Magnetic Recumbent Bikes?

Not sure

by MSPACER - 2011-11-23 07:11:02

Not really sure about recumbent bikes, but if you're passing out, I think a recumbent bike could be more dangerous. Why are you passing out? Is the pacemaker set correctly? Are you getting dizzy or your pulse dropping suddenly? Has the doctor done a treadmill exercise test to see what's going on?

i use

by biceps72 - 2011-11-24 07:11:39

a recumbent bike every other day for 60 hard minutes. I have had no problems. Used it 3 days after implant 5 months ago!

Thanks for your responses

by jenny97 - 2011-11-25 10:11:30

I appreciate your input.

At this point, the drs are unsure why I am suddenly passing out again after five years with no fainting spells. I also have not been able to identify the trigger, but I have some theories. I have neurocardiogenic syncope and had previously been diagnosed with POTS.

However, I was running a lot and getting in better shape, so it may be the medication used to keep my heart rate down (atenolol) decreased my blood pressure too much (since my blood pressure was going down on its own due to being in better shape). I went off the atenolol to go to the Mayo Clinic and my BP went back up, so that's a hopeful sign.

But now I'm deconditioned after seven months of passing out or nearly passing out every day, so they want me to exercise on a stationary recumbent bike to try to limit the vertical distance (keeping the blood pressure higher) and to begin to rebuild my muscles so my body will be able to maintain blood pressure on its own. Because of the vertical distance issue (and the fact that I tend to pass out when exercising upright, a stairstepper or a treadmill will not work at this time.

At the same time, I have to keep my heart rate down to 150-160, which is really low for me during exercise, so the recumbent bike is attractive from that standpoint as well.

Pacemaker settings have also been an issue, but despite having had a pacemaker for more than 10 years, I feel like I don't know enough about the different variations and settings to be able to ensure that the PM is set properly and stays that way. It does seem odd, though, that I went five years with no syncope and then a week after getting PM interrogation, it started all over again.

Regarding recumbent bikes, I am specifically interested in the type that use magnets to provide resistance. I understand that they are much quieter, but if there is too big of a magnetic field generated through the process and it prevents my pacemaker from working effectively while I'm exercising, then it would negate all benefit of the exercise and make it more dangerous for me too.

Are the recumbent bikes you use magnetic?

Settings

by MSPACER - 2011-11-25 10:11:55

I think the magnetic part of a stationary recumbent bike is on the wheel to keep the noise down and create resistance, so I don't see how that is going to affect the pacemaker. There may be other stationary recumbent bikes without the magnetic flywheel.

It is interesting how your problem started after an interrogation. Are you absolutely sure that the tech did not accidently change a setting? Can you get a copy of the printout before the interrogation and after the interrogation and compare it line by line to make sure every thing is the same?

Settings

by jenny97 - 2011-11-28 10:11:15

Thanks so much for your response. I think you're totally right. The problem is, I've been back to the cardiologist so many times since then for PM adjustments and I just continued to decline. The passing out became more and more frequent. And now I'm deconditioned, which makes my symptoms worse.

However, just before I left for Mayo clinic, where I went for an in-depth evaluation a few weeks ago, my cardio came in during an adjustment (I had passed out nearly every day the previous week) and he said, "hmm, maybe let's increase the ventricular pacing a bit so your heart can be in a more natural rhythm." He explained that they often elongate the spacing between atrial and ventricular pacing so as to minimize V pacing and maximize battery usage. Of course, this is the one setting that has caused me problems in the past, probably because of my heart block. And I had no idea they'd changed it. It was even written in my chart that this setting shouldn't be changed, so I'm not sure how it happened. It could have happened at one of the ER visits though. Everyone was messing with the PM settings.

Anyway, apparently even with the minimized V pacing, I was still pacing the V at 24%, so the cardio indicated that this was just leading to an unnatural rhythm.

I'm still really symptomatic, but at this point, I'm not sure if it's just because of my deconditioning or if it's because of my heart/autonomic nervous system problem directly. Mayo suggested a regimen (recumbent bike) to get me back in more muscular shape (I'm not overweight, but have lost a lot of muscle in the last seven months - I was running four miles a day when I started passing out and now can barely walk two.)

So I just ordered a recumbent bike and will see how it works. If the magnet doesn't interfere with the PM, and I don't think it should, then the next big hurdle will be riding slowly enough and with small enough tension that I keep my heart in the 150-160 range.

Anyway, thanks again for your responses! Hopefully I'll get back on track and back to running before the winter runs out. It's typically my best time of year.

No Interference

by jenny97 - 2011-12-13 09:12:48

I got the bike and put it together myself, even leaning close to the part with the magnets so I could screw the pieces together and had no interference. And, of course, when using it, there's no interference, as the magnets are far from the pacemaker at that point.

I thought I'd just post this in case someone else is looking for info on this.

PM's, Magnetization, and Endurance Strength

by Robparsons - 2012-01-01 03:01:29

I would suggest "NuStep" it is recumbent but give a full body workout will seated. You can use it sitting down and the handles come to you. Somewhat pricey but worth the investment. So far as the magnet. The magnet in a bike is miniscule compared to the magnets placed over our PM’s when they are set. The only possible explanation; somehow your recumbent is interacting with the frame of the bike. Even with a far stretched explanation as that; exaggeration on the explanation part would be more feasible. Maybe get the bike checked by a shop; maybe not worth the cost. My particular preference is a Schwinn Airdyne Comp. It is the one with the small air resistance wheel. The particular bike can be used for whole body, arms only, and legs only. I have used this to keep my upper body muscle tone and never had a problem passing an Army Physical Fitness Test prior to getting a PM. Now, I just have to walk or do stationary bike for the test. I would suggest working on endurance strength now, slowly. Remember, endurance strength is the same as for triathletes. If you complete you activity and cannot keep going after the particular event then maybe it is time for a change. Not trying to sound hooah, but, we have a saying in Airborne: “A paratrooper can begin their jump at 0400 hours, go through the entire day practicing actions on ground, complete the parachute jump, hit the ground, turn in the chute, patrol to their objective maybe 10-18 miles and assault the objective.” In other words, if you do not have the strength to assault the objective, you are not any good to your unit. That is endurance strength.

Thanks, Rob.

by jenny97 - 2012-01-12 09:01:46

I'll look into your suggestions. Although I already purchased a stationary recumbent bike that I'm using regularly. That said, I really, REALLY miss running and hope to get back to it soon. Last week I tried, but fell flat on my face one mile in. Not sure if I lost consciousness, but I was pretty beat up from the fall. So I guess I still have a ways to go before I'll have the strength or the endurance to assault the objective. :) The biking just doesn't hack it for me though - especially since i have to keep my heart rate below 160. Most days my heart freaks out long before my muscles feel a work out.

exercise bike

by cherylpi - 2013-04-21 02:04:21

My doctor told me that my pacemaker doesn't know that I am exercising when using a stationary bike. It just reads it as a back and forth motion. So my heart rate does not increase while using an exercise bike. I suppose if you have one that has the handles to work the upper body it would be different. I haven't tried.

Suggestion

by fitnessbike17 - 2016-12-30 03:05:12

Hey Jenny,

Hope you have found your answer alraedy.

I have a suggestion about Recumbent Bike selection. Recument Bike has many faciality depends on model. Schwinn 270 is my fevorite. http://gymbikelab.com 's review post helped me a lot in time of buying my one. You can check their reviews before final selection.

Regards From

Wanda