Sports physicals are like a routine medical exam that assesses your child's physical fitness levels and clears them to safely participate in school sports and athletic activities. Most schools and sports programs will require that children satisfactorily complete a physical before participating in an athletic program. The pediatricians at Northside Pediatrics Associates, Dr. Ayotunde Faweya and Dr. Dora Aguilar, recommend that parents schedule sports physicals with enough time to ensure that the children will be cleared and ready to participate in time for the beginning of the athletic season.

Schedule a Sports Physical in Conroe, TX

A typical sports physical will include a comprehensive medical history as well as a physical exam. Even if your children are healthy or have not suffered from previous injuries, a physical will still be necessary to ensure that they can safely participate in their chosen activity. Sometimes underlying conditions or dormant injuries are not immediately visible or detectable. A physical is also an important precaution in your child's overall health and wellbeing.

What to Expect from a Sports Physical

Here are some of the things the pediatrician will be monitoring and looking for during the physical:

• Assess cardiovascular health and identify underlying conditions
• Monitor progress on or signs of injuries like concussions
• Check blood pressure
• Follow up on how prior orthopedic injuries are healing
• Nutrition counseling and monitoring for eating disorders
• Discuss proper techniques, precautions, and proper use of safety equipment
• Clear previous athletic restrictions after successful injury rehabilitation

A sports physical will assess reflexes, vital signs, joint and muscle strength, and cardiovascular health. They are usually required once per school year, but follow up screenings may be necessary if there are any health issues or an injury develops.

Find a Pediatrician in Conroe, TX

For more information about sports physicals and other pediatric services, contact Northside Pediatrics Associates today by calling 936-270-8655 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Faweya or Dr. Aguilar.

Cold Vs. Flu

Is it a cold or the flu? When it comes to your child's health, your pediatrician provides great information and guidance on the most common illnesses plaguing families. If you are wondering about the exact nature of your child's illness and how to treat it, learn the differences between a cold and the flu and how to treat and prevent them.

What is a cold?

A cold is an upper respiratory viral infection lasting 5 to 7 days in both adults and children alike. Generally milder in intensity and shorter in duration than influenza, a cold causes:

• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Watery eyes
• A runny nose
• Tiredness
• Low-grade fever

Even though you try as hard as possible to keep your child safe while they are playing sports, accidents still happen. At these moments, it’s important that you know whether these are injuries that can easily be treated from the comfort of your own home or whether you need to turn to a pediatrician for proper medical attention.

Pediatricians have seen a lot of sports-related injuries over the years and while we also focus as much of our attention on prevention, we know the importance of being able to get immediate and comprehensive care when your child does sustain an injury.

Common sports-related injuries include:

• Dislocations (particularly in the shoulder)
• Traumatic injuries (this includes cuts, sprains and strains, and broken bones)
• Stress fractures
• Tendinitis (often in the hand or wrist)
• Concussion

When a dislocation happens many times it is accompanied by an audible popping sound at the moment that the injury occurred. This unnerving sound is often followed by sudden and intense pain. It’s important that you turn to a pediatrician who can put the shoulder or any other area of the body back in place. The joints of a child’s body are looser than adults, so it makes shoulders and other areas more prone to dislocations.

Minor cuts, sprains, and strains can often be handled with at-home care. In most cases, the RICE method is a great way to ensure that your child gets the rest they need to heal properly and to stay off of the injury until it fully heals. Icing and elevating the injured area can also reduce pain and swelling. Of course, if you suspect that your child has a broken bone, this will need to be evaluated by a medical professional right away.

Children who are serious or long-term athletes are more likely to experience overuse injuries. These injuries occur over time rather than suddenly and they are often the result of performing repetitive movements. Overuse injuries include stress fractures and tendinitis. If your child feels pain whenever they move a certain area of the body or if they notice pain or swelling in a certain area it’s important that they get checked out.

