Sports Cardiology in Practice: Exercise as Stressor, Signal, and Therapy

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Editorial. Population: Cardiovascular disease and sports cardiology. Intervention: Exercise and sports cardiology.

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Exercise serves multifaceted roles in sports cardiology, acting as a physiological stressor, a diagnostic signal, and a therapeutic intervention for individuals with cardiovascular findings. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.SYNTHESIS. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Christos Kourek; Eleftherios Karatzanos; Stavros Dimopoulos

doi:10.3390/jcdd13090432

September 3, 2026Journal of Cardiovascular Development and DiseaseOpen Access

Sports Cardiology in Practice: Exercise as Stressor, Signal, and Therapy

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Share

Key result

Contemporary sports cardiology requires individualized risk assessment, shared decision-making, and tailored exercise prescription rather than automatic restriction.

Key Points

To synthesize clinical evidence on how physical activity modifies cardiovascular physiology over time and how exercise can be safely prescribed as therapy for individuals with cardiovascular disease.
Synthesized findings from an eight-article special issue addressing inherited arrhythmia management, chronic electrophysiological remodeling, autonomic nervous system tracking, and rehabilitation.
Evaluated clinical cohorts and systematic reviews including patients undergoing early pacemaker implantation before age 70, elite soccer players (N=117), coronary rehabilitation cohorts, and cardiac surgery trials (15 studies).
Among patients receiving a pacemaker before age 70 for idiopathic sinus-node or atrioventricular-node dysfunction, former athletes underwent implantation approximately 5 years earlier than non-athletes.
In elite soccer players (N=117), male players exhibited higher Autonomic Nervous System Index values derived from heart-rate variability than female players, who reported greater perceived stress and somatic symptoms.
A systematic review of 15 studies established that inspiratory muscle training delivered before and/or after cardiac surgery improves inspiratory muscle strength, pulmonary function, and functional capacity, while potentially shortening intensive care unit stays.

PICO

P

Population

Cardiovascular disease and sports cardiology

E

Exposure / Comparator

Exercise and sports cardiology

Ask about this paper

Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.

Implication

This editorial emphasizes a paradigm shift in sports cardiology toward individualized exercise prescription and shared decision-making.

Abstract

No abstract yet. The journal hasn't published one we can show.

Discussion

No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.

Cite This Study

Kourek et al. (2026) conducted an editorial in Cardiovascular disease and sports cardiology. Exercise and sports cardiology was evaluated. Contemporary sports cardiology requires individualized risk assessment, shared decision-making, and tailored exercise prescription rather than automatic restriction.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9bd4436b95aff0620ebca8 https://doi.org/10.3390/jcdd13090432

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Share

Sports Cardiology in Practice: Exercise as Stressor, Signal, and Therapy

Key Points

PICO

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Sports Cardiology in Practice: Exercise as Stressor, Signal, and Therapy

Key Points

PICO

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Keep reading

Keep reading