Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 28, 2025

Real-Time Electrocardiogram Monitoring During Treadmill Training in Mice
Published on: May 5, 2022
Sports, Myocarditis and COVID-19: Diagnostics, Prevention and Return-to-play Strategies
Thomas Schmidt1,2, Birna Bjarnason-Wehrens2, Jonas Zacher2
1Institute for Cardiovascular Research, Schüchtermann-Klinik Bad Rothenfelde, Bad Rothenfelde, Germany.
Insights
Myocarditis, or heart muscle inflammation, is a key cause of sudden cardiac death in athletes. This review covers its causes, diagnosis, and the importance of avoiding intense sports during recovery, especially post-COVID-19.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Sports Medicine
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Background:
- Myocarditis, non-ischemic myocardial inflammation, is a significant cause of sudden cardiac death in athletes.
- Accurate diagnosis remains challenging, often leading to undetected conditions.
- While many acute cases resolve favorably, some patients face risks of arrhythmias or dilated cardiomyopathy.
Approach:
- This review synthesizes current knowledge on myocarditis in athletes, focusing on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- It summarizes potential causes, common symptoms, and diagnostic strategies.
- The role of temporary cessation of intensive sports for prevention and therapy is discussed.
Key Points:
- COVID-19 has heightened concerns regarding myocarditis in athletes.
- Risk stratification and return-to-play protocols are crucial for managing affected athletes.
- Specific follow-up diagnostics are recommended, even after COVID-19 infection.
Conclusions:
- Understanding myocarditis in athletes is vital for preventing adverse cardiac events.
- Tailored return-to-play guidelines are essential for safe athletic participation post-myocarditis.
- Continued research and monitoring are necessary, particularly in the context of viral infections like COVID-19.
Abstract:
Myocarditis is an umbrella term for non-ischemic myocardial inflammation and remains a leading cause of sudden cardiac death in active individuals and athletes. Accurate diagnosing is challenging and diseases could often remain undetected. In the majority of cases, acute myocarditis resolves favourably. However, a relevant proportion of patients may have an increased risk of prognostically relevant cardiac arrhythmias and/or the development and progression of maladaptive myocardial remodelling (dilated cardiomyopathy). This review provides current knowledge on myocarditis and sports with special regard to the COVID-19 pandemic. Possible causes, common symptoms and proposed diagnostics are summarized. The relevance of temporary avoidance of intensive sports activities for both the prevention and therapy of acute myocarditis is discussed. Risk stratification, specific return-to-play recommendations and proposed follow-up diagnostics (also after COVID-19 infection) are presented.
More Related Videos
12:24Noninvasive Assessment of Cardiac Abnormalities in Experimental Autoimmune Myocarditis by Magnetic Resonance Microscopy Imaging in the Mouse
Published on: June 20, 2014
07:40Protection of H9c2 Myocardial Cells from Oxidative Stress by Crocetin via PINK1/Parkin Pathway-Mediated Mitophagy
Published on: May 26, 2023
Related Concept Videos
Myocarditis III: Medical Management
Myocarditis IV: Nursing Management
Myocarditis II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests
Myocarditis I: Introduction
Pericarditis III: Medical Management
Pericarditis II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests