Weight lifting with a pacemaker

Are there any restrictions for weight lifting?

9 Comments

YES

by kermiehiho - 2013-10-17 03:10:47

Power lifting is a no-no. Check with doctor for specific weight restrictions. I'm a 5' Asian female, so I didn't pay that much attention to this part. All I remember is thinking, "I can't lift that much anyway."

Weight Lifting

by khudachek - 2013-10-17 09:10:40

Thanks for the comments. I did call my doctor and they said no restrictions. I have the medtronic sure scan pacemaker placed under the muscle. Looking forward to working with my trainer and getting back to lifting!

depends who you ask

by Tracey_E - 2013-10-17 11:10:54

Some drs say no restrictions. Some have lots of restrictions- nothing overhead is the most extreme I've seen. Nothing heavy overhead is more common. Some say no pull ups. Most are probably in the middle, anything in moderation is ok. First thing to do is ask your dr but if you are otherwise healthy, you can probably do whatever you want as long as you feel good.

My dr says the leads aren't going anywhere at this point, if we wanted to get them out it would take a specialized surgery so do what I want and don't worry about it. I have done Crossfit for 2 years now, we do a little of everything. I did cleans and ran with my partner piggy back yesterday, snatches and pull ups the day before. I don't hold back at all.

exception... if your device is placed very close to the clavicle, it's possible to pinch the leads under the bone with heavy lifting, that's not good. Also when you clean the bar, it should not sit right on your pm or wires.

Lifting overhead

by khudachek - 2013-10-18 06:10:38

Don thanks... I defiantly will not be lifting over my head if I can't pick it up off the floor! I just want to get back in shape. My boyfriend is a Personal Trainer and he wanted me to check since things have changed a lot . He had an older client w a PM and said they were not allowed to lift overhead anymore. So he did some research and found a lot of conflicting info out there. I figured I would go to the real experts the ones that live w a PM! This group is great!

The only guideline...

by donr - 2013-10-18 12:10:08

...I can give you is as follows:

If the weights are too heavy for you to lift off the floor, don't try to raise them over your head.

Don

under muscle

by Tracey_E - 2013-10-18 12:10:27

Mine is buried also. It's well padded so you can go for it! You may find that as you build back your strength that sometimes you'll aggravate the scar tissue. Ice is your friend. The further out from surgery I am, the less likely it is for that to happen. My last replacement was 4 years ago so I pretty much know now what will set it off, mostly ring rows, so I do fewer reps on those.

Rats!!!!

by donr - 2013-10-20 02:10:45

I thought finally I'd found my Cardio's Bulgarian weight lifter.

He's pretty good at responding to my wild ideas. He gave up a long time ago with saying "NO!". I told him what I wanted to do & his response was "What good will it do me to tell you 'No,' you'd probably do it anyway." With that, he rolled his eyes & walked out of the door. I read that as a sign of resignation & telling me to go ahead but he could not sanction such wild ideas w/ his lawyer's assent.

Don

Well, you've come to the right place...

by donr - 2013-10-20 10:10:35

...if you want to get advice from "Real Experts"! Realize the origin of the word "Expert." It comes from the Greek, & is based on two root words: "Ex," meaning a has been &, "Spurt," meaning a drip under pressure.

This is also a place where the inmates run the asylum!

If you want something done, tell this bunch that they either CANNOT or SHOULD NOT do it. Guarantee that it will be tried - probably successfully.

It is the epitome of the old suthen joke that includes the phrase "Hey, Bubba - watch this!".

None of the advice you get will be vetted by the giver's lawyer. I can also guarantee that if you find a bit of guidance from a cardio forbidding something, more than one someone will write that they have successfully done it & their cardio didn't care.

I was wondering what kind of comment I'd see in response to my inanity. A lifetime ago, in the days of my callow youth, I reported in at a military school & was told by a senior that I would "...double time every where I went unless the load was too heavy to carry." Took me a second or two to realize the inanity of that guidance & have waited nearly 60 yrs to be able to use it on someone else. I even recall the nae of the man who gave it to me - R.D. Sylvester. It was that good.

Cheers w/ your weight lifting.

You do not perchance happen to be of Bulgarian ancestory?

My Cardio is always referring to some stereotypical individual as a "Bulgarian weight lifter" when discussing what I should or shouldn't do. I'm hoping here that I finally met one.

Don

Arms sore yea!

by khudachek - 2013-10-20 12:10:45

My arms and chest are sore from lifting!!!! And it is wonderful. I did workout with a trainer to make sure I was lifting properly. Again employing the advice from an expert! Yes Don I wonder how much of the guideline and restrictions that the doctors give out pertains to actual medical advice vs legal advice. My doctor seems to be good at combining the two and told me to go ahead and weight lift. I have relatives in the medical field . So I get that they are constantly aware of the legal implications of their advice. I am of Native American English and German decent not Bulgarian LOL. I rally appreciate this site you guys are awesome. BTW my doctors office suggested the pacemaker club site so indeed it was good advice.

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