Specialist Sportscare WA

08/06/2026

Sports cardiology has moved on.
The debate is no longer about whether an athlete has an ICD. Modern devices are highly reliable and complication rates are relatively low.
The focus today is on the underlying condition, individual risk assessment, and informed decision-making.
The biggest hurdle may not be medical — it may be public perception.

Christian Eriksen is "in good spirits" following his collapse against Ukraine and is expected to be discharged from hospital soon, says Denmark's national team doctor Morten Boesen.

21/05/2026

Interesting new research from Macao Polytechnic University challenges the long-standing belief that 150 minutes of weekly exercise is sufficient for meaningful cardiovascular protection.
Published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, the 2026 study tracked more than 17,000 middle-aged adults, examining cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2 max) alongside major cardiovascular events including heart attacks, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and stroke.
The findings were striking:
• 150 minutes per week — the current WHO minimum guideline — appears to provide only modest protection, with an estimated 8–9% reduction in cardiovascular risk.
• Achieving a 20% reduction in risk required approximately 340–370 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise weekly.
• Optimal cardioprotection — defined as a 30% or greater reduction in cardiovascular risk — required 560–610 minutes per week, or roughly 1.5 hours daily.
The study reinforces an important distinction: minimum guidelines may represent a baseline for health, but not necessarily the threshold for optimal outcomes.
A timely reminder that consistency, volume, and long-term lifestyle habits still matter enormously when it comes to cardiovascular health.