Program Overview
Your heart works just as hard as you do, and regular exercise is key to keeping your heart healthy and happy.
If you’ve been diagnosed with a heart condition, you may be wondering if it’s safe for you to exercise or how quickly you can resume physical activities. Our team can provide detailed testing and support to develop an exercise plan that benefits your heart and allows you to exercise comfortably and safely.
As the only such program in Philadelphia, our multidisciplinary team includes cardiologists specializing in electrophysiology, valve disease, prevention, congenital heart disease and inherited heart disease. We work closely with orthopedics, pulmonology, rehabilitation medicine and nutritionists to create the plan that is best for you.
Who We Treat
Whether you have a heart condition and want to start or resume exercising, or you’re an athlete looking to optimize performance, our program can develop a treatment and testing plan that is right for you.
Your plan will be tailored to address your exercise-related issues and personal goals. We offer an array of tools, including VO2 max testing, stress tests, echocardiogram and body fat assessment to create a plan based around you and your needs.
We specialize in:
- Patients with known cardiovascular disease that are planning to start exercising or athletic activities
- Patients who have experienced heart attack, heart failure or heart surgery and are trying to resume or begin an exercise program
- Patients looking for an exercise prescription on how much and how often to exercise to reduce their cardiovascular risk
- Performance athletes referred for screening prior to taking part in professional and high-level competitive athletics
- Individuals starting an aggressive fitness program who are seeking cardiovascular risk assessment and exercise prescription
Conditions Treated by the Sports Cardiology and Fitness Program
- Abnormal findings on electrocardiogram (EKG), stress test or echocardiogram
- Symptoms during exercise, such as chest pain, fainting, heart palpitations or shortness of breath
- Unexplained deconditioning
- Any preexisting cardiovascular disease, including patients transitioning from cardiac rehab, as well as patients with coronary artery disease, valve disease or other conditions that are looking to begin or continue exercising
- Abnormal sports screening assessment and sports ‘clearance'
Why Penn's Sports Cardiology and Fitness Program is Different
Our team of cardiologists is here to help athletes and individuals of all ages and fitness levels get the individualized attention they need. We conduct an exercise directed cardiovascular assessment, with use of advanced diagnostic techniques as needed.
Our exercise physiologist will work you to establish and achieve your goals, whether they are to improve your performance or just to keep your heart healthy. We also use technologies, such as Apple Health Kit and FitBit to monitor your progress and give you the tools you need to be an active participant in your care.