Back to School & Sports Physicals in Cary, NC

Between shopping for school supplies and signing up for fall sports, it's easy for back to school and sports physicals to slip down the to-do list - until a coach or school nurse sends the form back asking for one. At Triangle Kids Care Pediatrics in Cary, we make it simple to knock out both a well-child visit and a sports physical before the first bell rings or the first practice starts. Whether your child needs a routine annual exam, a sports clearance form signed, or both handled at once, our office is set up to get families in and out with everything they need for the classroom and the field.

A sports physical isn't the same as an annual wellness exam. It has a narrower, more targeted focus. During this visit, we look specifically at whether your child's body is ready for the physical demands of organized sports. That means:

• Evaluating bones, muscles, and joints for flexibility, strength, and signs of prior overuse or injury
• Reviewing your child's complete medical history, including asthma, past concussions, sprains, fractures, medications, allergies, and family history of serious illness
• Watching for warning signs that could point to an underlying issue, such as dizziness, chest pain, or shortness of breath during exertion
• Confirming your child meets the specific requirements of their school, camp, or league
• Flagging sport-specific risk factors and offering guidance on injury prevention

If we do find something, say, a history of asthma that needs an updated action plan before your child starts conditioning drills, we'd rather catch it now, in our office, than have it show up mid-practice.

A sports clearance is only part of what most families need before the school year starts. While your child is in the office, it's the perfect time to also cover:

North Carolina schools require specific vaccines by grade level, and we follow the schedule set by the American Academy of Pediatrics. If your child is due for a booster, we'll take care of it during the same visit. Review our immunization guidelines any time.

If your child has asthma or food allergies, schools typically require an updated Asthma Action Plan or Food Allergy Action Plan on file before the first day. We'll review medication and devices with your child to confirm they're using them correctly and send you home with an updated plan.

Teachers often notice attention or behavior patterns as the new school year settles in. If you have behavioral health concerns heading into the fall term, our pediatrician can complete an ADHD evaluation and put a treatment plan in place before it affects your child's classroom experience.

Back-to-school and sports physicals at Triangle Kids Care Pediatrics are performed by Dr. Sarah Cheema, a Washingtonian Top Doctor recognized for her attentive, thorough approach to pediatric care. Dr. Cheema takes the time to review your child's full health picture, not just check a box on a form, so you leave with real confidence heading into the school year.