Sports Physicals for High School Athletes in Southlake
What the exam actually screens for, why it is not the same as an annual physical, and what to bring so you only come once.
A sports physical, sometimes called a pre-participation physical evaluation, exists to answer one narrow question: is there anything that makes it unsafe for this athlete to play?
It is a good exam for that purpose. It is not a substitute for an annual physical, and treating it as one is the most common misunderstanding we see.
What it screens for
The exam concentrates on the systems where sudden problems occur in young athletes.
Cardiac. This is the core of it. Heart sounds, rhythm, blood pressure, and pulses, combined with a history focused on warning signs: fainting or near fainting during exercise, chest pain with exertion, unusual shortness of breath, palpitations, and family history of sudden cardiac death or inherited heart conditions before age 50. That history section catches more than the stethoscope does, which is why it should be filled out carefully rather than rushed in the waiting room.
Musculoskeletal. Joint stability, range of motion, and prior injuries. A shoulder that has dislocated twice or a knee that was never properly rehabilitated changes what needs to happen before the season.
Neurologic. Concussion history specifically, including how many, how recently, and how long symptoms lasted. This is one of the more important parts of the visit and it is frequently underreported by athletes who want to play.
General. Vision, height and weight, skin, abdomen, and a review of medications, supplements and any chronic conditions such as asthma. If an athlete has asthma, this is the moment to confirm the inhaler is current and they know when to use it.
What to bring
- The complete school or UIL form, including the history section filled out beforehand
- A list of current medications and supplements, including anything taken for training
- Glasses or contacts if worn
- Records of prior injuries, surgeries or concussions if they were treated elsewhere
- Insurance card and photo identification
Filling out the history at home with a parent matters. Family cardiac history in particular is not something most 16 year olds can answer accurately on the spot.
The outcome
Most athletes are cleared without qualification. A minority are cleared with conditions, for example after an orthopedic evaluation or with a plan for asthma management. A small number need further workup before clearance, which is exactly what the exam exists to find.
If something needs follow up, you should leave knowing what it is, what the next step is, and roughly how long it will take, because seasons have deadlines.
Timing
Do it well before the deadline. Every practice in this area books up in the weeks before fall sports, and if the exam turns up something needing an echocardiogram or an orthopedic opinion, you want weeks of runway rather than days.
Where we fit
We see athletes age 16 and older from Southlake, Grapevine, Colleyville, Keller, Trophy Club and Westlake. Because we are a small practice, we can usually schedule these without a long wait, and we can combine the sports physical with an annual physical in a single visit if that is useful.
Book a visit, or see our Southlake page for directions and parking.
Common questions
What age do you see for sports physicals?
Age 16 and older. We are an adult practice and we do not provide pediatric care, so athletes younger than 16 need a pediatric office.
Do I need to bring the school form?
Yes, and bring the whole packet including the history section. The history is usually filled out by the athlete and a parent before the visit, and it is the part that actually catches things.
Is a sports physical the same as an annual physical?
No. A sports physical is a focused screening for safe participation. It does not cover the broader preventive work of an annual visit, such as screening labs and immunization review. Many families do both in one appointment, which is worth asking about when booking.
This article is general health information for adults age 16 and older, not medical advice for your situation, and reading it does not create a patient relationship. For advice about your own health, book a visit. If you think you are having an emergency, call 911.