Rowing

Is anyone using a Hydro rower machine after PM implantation?
It is repetitive motion, but very fluid. I am gong on 8 months post and doing other exercises.
I was told to call Tech support for my PM, but wanted to pick some brains here also. It seems my questions are answered better on this forum.

6 Comments

my experience...

by highdesert - 2014-05-20 01:05:00

I'm going on 4 1/2 months since a 2 lead pm and a couple stents . I started at 3 months useing a rowing machine, treadmill, and schwinn ad6 airdyne every day at home and 3 days a week in cardiac rehab (while being hooked up and monitored with 3 heart rate sensors). So far i've not experienced any problems what so ever. I think if i were to pull a lead out it would have happened by now... ask your doctor though just to be on the safe side. One more thing... i wear a heart rate monitor to keep things at a safe level at home.

Recent message

by golden_snitch - 2014-05-20 02:05:07

There was a posting here recently from someone who thought he might have damaged the leads through rowing:
http://www.pacemakerclub.com/public/jpage/1/p/story/a/storypage/sid/31524/content.do

Inga

rowing

by Tracey_E - 2014-05-20 09:05:43

Some rowing is perfectly fine. Many of us use rowers and/or canoe, kayak, etc. A lot of rowing every day could be a problem, as discussed in the link Inga gave you above.

Think I'll pass!

by BLIP - 2014-05-21 01:05:19

Thank you Inga and Tracey: I checked the link ( which sent me to another link) and both explained quite well what can happen to the leads. Mine is in the subclavian, so I think I'll stick to Pilates and lots of hiking and walking and forgo the rowing machine, which is quite an intense workout, though I'm sure a leisurely paddle on a lake once in a great while would be great!

Your good to row

by PacerRep - 2014-05-22 02:05:12

Rowing is only a problem post-operatively for about 3-5months. After that the calcium and scar tissue build up in the vessel around the lead and essentially superglue it into place, your not going to pull it out rowing after 8 months. But if you want to avoid it I certainly can appreciate your concern.

Concerns with damage to the leads

by BLIP - 2014-05-23 12:05:30

Thank you PacerRep, I appreciate your input.
What I am worried about is not pulling out my leads but damaging them with repetitive motion and repetitive stress on possibly one segment of them.
I am petite and slim and I can feel the leads coming off my PM when I press on that area. It's interesting ( in a funky way) to feel the actual points that they attach to the PM.
It was a bit freaky in the beginning, but now it's simply- there. I am not able to feel any scar tissue around that point, but I know as they go into my atrium and ventricle that the scar tissue is built up around those places.
Rowing was just a fun, efficient way to get a lot of cardio in at one sitting, but it is something I can live without, or only do for short time and not super frequently or intensively.
Again, thank you everyone, this site is priceless.

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