ZoomCare Sports Physicals
Sports Physicals for Athletic Clearance
Parenting is a juggling act. Between swimming lessons, school plays, and that school dance you agreed to chaperone, it can be hard to find time for the essential stuff — like scheduling your child's Sports Physical.
If your calendar is more crammed than a can of sardines, we're here to help. Our same-day, no-wait Sports Physicals for teens and children make it easy to fit care into your busy, non-stop life.
Why get a Sports Physical at ZoomCare?
Two words — convenience and quality.
It only takes a few minutes to schedule a same-day Sports Physical from your smartphone. You can choose from hundreds of available appointment times, including weekend and evening options. In most cases, our Sports Physicals take just 15 minutes or less. Led by board-certified physicians, our providers are experts at performing Sports Physicals for kids and teens. They’ll review your child’s medical history, and conduct a thorough physical examination.
Following the exam, your ZoomCare Provider will complete the remaining portions of the required medical forms for your burgeoning athlete.
Why does my child need a Sports Physical?
Often called pre-participation physical examinations (PPE), Sports Physicals help keep your child safe on the court, track, or field by ensuring that they're healthy and ready to compete or participate in camp. They're generally mandatory and must be completed before your child can participate in their chosen sport or camp.
When should they get a Sports Physical?
It's good to get your child's pre-participation physical at least six to eight weeks before the sports or camp season begins. That way, your ZoomCare Provider has time to treat any conditions they may find and perform necessary follow-up exams.
What happens during a Sports Physical?
A Sports Physical is a general health check with an emphasis on conditions that could affect your child’s participation in sports or camp. Our providers will check on the health of your child's lungs, heart, bones, and joints.
Your ZoomCare Provider may also:
- Measure your child's height and weight
- Ask questions about medical conditions that appear in the family, such as diabetes and asthma
- Review current conditions such as allergies and injuries
- Check blood pressure, oxygen saturation, heart rate and rhythm
- Test your child's vision
- Check heart, lungs, belly, ears, nose, and throat
- Check joints, strength, flexibility, and posture
Your child's provider may also ask about:
- Diet
- Use of drugs, alcohol, and supplements
- Menstrual periods (if applicable)
Please note: Sports physicals don't include lab work. If you think your child will need labs, please schedule a visit with their pediatrician.
Are Sports Physicals just for kids?
Nope! Sports Physical visits are for any participants of school sports or camps. If you are an adult (18+) participating in or chaperoning a school sport or camp, there are two ways we can get this paperwork completed, and your best option will depend on your unique situation.
1) Schedule an Annual Wellness Exam via our Primary Care services
Our thirty-minute exams are great for adults who have more complicated health issues, need lab work, or want to bill insurance for their visit. During your Annual Wellness exam, we'll deliver a complete examination, order labs as needed, and complete your paperwork.
2) Schedule a Sports Physical Visit for athletic clearance paperwork ONLY
If you don’t have insurance, or you’ve already received your covered Annual Wellness Exam for the year, you can schedule a Sports Physical to have your athletic clearance paperwork completed. Please note Sports Physicals are limited to general examinations for the purpose of signing clearance paperwork only and do not cover full wellness examinations, labs, tests, or additional procedures.
To learn more about athletic clearance for adults, read our FAQ
How to prepare for your Sports Physical
On the day of your visit, please gather any required Athletic Clearance paperwork, print and complete the patient portions before check-in. Please check with your child's sport or program leaders to confirm the required paperwork. Some standard Athletic Clearance forms include:
Washington Sport Physical Form
Have more questions about Sports Physicals at ZoomCare? We’ve got answers.
