Which physical do you need?
Physicals look alike from the outside, but each one answers a different question. An annual physical is about your long-term health. A school or sports physical asks whether it’s safe to join in. An employment physical checks that you can do a particular job. Knowing which one you need, and bringing the right form, saves you a second trip.
Annual physicals
Your yearly physical is the core of primary and preventive care. It covers your history, vital signs, a head-to-toe exam, your medicines and the screenings that suit your age. It’s also the visit to bring up anything you’ve been meaning to ask. Read what to expect at an annual physical before you come.
School and sports physicals
Schools, camps and teams usually want a physical before the year or the season starts. Each one uses its own form, so bring the one you were given. The doctor can then complete exactly what it asks for.
The exam focuses on what matters for activity: heart, lungs, blood pressure, joints and any past injuries. Expect questions about fainting, chest pain or unusual shortness of breath during exercise, and about heart problems in the family. Those are the things sports forms care about most.
Many families need these forms in the weeks before school starts, so book early rather than the week of the deadline. If a grandparent or another adult will bring your child, fill in the authorization to treat a minor first.
Employment physicals
Some jobs ask for a physical before you start. Your employer decides what it should include, so bring their form or written instructions. If the job involves driving a commercial vehicle, you’ll need a DOT physical instead, which has its own federal rules. Employers who send staff to us regularly can set up an account.
What happens at a physical
- We go over your health history, medicines and any allergies.
- We check your height, weight, blood pressure and pulse, and screen your vision and hearing if your form asks for it.
- The doctor examines you and asks about anything your form needs.
- If the form or your health calls for it, lab work or an EKG can be done here.
- The doctor completes and signs your form.
Paying for your physical
We take most major plans, Medicare and Medicaid among them; the full list is here. Plans don’t always treat a school, sports or job physical the same way as a yearly wellness visit, so check with your insurer if cost matters. Self-pay is always an option.
Bring to your physical
- The form from your school, team, camp or employer, with your own section filled in
- A photo ID, and your insurance card or your child’s
- A list of your medicines and allergies
- Your vaccination record, if the form asks for it
- Glasses or contact lenses, if you use them, for the vision check
- Comfortable clothing that makes it easy to examine your joints
Common questions
What’s the difference between a sports physical and an annual physical?
A sports physical checks whether it’s safe to play, with a focus on the heart, lungs and joints. An annual physical looks at your overall health, including screenings and long-term conditions. A sports physical doesn’t replace a yearly checkup, so ask when you book if you’d like both looked at.
Can you fill out my child’s school or sports form?
Yes. Bring the form your school, camp or league gave you, with the parent section completed. The doctor fills in the medical part after the exam and signs it.
Do I need to fast before a physical?
Usually only if fasting blood work is planned, such as some cholesterol or blood sugar tests. If you’re not sure, call us at (281) 984-4550 before your appointment and we’ll tell you.
How often do I need a sports physical?
That’s set by the school or league, not by us, and many ask for one each year. Check the form or ask the coach before you book.
Do you check vision and hearing?
Yes. A full physical here includes vision and hearing screening, which most school, sports and employment forms ask for. Bring your glasses or contact lenses if you use them.
