Cardiovascular Performance Program

Revolutionizing cardiovascular care for athletes

Mass General Brigham’s Cardiovascular Performance Program provides comprehensive heart care for athletes of all ages and activity levels. Established in 2009 as one of the first programs of its kind, we remain a leader in cardiovascular care for athletes and other active individuals. 

We understand that athletes have unique heart health needs, and we work closely with you, your coaches, and your trainers to build a personalized care plan that supports both your cardiovascular health and your athletic performance goals.

After a thorough assessment, our experts explain how exercise affects your heart, guide you to make safe adjustments to your physical activity, and address any sports-specific concerns you have — including guidance on when it’s safe to return to play following injury. Our team includes experts in cardiac imaging, electrophysiology, interventional cardiology, cardiac surgery and other specialties.

Beyond clinical care, we lead research in sports medicine and cardiology, promote heart health in our community, and train the next generation of sports cardiologists.

Comprehensive heart care for all athletes 

Our program is built for anyone who is physically active, whether through sport, exercise, or work. Our patients range from recreational exercisers to professional athletes. We care for individuals as well as teams, including local and national athletic organizations and college and university athletic programs.  

Our cardiovascular specialists deliver care by:

• Evaluating athletes with symptoms that may suggest heart disease
• Managing existing cardiovascular conditions in active individuals
• Distinguishing “athlete’s heart” (a normal change in the heart’s structure and function to adapt to exercise training) from cardiovascular disease
• Determining sports eligibility through pre-participation screenings
• Helping athletes stay heart-healthy and play safe
• Guiding return-to-play decisions after an illness or injury

Advanced testing and performance-focused evaluation

A cornerstone of our program is our state-of-the-art Cardiopulmonary Exercise Laboratory, with locations at Mass General’s main campus and Boston Landing. This human performance lab conducts physiology research and complex cardiopulmonary exercise testing specific to athletes. It features a treadmill, stationary bike, and rowing machine for gathering data.

Our program welcomes the referral of patients with heart conditions as well as healthy athletes looking to improve cardiovascular performance. 

Pre-participation cardiovascular screening for athletes 

Many high school, college, and professional sports require cardiac screening before participation. These evaluations are designed to identify heart conditions that may increase the risk of serious cardiac events, including sudden cardiac arrest, during  exercise. We offer individual cardiovascular screenings at our facility, as well as group screenings on-site at schools, universities, and athletic clubs. Our clinicians often consult across sports medicine specialties before making comprehensive recommendations about athletic participation and risk.  

Our pre-participation screenings include: 

• Collection of a detailed medical history
• A thorough physical examination from a cardiac expert 
• An electrocardiogram, which measures the heart’s electric activity
• Advanced imaging and diagnostics such as cardiac MRI and CT scan as needed

We focus on identifying underlying heart conditions in athletes, including:

• Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, a disease in which the structure of the heart is abnormal, resulting in irregular heart rhythms
• Coronary anomalies
• Heart valve diseases
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, where the heart muscle thickens abnormally
• Inherited arrhythmias, which lead to irregular heartbeat  

To request a consultative service for your group, please call 617-643-7117.

For referring physicians

Our physicians take a collaborative approach to patient care, communicating directly with referring providers to discuss treatment options and care recommendations. We see patients as soon as possible, matching them with the specialist best suited to their needs. To refer a patient to the Cardiovascular Performance Program, please call 866-932-2855.

We also welcome athletes who seek second opinions on cardiovascular diagnoses, coordinating closely with primary care and sports medicine providers on the athlete’s care team.

You can also submit a referral through the Mass General Brigham provider portal.