Girls school and sports physicals

There has been much discussion about what guys have to go through when getting a physical for sports or school but I would like to hear from the girls. What was your experience with physicals for sports or school? How much did you undress? What did the doctor examine? Were you examined in private or in a group?

These thoughts and questions were constantly on my mind when I was young! I've spent a LOT of time thinking and fantasizing about my friends and classmates at the doctor's.

First time in private called out of class into medical room dr waiting. Mum was sat waiting. Didnt understand why and thought I had done something wrong !

Next time I knew cos mum had told me what to expect.

@LilPatient00 --did everyone in your school have to see the doctor or just those who played sports?

School physical, I don't remember it as I was kindergarten age, stayed in same district so never had to have it redone.

Sports wasn't through the school, so no physical required, the only requirements were do you agree to the rules and the tuition.

College entry was the only one I remember. It was a standard physical at the doctor's office, had to have meningitis vaccine and tb test, passed out from those.

The last school medical was when I started high school. We were seen one at a time and undressed to our underwear. There was a male doctor and aa female nurse assistant

I was still 15 but nearly 16 I think when I had a school medical but there was no real undressing for that, it was just blouse opened for a heart check and a look at my eyes and just a few questions after that. It was a male doctor and a female nurse.

We definitely did not need a medical for sports, I mean that would just have been silly.

The old GP who did all of the athletic physicals for our local junior high and high school didn't believe in gowns and had everyone, male or female, any age from birth to death bare chested to listen to lungs and heart. The girls who were his regular patients knew the drill and were used to being topless when he stethed them. The girls referred to their athletic physicals as "showing our tits to Dr. Charlie."

We definitely did not need a medical for sports, I mean that would just have been silly.

@Amethyst

It's not at all silly to have a physical for sports. In fact, it makes more sense than for the general student population.

Even kids can have cardiac issues. They should be screened for that. Just three years ago a 15 year old boy died on the basketball court due to an undiagnosed cardiac condition. For some people with scoliosis, certain sports would be dangerous. There are other orthopedic conditions which would question the person's suitability for some sports. While it is no longer viewed this way, boys with an inguinal hernia might have been limited in the sports they were allowed to participate in.

That some places choose not to take this precaution, doesn't make it 'silly.'

It's not at all silly to have a physical for sports. In fact, it makes more sense than for the general student population.

Even kids can have cardiac issues. They should be screened for that. Just three years ago a 15 year old boy died on the basketball court due to an undiagnosed cardiac condition.

Well things like that are so rare all they really need is a heart check then @Fandomi, it does not need a lot of intrusive examinations though.

@Amethyst "Well things like that are so rare all they really need is a heart check then @Fandomi, it does not need a lot of intrusive examinations though."

In your experience, how rare are cardiac conditions in children, and would they be discovered simply by listening to their heart?

I mentioned several other, more common conditions which are screened for in a physical exam. I said nothing about an "intrusive examination." Quite the opposite, I implied that hernia exams in boys are no longer called for.

In your experience, how rare are cardiac conditions in children, and would they be discovered simply by listening to their heart?

I mentioned several other, more common conditions which are screened for in a physical exam. I said nothing about an "intrusive examination." Quite the opposite, I implied that hernia exams in boys are no longer called for.

I am not a doctor but they can use ECGs to try to find undiagnosed heart conditions and I think that is a good idea. And I think the kid will just be taken to their normal doctor if they tell their parents something is wrong and if they need not to, they will not do sports because their own doctor will tell them they shouldn't. But if they are healthy and not injured or anything they should not need school medicals to give them permission to just run about a bit, which is a healthy thing anyway.

@Amethyst I am not a doctor but they can use ECGs to try to find undiagnosed heart conditions and I think that is a good idea. And I think the kid will just be taken to their normal doctor if they tell their parents something is wrong and if they need not to, they will not do sports because their own doctor will tell them they shouldn't. But if they are healthy and not injured or anything they should not need school medicals to give them permission to just run about a bit, which is a healthy thing anyway.

Some heart conditions can be diagnosed with an ECG.

Can scoliosis, which can keep someone from participating in certain sports be diagnosed by an ECG? How about asthma?

Of course if the doctor finds something, the kid is referred to their own doctor, who further investigates and determines if the child can play a given sport. But it makes sense to have a screening before playing sports.

"if they are healthy and not injured or anything they should not need school medicals "

The purpose of the school medical would be to determine if they are healthy. That's the whole point.

I realize 'football' means something different in the UK than in the US, but if you've ever seen US football, you'd know it didn't involve 'just running around a bit.' lol The same with wrestling.

All around the world, there are differing regional healthcare practices. Those which are unlike yours are not necessarily "silly," just because they're different.

We never had school physicals and I never played sports. My kids all did and physicals were required but they took home a form and we went to their own doctor to get it filled out.

We never had school physicals and I never played sports. My kids all did and physicals were required but they took home a form and we went to their own doctor to get it filled out.

