Sports Physicals for Young Athletes

Sports Physicals for Young Athletes

Author: Children's Hospital Colorado February 10, 2026 Duration: 29:34

Before the Friday night lights and before the season even begins, there's one appointment that can determine athletic eligibility: the pre-participation sports physical. For pediatricians, it's often treated like a checkbox but in reality, it's a powerful clinical moment. Sometimes it is the one chance to catch something that can change a life. In this episode, we explore how to turn the pre-participation physical from paperwork into prevention. We'll break down what really matters in the sports physical, what red flags to watch for and how to use this visit to protect young athletes and support families.

Kristina Wilson, MD, and Nate Howell, MD, join us for this episode. Dr. Wilson is the Medical Director of the Sports Medicine Center at Children's Hospital Colorado and an Associate Professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Dr. Howell specializes in primary care sports medicine and is also an Assistant Professor. 

Some highlights from this episode include:

  • Current guidelines and recommendations for the sports pre-participation physical 
  • Why history matters during this exam 
  • How to handle the same day "I need this form signed now" visit 
  • How to best conduct this during a routine checkup  

 For more information on Children's Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org. 


For those dedicated to the health of children, Charting Pediatrics serves as a vital, ongoing conversation directly from the front lines of pediatric care. Produced by the multidisciplinary experts at Children's Hospital Colorado, this weekly podcast delves into the nuanced realities of modern medicine for young patients. Each episode moves beyond textbook summaries to explore the practical application of groundbreaking research, emerging innovations, and essential educational resources. The discussions are candid, often tackling the complex challenges that clinicians face daily, from evolving treatment protocols to systemic issues within the healthcare community. Now in its eighth season, the program has established itself as a trusted source for physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals seeking to deepen their knowledge and refine their practice. Listening to this podcast feels like gaining direct access to a roundtable of specialists, all focused on a single goal: empowering medical providers with the context and confidence needed to make the best decisions for their patients. The tone is collegial and insightful, transforming the latest evidence and clinical experience into actionable understanding. It’s where the science of pediatrics meets the art of its application, fostering a supportive dialogue for anyone committed to advancing child health.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Charting Pediatrics
Podcast Episodes
When is a Curve a Sign of Scoliosis? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:51
The human spine is designed to support, balance and adapt through a lifetime of growth. But what happens when that growth starts to bend in an unexpected direction? Scoliosis often emerges during periods of rapid develop…
Helping Parents With Discipline [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:34
When most people hear the word "discipline", they think consequences, punishments or stopping bad behavior in the moment. But what if we've been thinking about discipline too narrowly? We are reframing discipline in todd…
Making Sense of BRUE [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:48
It's one of the most unsettling calls a pediatrician can get: a baby who turned blue, stopped breathing or suddenly went limp, only to appear completely normal moments later. Welcome to the clinical gray zone of BRUE (Br…
New Drowning Prevention Guidance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:03
For many families, water represents joy, summer afternoons, swimming lessons, beach vacations, backyard pools and time spent together. But in pediatrics, we also know that water can become dangerous in seconds, often qui…
Atypical Anorexia: Looking Beyond the Scale [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:01
What if the patient you're least worried about is the one most at risk? In pediatrics, we're trained to look for red flags such as low weight, failing growth curves and visible signs of malnutrition. But atypical anorexi…
Heart Murmurs: Red Flags and Reassurance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:10
Heart murmurs are one of the most common findings in pediatric practice, but determining which ones warrant further evaluation can be challenging. While many murmurs are innocent, others may signal underlying structural…
Ebola in 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:47
Ebola has a way of cutting through the noise of the news cycle. Its name alone can shift conversations in exam rooms and on living room couches. But what's circulating in headlines is not always what's circulating in rea…
The Latest on Child Abuse in Pediatrics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:27
There's a moment in a pediatrician's day that doesn't show up on the schedule. It's the bruise that doesn't quite match the story, or the awkward pause after a parent answers a question just a little too quickly or the c…
Hantavirus Beyond the Headlines [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:07
When a rare disease suddenly dominates headlines, questions spread quickly and so does anxiety. Over the past few weeks, hantavirus has re-entered the national conversation, leaving many families wondering how concerned…
The Pediatric UTI Playbook [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:06
Pediatric urinary tract infections, or UTIs, don't always follow a script. While they're one of the most common diagnoses, they're also one of the most nuanced. They can be subtle, inconsistent and easy to over — or unde…