SPORTS CARDIOLOGY CLINIC

Regular exercise has been shown to avert and improve outcomes of many chronic diseases including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, bone loss, many forms of cancer and premature aging. At Cardiovascular Performance and Optimization Clinic we offer safe and effective exercise prescription to anyone from a couch potato looking into developing an active lifestyle to professional athletes who are
recovering from an illness or injury and need to get back in their game. Proper understanding of human physiology and body’s response to different type of exercise is critical in safe and effective exercise prescription. All individual assessment is done under direct supervision of a Board-Certified Cardiologist and Board-Certified Physical Therapist.

Our initial diagnostic testing includes

  • A detailed cardiovascular history and physical with a board
    certified cardiologist
  • An echocardiogram, or ultrasound image of the heart, to assess
  • cardiac function and structure
  • Cardiopulmonary Fitness Level with measurement of aerobic
  • capacity, or VO2max
  • Muscle strength and balance
  • Endocrine system balance
  • Nutritional assessment

Based on the data collected from initial testing we design individually
tailored exercise programs that specify

  • Intensity level of exercise
  • Training frequency
  • Rest and Recovery times
  • Proper nutritional support

Who should enroll
Cardiovascular Performance and Optimization Clinic is geared towards those with established or suspected cardiovascular disease as well as healthy men and women who are seeking to resume active lifestyle, optimize their athletic performance and reduce risk. That includes:

  • Medically stable heart disease patients
  • At risk patients who wish to start a safe exercise regimen
  • Return to sports after an illness or injury
  • Healthy men and women seeking to optimize their exercise or athletic performance

OUR SERVICES

  • Advanced sports program pre-participation screening
  • Vo2 Max testing for Exercise prescription
  • Arrhythmia Monitoring
  • Exercise Physiologist supervised endurance and strength training
  • Body Composition Analysis
  • Metabolism and Nutritional Assessment

FITNESS TESTING (CPEX OR VO2 MAX)
VO2 Max Study
What’s it for
The more aerobically fit you are, the greater your body’s capacity to transport and use oxygen.

A middle-aged person who does not exercise may have a VO2 max of 20-40 ml/kg/min. On the other hand, an elite athlete who competes in endurance events like the Tour de France may have a VO2 Max of 80 or higher.


A VO2 max study can help an athlete to design a more effective exercise program. It can also be used to determine whether certain symptoms are being caused by problems with the heart or with the lungs.

An evaluation of VO2 max is important when evaluating patients with heart failure: the better their exercise performance, the milder the heart disease.

How it’s done
A VO2 max study is performed while you exercise on a treadmill or stationary bicycle. An exercise physiologist fits you with a breathing mask that is hooked up to a computer. This mask measures how much oxygen you inhale and exhale. Your heart rate will also be monitored.


You begin exercising at a slow pace. The exercise physiologist gradually increases the intensity of the exercise until you come close to the maximum of your ability. You then perform a cool down for several minutes.


At the end of the test, you are given a number for your VO2 max. Your VO2 max can then be used to develop exercise recommendations that are appropriate for your level of fitness. The VO2 max can also indicate the severity of heart failure in patients.