Physicals

Routine physical exams are straightforward exams that assess your child's overall health and are at the foundation of disease prevention. Routine physicals are best performed by your child's primary care pediatrician, who has followed your child throughout their life and knows them best. However, sometimes specialized physical exams, such as sports and camp physicals, are also required to ensure your child is in good health to participate. If you're in a pinch and can't get an appointment with your pediatrician soon enough, Valencia Health may be able to help coordinate care your child needs urgently and keep your pediatrician involved and informed. 

Why are Physicals so important?

Physicals are the setting where your child receives the preventive health services needed to thrive. These annual visits are an opportunity for a pediatric health professional to assess your child’s health and development.

Identifying developmental delays, whether physical or cognitive, is a critical component of getting early treatment, which can significantly improve outcomes. Newborn care visits focus on charting and tracking an infant’s development, and pediatric physicals continue to keep a close eye on developmental markers. 

Vaccination is also an important part of routine physicals. Your pediatrician reviews immunization records to ensure your child is up-to-date and administers vaccines on the schedule as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.  

What happens during Pediatric Physicals?

The initial portion of the visit focuses on gathering information on your child’s overall health. This includes a quick check of vital signs. 

A simple physical examination follows. Some of the areas of focus might include:

• Breathing function
• Skin condition
• Reflexes
• Strength
• Flexibility
• Vision and hearing

Your pediatrician also assesses your child’s emotional health and language skills throughout the exam. There is always time built in for parents to ask questions or express concerns. Wondering if you should give your child vitamins? Concerned about screen time or sleep habits? Physicals are the setting to receive professional guidance on these issues. 

As kids grow older, the focus shifts to educating them on how to take control of their own health and wellness. The goal is to empower young people to embrace healthy lifestyles and enjoy the rewards for decades to come. 

What are Specialized Physicals?

Specialized physicals are exams required by organizations for a specific purpose. For instance, sports physicals are often a requirement for children who want to participate in youth athletics, both through their school or community youth organizations. These exams are required to ensure that a child is healthy enough to withstand the rigors of athletic practice, training, and play.