Many Mom's have questions about when their child should receive a physical. The following questions have been answered by pediatrician Jeremy Slone, MD from Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
Q: At What age should kids get a physical?
A: Children should be getting physicals yearly. From when a child is a newborn to 6 months old doctors should be seeing a child every two months, from 6 months old until 2 years old every 6 months and after that, yearly. However, when a child starts playing an organized sport, which is usually around junior high age, they need to be getting sports physicals. Sports physicals focus more on the muscular skeleton of a child, so, it’s important to emphasize that the child is playing sports when getting a physical.
Q: Should boys get physicals earlier than girls?
A: Boys and girls should both be getting physicals yearly. Gender holds no significance because both boys and girls are prone to injuries. The same goes for sports. It doesn’t matter if the child plays a high impact sport like football or a low impact sport like badminton, it is still important to get a sport’s physical. Each child’s body is different and they need to know if they have limits.
Q: Where should parents go to get a physical?
A: It is best to go to the child’s primary doctor. Since primary doctors see their patients on a continual basis, they have a better history of the child medically. They are also able to facilitate referrals and follow-up testing where otherwise at a school clinic they may not be able to provide follow-up. Yet, if the family is unable to see their primary doctor, many places that offer physicals have just as qualified physicians.
Q: What should be included in a physical?
A: Firstly, the doctor should go over the medical history of the child. It’s very important to let the doctor know of any past instances, such as, dizziness, passing/blacking out or if they are easily tired. Also, it’s important to review family medical history. Families need to inform physicians of any family heart disease, sudden deaths, congenital heart dysrythmeias, etc.
After reviewing medical history, doctors need to listen to the child’s heart for murmurs. Certain murmurs of the heart are normal so doctors should check the heart while the child sits and lies down.
Joint and strength exams should also be included especially if the child is playing sports. A joint exam checks the laxity or looseness in the joints. This ensures that no future tears are under way. A strength exam includes checking balance and the strength of the muscles by applying resistance to the legs and arms. Also, if a child has a pre-existing injury doctors need to check to see if it is healing properly.
Blood pressure, heart rate, reflexes and other functions will also be checked, as well as, an examination of your child’s eyes, ears, nose, mouth, skin, chest, lungs, glands, abdomen, neurological system and skeletal system.
Q: What are the benefits of yearly physicals?
A: Even if a child is perfectly healthy, yearly physicals help establish healthcare for kids. Consistent physicals show that their health is important and they need to be responsible for it. Children need to learn not to rely on parents alone and need to take the initiative for their health. When a child is getting older they should feel comfortable asking questions to their doctor. Many times, children are intimidated by doctors so the more they are around them, the more they will feel comfortable. With older children, it is also a good idea for parents to step out of the room to allow the child to establish that private patient relationship. This allows children to feel free to ask any question they want.
About Phoenix Children’s Hospital
Phoenix Children’s Hospital is Arizona’s only licensed children’s hospital, providing world-class care in more than 40 pediatric specialties to our state’s sickest kids. Though Phoenix Children’s is one of the ten largest freestanding children’s hospitals in the country, rapid population growth in Arizona means the Hospital must grow as well. Phoenix Children’s recently announced a $588 million expansion plan to bring its special brand of family-centered care to even more patients and families. The plan includes a significant upgrade of the Hospital's current campus, an aggressive physician recruitment effort, and new satellite centers in high growth areas of the Valley. For more information, visit the Hospital’s Web site at www.phoenixchildrens.com.
Allison Bell
Media Relations Specialist
Phoenix Children's Hospital
1919 East Thomas Road
Phoenix, AZ 85016
abell@phoenixchildrens.com
Phone 602-546-0824
www.phoenixchildrens.com
