Cardiovascular Technology and Sports Medicine: A Growing Intersection

Advances in sports medicine and medical technology have changed the way we view athletics. One of the greatest benefits of these 21st-century evolutions is that fewer medical conditions disqualify athletes from participating in sports. This is especially true in the cardiology field — today, there are practices, tools and monitors athletes can use to stay on the field longer and perform at similar levels to their teammates.

The Versatile Role of Cardiovascular Technologists

A cardiovascular technologist supports cardiologists and vascular physicians in diagnosing and treating conditions involving the heart and blood vessels. They primarily do this by conducting ultrasounds of the heart and vascular system. Depending on the setting, they may also:

• Run EKGs and monitor a patient's heart rate, pulse, blood pressure and other metrics
• Perform echocardiograms and similar tests
• Oversee stress tests
• Assess test data and share patterns or trends with cardiologists

Why Cardiovascular Assessments for Athletes Matter

Highly active people have different physical needs and face unique challenges that others don't. As such, cardiovascular technologists are an important part of sports medicine. They use their skills and training to help a variety of athletes, including those who:

• Are concerned about their heart health or have a family history of cardiac conditions
• Have experienced a sudden decline in performance or stamina
• Has a confirmed cardiovascular condition and needs to know how to train safely
• Requires cardiac clearance to play professionally

By conducting regular cardiovascular assessments, technologists learn how the patient's heart performs during certain activities and collect data to inform diagnosis and treatment. Athletes often rely on these insights to inform their training regimen — technologists can help physicians and physical therapists integrate recommendations and monitor individual progress over time.

The Future: Integration of Tech and Performance

Cardiovascular healthcare is in an exciting state of growth and innovation. Artificial intelligence (AI)-driven insights, wearable fitness trackers and mobile health monitoring tools are transforming the relationship between cardiovascular technology and sports medicine.

As the role of cardiovascular technicians continues to evolve, a thorough education is vital to ensure adequate performance. AIMS Education's Associate of Applied Science in Cardiovascular Technology program will introduce you to the latest emerging tech and equip you with the cutting-edge training needed to keep pace with the industry.

Become Part of the Future of Cardiovascular Technology

Register for an information session today to learn more and discover your path to a cardiovascular technology degree. AIMS Education cannot wait to see you succeed.