Why Your Athlete’s Sports Physical Should Be Led by a Pediatrician

Preparing your child for a new sports season is an exciting time, but it comes with a checklist. While getting a signature on a school athletic form might feel like just another chore, that piece of paper represents something much more important: your child's safety on the field.

At the pediatric practice of Dr. Smita Tandon, MD in Fountain Valley, California, Dr. Smita Tandon provides comprehensive sports physicals designed to protect your young athlete. We look beyond the basic requirements to ensure your child is truly ready to play.

Why should a pediatrician perform your child's sports physical?

Many parents consider taking their children to quick-care clinics or school gymnasiums for mass screenings. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics (2023) formally discourages these mass physicals because they lack the privacy and complete medical records needed for a thorough evaluation. 

Because we serve as your pediatric medical home, we know your child's medical history, growth patterns, and previous injuries. This context allows us to spot subtle changes that an urgent care provider might easily miss during a rushed exam.

What happens during a comprehensive sports physical? 

A high-quality preparticipation physical evaluation is a detailed screening that checks your child's overall health and physical readiness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2022), over 54% of children and adolescents participate in organized sports, making these safety checks incredibly vital.

During the exam, we check your child's cardiovascular health, lungs, vision, and joints. We pay close attention to the heart because underlying cardiac issues are the primary cause of sudden complications in young athletes, and early detection saves lives.

When should you schedule your athlete's physical?

We recommend scheduling this appointment six to eight weeks before the practice season begins. As noted by HealthyChildren.org (2025), this timeline gives us plenty of room to address any follow-up evaluations or treatments without delaying your child's start date.

Don't worry if we find a minor medical issue during the exam. Uncovering a health concern rarely disqualifies an athlete from playing; instead, we work with you to create a safe management plan so they can stay active.

Keeping your child safe while they pursue their athletic passions is our top priority. If you're ready to prepare your young athlete for their upcoming season, contact our office to schedule a sports physical with Dr. Tandon today.