Athletes in the mildly increased risk group can

participate in low dynamic and low/moderate static

Competitive sports (classes IA and IIA—see Fig. 1 in

Task Force 8: Classification of Sports) but should

Avoid intensely competitive situations. We recognize

That selected athletes with mildly increased risk may

Be permitted to compete in sports of higher levels of

Intensity when their overall clinical profile suggests

Very low exercise risk. This is particularly true for

Athletes in whom the only indication that coronary

Atherosclerosis is present is from an EBCT performed

For screening purposes, and in which the total

Coronary calcium score is relatively low (i.e., less than

Increasing amounts of coronary calcium, suggestive

Of increasing burden disease, should dictate a

More cautious approach, particularly if the coronary

Calcium score is more than 100. All athletes should

Understand that the risk of a cardiac event with

Exertion is probably increased once coronary atherosclerosis

Of any severity is present. Athletes with

Mildly increased risk engaging in competitive sports

Should undergo re-evaluation of their risk stratification

At least annually.

Athletes in the substantially increased risk category

Should generally be restricted to low-intensity competitive

Sports (class IA).

Athletes should be informed of the nature of prodromal

Symptoms (such as chest, arm, jaw and shoulder

Discomfort, unusual dyspnea) and should be instructed

To cease their sports activity promptly and to

Contact their physician if symptoms appear. Physicians

Should be aware that competitive athletes may

Minimize symptoms that occur during exertion.

4. Those with a recent MI or myocardial revascularization

Should cease their athletic training and competition

Until recovery is deemed complete. This interval

Varies among patient groups, but depends on the

Severity of the cardiovascular event and the extent

And success of the revascularization procedure. Such

Patients may benefit from cardiac rehabilitation during

The recovery period. No firm guidelines exist for

How long patients should avoid vigorous exercise

Training, but in general, patients post-stent placement

For stable CAD symptoms should avoid vigorous

Exercise training for competition for approximately

Four weeks. Patients undergoing stent

1350 Thompson et al. JACC Vol. 45, No. 8, 2005

Task Force 6: Coronary Artery Disease April 19, 2005:1348–53

Placement for unstable disease should wait at least

This long. Following coronary bypass surgery, patients

Should avoid vigorous training until their

Incisions can tolerate vigorous activity. After recuperation

Period, the risk and activity level should be

Defined as in recommendations 1 and 2.

All athletes with atherosclerotic CAD should have

Their atherosclerotic risk factors aggressively treated

As studies suggest that comprehensive risk reduction

Is likely to stabilize coronary lesions and may reduce

Date: 2016-03-03; view: 761