Does pectus excavatum prevent participation in athletics or serving as an active-duty soldier?

If you have severe chest pain, sudden and marked breathlessness, fainting or loss of consciousness, seek emergency care immediately. The information on this page is for general guidance; urgent symptoms require immediate medical evaluation.

Clinicians commonly consider the following when assessing suitability for sports and military service:

• Severity of the deformity (degree of breastbone depression).
• Respiratory symptoms (breathlessness during exercise, breathlessness at rest).
• Cardiac symptoms (excessive fatigue, palpitations, chest discomfort).
• Overall physical fitness and sports performance level.
• Results of any prior cardiopulmonary evaluations.

Depending on findings, the following specialists can be involved in assessment and management:

• Orthopedics and Traumatology (chest wall assessment and surgical considerations).
• Chest Diseases (evaluation of lung function).
• Cardiology (assessment of heart function).
• Family Medicine or primary care (initial assessment and referral).

Military medical boards also make final fitness determinations; practices may vary by region.

To help the evaluating clinician, it is useful to have:

• Description and onset of symptoms (breathlessness, chest pain, excessive fatigue).
• Changes in exercise performance and, if applicable, the sports branch/level you practice.
• Any prior test results and reports (for example echocardiography, chest X-ray, exercise tests) if available.
• Date of pectus diagnosis and any prior treatments or follow-up.

Fitness for military service is usually decided by military medical boards and may differ between jurisdictions. Objective clinical findings, any test results, and daily activity or exercise capacity all influence decisions. For a definitive outcome, contact the relevant military medical authority or the physician who referred you.