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31 "It is rare that children experience any of these things, but it's important for kids who play sports to have that physical," she says. "Often, kids with some of these underlying issues have been identified earlier in their lives, but we sometimes can pick up things that need to be addressed before they go ahead and play sports." Dr. Sarah Lallaman, primary care and wellness chief at Winona Health in Winona, Minn., says she also finds out about the child's past history of concussions or broken bones, to ensure the child is being treated properly to help prevent repeat head traumas and repetitive stress injuries. When conducting a sports physical, Dr. Lallaman says she attempts to differentiate the risks among different contact sports, and between individual versus team sports. Sometimes, she says, "a child will get unrestricted participation cleared for non-contact sports, or maybe clear with certain restrictions." "Asthma, allergies … we take it on a case-by-case basis and look at everything a child or a child's family has had to deal with to decide if playing a specific sport is a reasonable risk," says Dr. Lallaman. Talking the talk Having a conversation specifically about sports can also provide an opportunity for your child's health care provider to offer some tips for staying healthy during the playing season, namely getting enough rest, eating well, and stretching both before and after exercise. "A sports physical creates a baseline for any future problems," Dr. Chmura says. "It's a good time to tell kids that if they do sustain injuries—concussions or stress issues—they need to come back and follow up." Plan ahead While many walk-in clinics might provide the specific sports physical required by a school or a team, Dr. Lallaman suggests reaching out to your regular pediatrician in early summer (before the late summer pre-season rush) for a regular annual visit, and asking for an extra sports physical then as well. That way, says Dr. Lallaman, you can ensure that growth patterns and immunizations are also taken care of, and "establish for an adolescent that they have a specific doctor to go to for all their medical concerns during the season," she says. In addition, if you wait until right before the season starts to have a sports physical done, your child might have to miss the first few practices if there's a concern that needs to be addressed, she says. Dr. Lallaman adds that parents shouldn't be worried about the more intensive questioning doctors do during sports physicals. "In general, the common outcome of a sports physical is that everything's fine, and your child is free to play the sport of their choice," she says, adding that she believes in the old adage: "Better safe than sorry." Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention BE CONCUSSION CONSCIOUS Thanks to a new emphasis on preventing and treating concussion in youth sports, coaches and parent volunteers are paying more attention to their players' conditions after a big bump or blow to the body. It's also important to monitor your child for signs of concussion for a few days after such an injury, even if he or she appears to be fine initially. And of course, if the symptoms worsen, take your child to the emergency room immediately. Here are the most common concussion signs and symptoms: • Can't recall events prior to or after a hit or fall • Appears dazed or stunned • Forgets an instruction, is confused about an assignment or position, or is unsure of the game, score or opponent • Moves clumsily • Answers questions slowly • Loses consciousness (even briefly) • Shows mood, behavior or personality changes " A sports physical creates a baseline for any future problems. It's a good time to tell kids that if they do sustain injuries—concussions or stress issues—they need to come back and follow up." Dr. Kathryn Chmura, North Colorado Medical Center, Greeley, Colo.