Strength Training Limitations?

Hi All,

I am a 70 year old male. I had a pacemaker implanted on Aug 1, 2013. It was installed because of symptomatic bradycardia. During the installation the EP had difficulty inserting the leads and required the assistance of a vascular surgeon.

Prior to the PM implant, I ran 2.5 miles three days a week and I did strength (weight lifting) exercises on alternate days of my running, three days a week. I use a multi-station Precor, Zuma strength training machine at home.

It has been 60 days since my PM implant. My EP cardiologist does not want me to do any repetitive exercise that uses my chest muscles on the side of the implant (left side). He said this is a permanent restriction. He said that he is concerned that my exercising will damage the leads due to repetitive flexing them.

It seems impractical to me to try to do exercises that use only muscles on the right side of my chest. I feel that my EP is being overly conservative.

Has anyone else been restricted from using chest muscles on the PM implant side for concern about damaging the leads? Should I get a second opinion from another EP cardiologist? I am trying to regain my FAA airplane pilot medical certificate and I do not want to piss off my EP cardiologist because I need his cooperation in obtaining the FAA required tests and reports. Should I just resume my exercise program, starting slowly with light weights and build up? Do I correctly understand that exercising is OK as long as what I do does not cause me pain?

8 Comments

Foreign Object

by donb - 2013-09-30 08:09:40

Hi, After 6 pacemaker implants in 21 years using both chest site areas I have finally got the word from my Cardiologist. He informed me that a large percentage of patients with a skinny body & no fat in the chest areas will have problems with their implants.
My 3rd implant eroded after doing Cardiac Rehab upper body repetitive chest muscle exercises & had to quit. I have been a gluten of overworking my body & have managed to erode my 3rd, 4th & 5th replacement implants. I recently had my 6th implant put in the only spot having fat for protection under my muscle in my abdomen.
Moral of my post is that there are always risks with any foeign object implanted in our body & some top Surgeons will take this in consideration while balancing our body's build verses exercise. I'm 81 & was told to cool it, but just hasn't happened yet.
DonB

Your Different

by PacerRep - 2013-09-30 10:09:16

Typically there is no restrictions like that when you get a pacemaker with the exception of the first month or so.

You had a vascular surgeon come in, why was he there? Did they have to repair your subclavian vein? Was it cut in half?

I'll be honest, I don't know what the restrictions are if that happens, I would listen to your EP for now, if you want a second opinion I would say that it's not a bad idea. I assume the vein should heal appropriately if it was a successful repair and that those restrictions should go away, but I don't know what happened in there so I would only take the advice of the doctors that know the details of the case.

exercise

by Tracey_E - 2013-09-30 10:09:30

Ditto what PacerRep said. I would ask specifically if he gives all patients that restriction or if it's due to the complications you had during surgery. If it's everyone, then I'd probably proceed with caution and start slowly but quietly do whatever I want. That's just what I would do, YMMV of course.

There are a few drs out there who are very conservative and give a lot of restrictions on exercise, but the vast majority of us heal then go back to whatever we want to do and don't have problems. The pm is titanium and the leads are well insulated, intended to bend and flex. My exact instructions are stop if it hurts and don't do anything stupid (my doc knows me pretty well lol). If you search past posts, this subject comes up at least once a week.

Fractured leads

by Creaky - 2013-09-30 11:09:42

I'm a very active 76 y.o. I am on my third set of leads in 3 years. My original EP Doc said no repetetive upper body exercise. I ignored him. When the leads broke I sought out a different EP. He capped off the bad leads and added two new ones into the same vein. He also admonished me about the exercise. I ignored him as well. OK, the first set lasted 8 months. The second set almost 2 years. I guess that's trending in the right direction.
So when the second ventricular lead fractured and the doc wanted to put another lead in the same vein I freaked out. Mainly, I worried about causing a clot or severely reducing blood flow. That's too many leads in one vein.
So I sought out yet another EP in a different city and he referred me to a specialist for lead extraction and new leads. The procedure went well and they moved the pacemaker a bit and entered the axillary vein. They said this would protect the leads from "clavicular pinch" which is apparently the reason my other leads broke.
These 2 new EP's gave me the OK to do pretty much anything except stuff like push ups, clean and jerk and similar exercises. Hiking, climbing, skiing swimming, golf and reasonable gym all OK to do.
So I would be cautious and follow some of the advice above. A lot depends on your anatomy and exactly how they enter the vein and which vein. Leads do break although most probably don't.
Just ran into a guy last week who is on his 3rd set of leads and his only exercise routine is swimming.

Creaky

Thanks for Comments

by craigyoung - 2013-10-05 03:10:05

Thanks to everyone who commented on my posting. Your comments have helped.

Whoops

by Cobpop - 2013-10-07 02:10:23

I meant to say with no problem.

IMHO

by Cobpop - 2013-10-07 02:10:54

Last winter I started swimming and added a lap each workout. I'm currently up to 40 laps. The pool is a 25 yard pool so each lap is 50 yards. So I'm now swimming 2,000 yards. I do this after I walk/jog 3 to 4 miles.

I don't know why your doctor would discourage exercise. It sounds kind of counter-intuitive to me. All my doctor said is do not wrestle or play football. In other words, any physical exercise where someone would rub against the PM.

I've had my PM for six years with my problems.

Good luck!

Recovery

by LeeT - 2013-10-10 03:10:24

I am 71 always active training had my PM implant last Jan. Returned to the gym approx 4 mos later. Now work out every other day. Focus on my legs, arms and very light upper body chest etc. I feel pinching sensations in my chest, any sign of unusual pain I stop. I do have what feels like muscle twitches on PM side. Working the legs is very good lots of strength. Arm are good as well.
I am cautious, Please offer suggestions. Thanks

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