

So, there are circumstances where they may be able to play certain types of sports or do certain levels of activity.” “But not all kids with a cardiomyopathy diagnosis may be the same. Patel, noting that hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which is when the heart muscle becomes thicker, is the “most concerning” type where sports is concerned. “We know that when people living with this diagnosis play sports, they’re at increased risk of having a sudden cardiac arrest during activity,” says Dr. With these, your heart can be stiff, have scar tissue or become enlarged or thicker. Take cardiomyopathy, or conditions that affect the heart muscle. Every child is different - and even kids with the same diagnosis can have different symptoms or a more serious form of the condition. Patel says sports participation generally depends on the specific heart condition a kid lives with.

But the goal is that most kids can play sports safely.” Can kids living with a heart condition play sports?ĭr. “Of course, there are unique circumstances where we would like kids to avoid playing certain types of sports, or may tailor the sporting environment to be as safe as possible. “We’ve learned that creating a proper safety net for kids can often allow us to be more liberal in allowing sports participation,” he says. Pediatric cardiologist/electrophysiologist Akash Patel, MD, says many factors go into determining if a kid can (or can’t) play a specific sport. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.
