Most student athletes diagnosed with COVID-19 can’t wait to feel better and get back in the game.
Taking a cautious approach, providers from Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health Physicians Sports Medicine worked with colleagues in Cardiology, Family Medicine and other specialties, as well as local school districts, to develop a protocol for student athletes to safely return to competitive sports.
“We are still learning about the short- and long-term complications of COVID-19 in the pediatric population,” said Patrick Moreno, MD, LG Health Sports Medicine.
The primary concern for competitive athletes after COVID-19 is potential heart damage. LG Health is following the recommendations of cardiologists from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), our partners in pediatric care. Any child who tests positive should wait at least 14 days after their COVID-19 symptoms resolve before returning to competitive sports. Cardiac testing or an EKG may be recommended, depending on the child’s age and severity of illness.
Matthew D. Elias, MD, a CHOP cardiologist and assistant professor of Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine who sees patients at LG Health’s Suburban Pavilion in Lancaster, explained that there is less concern about children under age 12. “Younger children generally self-regulate their physical activity, so they do not reach the same intensity level as older competitive athletes,” Elias said.
Local school administrators, athletic directors and trainers, and team physicians are all involved in implementing the post-COVID return-to-sports protocol.
LG Health will continue to provide schools, parents and student-athletes clear and consistent guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep students healthy and safe.
Because every child and situation are unique, parents should discuss with their child’s primary-care provider any individual concerns, including what follow-up testing or other steps may be recommended before returning to sports.