Before resuming physical activity after a prolonged break, it is essential to have a fitness assessment with a healthcare professional, including a heart exam (ECG) if possible, even if you are young or in great shape, to ensure your cardiovascular safety.

noli's read

Marine is absolutely right to emphasize the importance of cardiovascular safety when resuming physical activity. For sedentary individuals over 35-40 years old or those with a medical history, an assessment including a heart exam (ECG) or a stress test is strongly recommended by the Club des Cardiologues du Sport (expert consensus) and the European Society of Cardiology (clinical guidelines). Conversely, generalizing this consultation and the ECG to all healthy adolescents or adults is an overstatement. The guidelines from the Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS) reiterate that the vast majority of healthy individuals can return to exercise independently without a prior examination. Similarly, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has relaxed its screening criteria to prevent the burden of medical procedures from becoming a barrier to physical activity, the benefits of which far outweigh the risks. Finally, the 'blood test' mentioned in the post's title is not based on any official systematic recommendation for a simple return to exercise in the absence of symptoms.

the sources

1. 1Corrado D, Pelliccia A, Bjørnstad HH, et al. (ESC) 2005
2. 2Maron BJ, Friedman RA, Kligfield P, et al. (AHA/ACC) 2014