Sports cardiology

If you’ve been diagnosed with a heart condition, you may wonder whether it’s safe to exercise or how soon you can resume physical activity. Whether you’re managing a heart condition and want to start or return to exercise, or you’re an athlete looking to optimize your performance, Penn Medicine sports cardiology can help.

Our team of cardiologists works with people of all ages and fitness levels to create tailored treatment and testing plans. We conduct exercise-directed cardiovascular assessments and use advanced diagnostic techniques as needed. As the only program of its kind in Philadelphia, our multidisciplinary team includes specialists in electrophysiology, valve disease, prevention, congenital heart disease, and inherited heart disease. We collaborate closely with orthopedics, pulmonology, rehabilitation medicine, and nutritionists to design the best plan for you.

Your heart works as hard as you do, and regular exercise is essential for keeping it healthy and happy. Our team provides the testing and support you need to develop an exercise plan that benefits your heart while allowing you to exercise comfortably and safely.

Your plan will be tailored to address your specific exercise-related concerns and personal goals. We offer a range of tools, including VO2 max testing, stress tests, echocardiograms, and body fat assessments, to create a plan that meets your needs.

We specialize in:

• Patients with known cardiovascular disease who want to start exercising or engage in athletic activities.
• Patients recovering from a heart attack, heart failure, or heart surgery who wish to resume or begin an exercise program.
• Patients seeking guidance on how much and how often to exercise to reduce their cardiovascular risk.
• Performance athletes referred for screening before participating in professional or high-level competitive sports.
• Individuals starting an intense fitness program who need a cardiovascular risk assessment and an exercise plan.

Many of our patients are athletes or very active with few symptoms who want to continue participating and competing. Our sports cardiology program can help you create safe strategies to keep doing what you love.

Our cardiologists provide screening and treatment for all types of heart disease, including:

• Abnormal findings on electrocardiograms (EKGs), stress tests, or echocardiograms.
• Symptoms during exercise, such as chest pain, fainting, heart palpitations, or shortness of breath.
• Unexplained deconditioning or decline in physical performance.
• Any preexisting cardiovascular disease, including patients transitioning from cardiac rehabilitation and those with coronary artery disease, valve disease, or other conditions who want to start or continue exercising.
• Abnormal sports screening assessments and sports clearance.

Sports and exercise with inherited heart disease

Exercise is important for our health. But if you have a genetic heart disease, you may have been told to avoid it due to concerns about triggering abnormal heart rhythms. New guidance from leading national organizations now encourages people with inherited heart conditions to stay active—with certain precautions. At Penn Medicine, we’re committed to helping you stay active safely.

Our team of experts can help you navigate the complexities of living with genetic heart disease. International organizations recommend that people with inherited heart disease be treated by specialists, especially if they want to be active. Our physicians, advanced practice providers, and counselors are highly trained and experienced in genetics and cardiac disease. We collaborate with Penn Medicine experts in every cardiac subspecialty to provide comprehensive care.

With extensive experience, advanced imaging tools, and genetic testing for cardiovascular disease, we can help you accurately distinguish normal changes in your heart from those associated with inherited heart conditions.

Why our sports cardiology and fitness program is different

We support people of all ages and skill levels in taking precautions during exercise. Our patients range from high school and college athletes to professionals, master’s-level competitors, and recreational exercisers.

While many health care providers advise people with heart disease not to exercise, we follow the latest evidence and national guidelines, which now encourage physical activity with proper precautions. In fact, Penn Medicine experts helped develop the guidelines from the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA).

Our exercise physiologists work with you to set and achieve your goals, whether that’s improving performance or maintaining heart health. Using technologies like Apple Health Kit and Fitbit by Google, we monitor your progress, giving you the tools to actively participate in your care. We listen to your needs and preferences regarding exercise and provide evidence-based guidance on physical activity and heart disease. Together, we make informed decisions about your sports and activities.