Which statement about exercise recommendations for mild aortic stenosis is true?

Which statement about exercise recommendations for mild aortic stenosis is true?

• A. Avoid all sports
• B. Clear for any sport
• C. Needs cardiology clearance for sports participation
• D. Engaging in only low-intensity sports

Answer: (C)

In mild aortic stenosis, whether a child can safely participate in sports depends on a professional assessment rather than a blanket rule. Exertion increases cardiac demand and the valve gradient can change with growth or illness, so a clinician’s review helps determine safe activity levels and whether any testing or restrictions are needed. That’s why obtaining cardiology clearance before sports participation is the best approach: it balances allowing exercise with ensuring safety based on the individual’s heart function, symptoms, and recent imaging. Completely avoiding sports is unnecessarily restrictive for a mild lesion, and blanket clearance for any sport is not assuming individual risk. Limiting to only low-intensity sports may be overly conservative for many cases.

In mild aortic stenosis, whether a child can safely participate in sports depends on a professional assessment rather than a blanket rule. Exertion increases cardiac demand and the valve gradient can change with growth or illness, so a clinician’s review helps determine safe activity levels and whether any testing or restrictions are needed. That’s why obtaining cardiology clearance before sports participation is the best approach: it balances allowing exercise with ensuring safety based on the individual’s heart function, symptoms, and recent imaging.

Completely avoiding sports is unnecessarily restrictive for a mild lesion, and blanket clearance for any sport is not assuming individual risk. Limiting to only low-intensity sports may be overly conservative for many cases.