider has all the information needed to complete the physical thoroughly and accurately.
Why Choose Erlanger Express Care in East Brainerd?
Our East Brainerd clinic not only offers extended hours, but it’s also backed by the trusted name of Erlanger Health System. Our team understands the requirements for local school systems and can quickly and efficiently complete all necessary paperwork. Plus, if any concerns arise during the exam, we can refer your child to the appropriate specialists for follow-up care.
Visit Today for an Urgent Care Sports Physical
At Erlanger Express Care, we understand how hectic life can be. Many parents and guardians can’t take time away from work, school, and other obligations to visit medical providers during nine-to-five business hours, and that’s why we keep this location open seven days per week with extended hours. So, even if you only have time to squeeze in a sports physical in the evening or over a weekend, we can take care of it for you. Stop by our East Brainerd, TN, office today at 1635 Gunbarrel Road—no appointment is required.
