Physicals

Why does my child need a physical?

A routine physical is a preventive health care service that evaluates your child’s overall health and wellness, even when they aren’t sick. The goal of a routine physical is to assess how well your child’s body is functioning and track any health changes from one year to the next.

In addition to monitoring your child’s growth and development, annual physicals give your Westside Pediatrics provider the opportunity to identify potential health problems in the earliest stages, often before symptoms become noticeable.

What happens during a pediatric physical?

During an annual pediatric physical and well-child checkup, your Westside Pediatrics provider reviews your child’s personal and family health history. This helps your doctor identify existing health issues that should be addressed during the evaluation.

The experienced pediatrician performs a thorough physical exam, checking important aspects of your child’s health, such as:

• Weight
• Height
• Heart rhythm
• Lung function
• Body temperature

Your child’s provider also visually assesses the overall health of the skin and feels the abdomen for lumps, swelling, or other abnormalities.

If your child is having a sports physical, your Westside Pediatrics provider also evaluates your child’s muscle strength, flexibility, and overall range of motion. They review other aspects of your child’s health to ensure they can safely participate in certain sports and activities.

Following the sports physical, your child’s physician provides medical documentation needed for registration.

Depending on your child’s age and medical history, the Westside Pediatrics team can give necessary immunizations during their annual physicals and well-child checkups.

What happens if health issues are discovered during a physical?

For children with a family history of certain diseases, your Westside Pediatrics provider may request blood work or other diagnostic tests as part of a routine physical. If the physical exam or tests identify any concerns for existing diseases or disorders, such as diabetes or asthma, you can expect the team to create a comprehensive treatment plan.

Children who have chronic health issues may need more frequent checkups to monitor treatments and ensure the condition is well-managed.

While some kids may not be able to participate in certain sports or activities due to existing health issues, like severe asthma, your provider works closely with them to manage the condition and can recommend other options for staying physically active.

If your child needs a routine or sports physical, call the office to book an appointment.