Same for my sisters. Went to our family doc for a release to try out for cheerleading. Guess that was considered a sport! They never told me how thorough or how bland it was.

I payed golf and basketball in high school. I don't remember going to a school physician. I might have had to have a note for my family physician. I did have a physical when I played golf in college.

I realize 'football' means something different in the UK than in the US, but if you've ever seen US football, you'd know it didn't involve 'just running around a bit.' lol The same with wrestling.

All around the world, there are differing regional healthcare practices. Those which are unlike yours are not necessarily "silly," just because they're different.

The topic is about girls' medicals @Fandomi and about maybe having a medical before they can play sports, but I never heard of British girls at school doing American football or anything else when they crash into each other like that. There are some girls' rugby teams I think at university but that is different, it is not at school. And I never heard of girls doing wrestling or other contact sports or fighting at school either. So maybe it would be "silly" to worry too much about not very much, and the girls' sports is basically a bit of running about and swinging a bat or a tennis racquet or something. There is not a lot of risk in that, we are not going to fall to pieces but I know in America some people are a bit more worried about that so maybe medicals for that seem more sensible to you than to me.

In the US, 46 states have sanctioned girls wrestling teams that compete up through state championships. Requirements to participate include meeting academic and physical exam requirements. Some states have allowed girls to join and compete on men’s team. A Minnesota girl placed 5th in the boys state tournament. There are also Jr and Sr highs cool girls basketball/track/cross country teams that I assume would require physicals to partipate. Just guessing, but medications, heart, lungs, and checking for muscular/bone issues that could result in injury are what they look for in the exams.

The topic is about girls' medicals @Fandomi and about maybe having a medical before they can play sports, but I never heard of British girls at school doing American football or anything else when they crash into each other like that. There are some girls' rugby teams I think at university but that is different, it is not at school. And I never heard of girls doing wrestling or other contact sports or fighting at school either. So maybe it would be "silly" to worry too much about not very much, and the girls' sports is basically a bit of running about and swinging a bat or a tennis racquet or something. There is not a lot of risk in that, we are not going to fall to pieces but I know in America some people are a bit more worried about that so maybe medicals for that seem more sensible to you than to me.

True, girls don't play 'real' football, but I'm sure many girls would object to you characterizing their involvement in sports as nothing more than 'a little running around.' I don't believe this topic was limited to GB schools. None the less, my understanding is there is rugby as well as field hockey in the UK's version of high school.

What's 'silly' is not acknowledging the validity of different areas' different levels of protection and standards. Nope, girls aren't going to 'fall apart.' It's sad that you think falling apart should be the standard for a harmless screening.

I payed golf and basketball in high school. I don't remember going to a school physician. I might have had to have a note for my family physician. I did have a physical when I played golf in college.

No need for medical screening when you're doing girls' sports, just running around a bit or swinging a stick.

I wonder why you needed a physical for golf in college.

Same for my sisters. Went to our family doc for a release to try out for cheerleading. Guess that was considered a sport! They never told me how thorough or how bland it was.

Some would say it's silly for a girl to go to a doctor when she's just going to run around a bit and maybe jump.

Some would say it's silly for a girl to go to a doctor when she's just going to run around a bit and maybe jump.

I would guess it’s a liability issue for the schools. Some parents would look for any reason to sue -at least here in the US.

Not in my day, but modern cheerleading involves some gymnastics, handsprings, flips, balancing. It’s pretty physical these days.

@Rigel I would guess it’s a liability issue for the schools. Some parents would look for any reason to sue -at least here in the US.

Not in my day, but modern cheerleading involves some gymnastics, handsprings, flips, balancing. It’s pretty physical these days.

I don't think years ago people were as concerned about liability as they are today. Even today, one rarely hears about someone suing a school for a sports related injury. The parents of the 15 year old boy I discussed above aren't suing the school because his heart condition wasn't discovered. And this is a current matter.

The point is, some people think it's 'silly' for girls to have anything more than their heart listened to, as girls do nothing more than 'run a little and swing a stick,' or so they say.

Of course you're right about modern cheerleading, and wanting them to be properly screened for conditions which could be exacerbated by what they do is more than about liability, and is more prudent than 'silly.'

People from different parts of the world have different practices. I'd rather spend the money and know my kids are in good enough shape to do whatever it is they're going to do. But I have no problem with those who's standards are lower.

In the UK there is no extensive medicals at schools or for sports, neither for boys nor girls. They have basic things like vaccinations (parents need to sign an agreement paper)... what else they had? Height/weight, sight check. Body mass index was calculated. That's about it... For sports there is number of forms need to be filled and signed. They may ask for the clearance from GP in a case of some condition declared. Otherwise there's no medical required.

I went to a private school in the US and we didn't really do school or sports physicals- you needed proof of vaccination, and if you wanted to play a sport, your personal doctor would fill out a form. There wasn't much to it- standard heart, lungs, and joints.