The Impact of Physical Activity on Pericarditis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To discuss the possible harmful effects and pathophysiology of exercise in cases of pericarditis, explore the role of multi-modality imaging to help guide exercise recommendations, and compare U.S. with European guideline recommendations on the safe resumption of physical activity following resolution of pericarditis. RECENT FINDINGS: Despite multiple postulated mechanisms by which exercise may be harmful during active inflammation of the myocardium or pericardium, the exact pathophysiology remains largely unknown. The inclusion of multi-modality cardiac imaging may play a role in further elucidating the relationship of exercise with outcomes in pericarditis. More recently, the prevalence of COVID-19 cardiac involvement in athletes prior to returning to play appears lower than previously reported; however, current recommendations are consistent with those for other etiologies of pericarditis. SUMMARY: Further research is certainly needed to better understand the relationship between physical activity and pericarditis, the pathophysiology, and the prognostic role of multimodality imaging.