Wearing a helmet is crucial for protecting your child’s head while playing sports. Of course, if your child has received a blow to the head and is experiencing dizziness, fatigue, frequent or severe headaches or just seems out of sorts it’s crucial that you bring them in right away to see if they’ve incurred a concussion.

When in doubt, pick up the phone and talk to a pediatrician about your child’s injuries and symptoms. They will be able to determine whether or not they should come in for proper care.

Your child is eager to start the school year so they can participate in sports. That’s great news! Keeping your child active is an important part of a healthy lifestyle and sports can be a great experience for many children; however, it’s also important that your child’s pediatrician performs a yearly sports physical to make sure that they are ready for physical activity.

A sports physical is necessary for every child regardless of their current health. In fact, some schools make it mandatory for children to get an annual sports physical before they participate in any school sports. Regardless of whether this physical is mandatory or not, it’s highly advised that all children get a sports physical once a year.

Your child’s sports physical will involve going through their medical history and conducting a physical examination. The physical examination is pretty self-explanatory. We will check their vitals, as well as their height and weight. We will perform a vision test and evaluate everything from their heart and respiratory system to their musculoskeletal system. The goal of a physical exam is to make sure that your child hasn’t incurred any past injuries or developed any health problems that could be exacerbated by physical activity.

A pediatrician can also answer questions and provide counseling on nutrition, healthy weight loss or gain, and habits that could help your child’s physical health. Remember to bring any questions along with you.

Besides the physical examination, we will also sit down with you and your child and ask questions about their medical history. It’s important to be as detailed as possible. If it’s the first time they are having a sports physical it’s important to bring in a list of any supplements or medications (both over-the-counter or prescription) that they are currently taking.

We will ask a series of questions to find out if there are any serious or chronic health problems that run in the family, if your child has experienced any past injuries, if they’ve ever undergone surgery or been hospitalized, if they have any allergies or if they have any current disorders or illnesses. It’s important to provide as much detailed history as possible so that our pediatric team can perform a thorough and comprehensive physical.

Don’t wait until the last minute to schedule your child’s sports physical. It’s important to get your child on the books before the summer is gone and the doctor’s schedule fills up. You don’t want your child being benched during the season because they didn’t get a sports physical. Call your pediatrician today.

Asthma is a respiratory disorder that affects over eight percent of children according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Because it affects a child’s ability to breathe freely and normally, it is a serious condition that needs to be managed constantly. Know the early signs that your child may have asthma so that you can seek advice and help from pediatrician Dr. Ayotunde Faweya at Northside Pediatrics Associates in Conroe, TX. 

The Challenges of Living with Asthma
Asthma is a chronic condition, meaning that flare-ups can happen frequently and unexpectedly. They can be triggered by an allergic reaction, overexertion, or some form of stress. Children are highly active, play sports, and are exposed to so many potential allergens during the course of the average day at school and when they’re outside. This is why it’s so important to be proactive about asthma diagnosis, treatment, and management. 

Signs of Asthma in Children
According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, most asthma symptoms start to appear in children under five years old, but they can start to show up at any age. These are some of the signs of a potential case of asthma to discuss with your child’s Conroe, TX pediatrician:

- Shortness of breath, fast breathing, or wheezing.
- Pain or discomfort when trying to take breaths.
- A feeling of constriction in the throat.
- Excessive coughing.

Asthma Treatments
Helping your child manage asthma is a team effort that involves your pediatrician, family members, teachers, and other school contacts. These are some of the treatments that you’ll discuss:

- Asthma inhaler medication.
- A nebulizer machine that delivers asthma medication.
- Allergy medication if the asthma symptoms are caused by pollen, dust, or another allergen.
- Sublingual immunotherapy to control allergy reactions.
- Having an asthma management plan that is shared with everyone your child comes in contact with in the course of an average day.

Helping Your Child
It can be very distressing watching your child struggle with what could be asthma. Have this condition diagnosed and treated by your pediatrician at Northside Pediatrics Associates in Conroe, TX. Call (936) 270-8655 today for an appointment with Dr. Ayotunde Faweya.