Sports physicals in Yuba City Ready for the season ahead.
A sports physical checks an athlete’s health and readiness before the season starts. It’s designed to spot potential issues before they become problems on the field, and schools, clubs and leagues often require one before anyone can play.
- Also called
- A pre-participation physical exam, or PPE.
- What’s checked
- Health history, vitals, vision, and joints, strength and flexibility.
- What to bring
- This season’s school or league form, plus medications and past injuries.
Who needs a sports physical?
Sports physicals here aren’t only for students. Dr. Kalay sees athletes of every age, from kids and teens on school and club teams to adults in recreational and competitive leagues.
It’s worth booking when
- 01Your student’s school requires a physical before they can try out or play.
- 02Your child plays on a club team or in a league that asks for one.
- 03You’re an adult in a recreational or competitive league that wants clearance.
- 04An athlete is coming back from an injury and you’d like it checked before they return to play.
- 05You’d like peace of mind before a new season, form or no form.
The exam is the easy part.
What usually holds families up is paperwork: an out-of-date form, a missing signature, a visit booked too close to tryouts. Run through this list first and you’ll walk in with everything the exam needs.
Before you book
- Get the current form from the school’s athletic department or your league, not one saved from last season.
- Write down the deadline, who has to sign, and how the form gets turned in.
- Ask whether a parent or guardian needs to come along or sign.
- Call us with the form in hand and ask whether it’s one we can complete.
What to bring
- The form, with the parent or guardian sections filled in.
- A list of current medications and any allergies.
- Past injuries and surgeries, even minor ones from an earlier season.
- Ongoing conditions, and anything that shows up during exercise, like dizziness or unusual shortness of breath.
- Relevant family health history.
After the exam
- Ask whether anything else is needed to finish the form.
- If follow-up is recommended, find out what’s needed and who provides it.
- Turn the form in the way the school or league asks, and keep a copy.
- If clearance is done online, note what’s been uploaded and what’s still left.
What the exam covers.
A conversation about health, then a hands-on check. If your athlete is nervous, tell them questions are welcome, and that it helps to speak up about pain, breathing trouble, dizziness or an old injury.
To start
Health history.
Dr. Kalay reviews medical history, medications, allergies, and any injuries or health concerns, past or present.
Next
Vitals and vision.
Vital signs are taken and vision is screened.
Then
Joints, strength, movement.
A musculoskeletal exam, with checks of strength, flexibility and mobility. Old injuries are looked at too, since one that still affects movement can matter on the field.
Before you leave
Clearance, when appropriate.
If the exam supports it, Dr. Kalay clears your athlete to play. If something needs a closer look first, ask him to walk you through the next step.
Questions about sports physicals
Reviewed by
Dr. Gurj Kalay, DC
Doctor of Chiropractic, Palmer College of Chiropractic West (2014)
General information, not medical advice. Your own exam decides your care.
Does a sports physical guarantee my child will be cleared to play?
No. Clearance depends on the health history and exam findings. If something needs a closer look, Dr. Kalay may recommend follow-up or ask for more information before completing the form. That isn’t a diagnosis, and it doesn’t automatically mean your child can’t play. The school or league also decides, separately, whether the paperwork meets its requirements.
Can a sports physical replace my child’s yearly checkup?
Not necessarily. A sports physical focuses on readiness to play, while a routine wellness visit covers broader preventive care. It isn’t treatment for a current injury or illness either. Ask your child’s regular healthcare provider whether a wellness visit is due.
Will a sports physical prevent injuries?
No exam can predict every health problem or promise an injury-free season. A sports physical can flag issues that deserve attention, like an old injury that still affects how your child moves, so they can be dealt with before the season starts.
How far ahead should we book?
As soon as you know the tryout date or the school’s paperwork deadline. Booking early leaves time to fill in missing information, follow up on anything the exam turns up, and still turn the form in on time.
Does California require a sports physical for school sports?
It depends on the school, district, sport and governing organization, so the athletic department is the place to ask. For high school sports governed by the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), check the CIF’s current guidance alongside the school’s instructions.
Ready for the season? Book the physical first.
Call or book online, and keep the school or league form handy when you do. We offer convenient scheduling for busy families.
New patient? Send the new patient form and the team will contact you to set up your first visit.
New patient special437 Century Park Dr Ste A · Yuba City, CA