back to intense exercise

recent pm (2 wks) very active,endurance athlete. 62 yo who is trying to intelligently get into a routine of physical activity(running for now) I realize swimming is out for a few more weeks. I have the rate response activated and am trying to hit that sweet spot with feeling good with run/walk on daily basis. Am i being too quick to get back to actvity? brent

9 Comments

depends

by Tracey_E - 2014-06-05 01:06:20

1. did your dr clear you to work out hard?
2. how do you feel during and after running?
If your dr says it's ok (mine did) and you feel ok, go for it. Just be careful about raising the arm too high and lifting anything too heavy for 4-6 weeks. Definitely stay out of the water until the incision is well healed.

For me, running was too much impact and left me sore a lot longer than 2 weeks out, but we have members who can comfortably run after a couple of weeks. I walked, increasing distance and speed then adding hand and ankle weights, used a recumbent bike or elliptical when I got bored.

Keep in mind it may take a few tries to get rate response fine tuned, so if you don't feel right when you exert, that could be what's going on. Don't push it when that happens, get it checked out first.

Tracey,
who got in trouble for taking a walk as soon as she was out of the recovery room

3 weeks

by melbee - 2014-06-05 05:06:49

I am 42 and got mine 3 weeks ago today. I having been feeling good, all looks good. My doc said I can walk ( I speed walk) as long as I wear my sling so I don't move my arm. Well Tuesday I walk 6 1/2 miles with my walking group. Yesterday morning I woke up wore our and sore. I realized, yes I feel better, but the insides still need time to heal.

two months

by jimsactive - 2014-06-05 08:06:45

I was 65 when I received PM 7/5/14. My Dr. said to wait two months before going back to gym. I did a lot of walking in the interim. Obviously that included no weight training. I did not amp up cardio until given the go ahead. PS - swam one mile in January.

7 weeks out

by JBM - 2014-06-05 10:06:34

I am 75 and for the time just walking at a good clip and building back up on Nautilus machines. Use to do treadmill at 3.5 to 4.0 for 30 minutes with 15 degree incline 3 times a week. The Doctors advice build back up and go as you will as long as there is no discomfort -- sounds like good advice for every old jock and jockette 8-)

i'd wait

by highdesert - 2014-06-05 12:06:53

I'm no expert but am a active 59 year old with a pm implanted Dec of last year. I would recommend waiting a few months before any jarring exercise... gives the scar time to heal and the unit/leads to get a good hold.

Try cycling

by Selwyn - 2014-06-06 08:06:06

The benefit is that it keeps the arm and shoulder in the right position. I was cycling within the first week. It is a bit like getting a new car and wanting to try it out!

Do not try to force yourself along- the idea is to build up slowly to a fitness level. There does not seem to be any point to sitting waiting for wound strength ( see my recent posting on this today). As Tracey says, best to keep the wound dry for 6 weeks, and avoid over stretching the shoulder for 4-6 weeks.

Cycling seems to be the ideal exercise after a pacemaker insertion to maintain fitness if you ask me.

Exercising

by Enrique - 2014-06-06 12:06:38

I had my PM implanted when I was 55. Before that I was physically very active, jogging 10 k, 2-3 times per week.
After the procedure I started going for long walks. I went back to running after 2 months of having my PM. . As TraceyE said, it takes a while to get the rate response tuned.
A couple of weeks seem too early for strenuous exercise. I would get the OK from my doctor first.

4 weeks

by PeteFindlay - 2014-06-07 09:06:42

I'm just over 4 weeks post-implant. (50y/o, very active, sub-pectoral implant)

My planned follow-up is at 6 weeks, and I planned to just walk till then. Started a couple of days after, building pace and distance.

However, I asked for a session at 3 1/2 weeks to 're-tune', as I wasn't comfortable (min HR was set to 60 by default vs. my natural resting of 50 or lower). My clinic was very accommodating and made some adjustments. I took the opportunity to ask about exercise. Having seen all was ok with PM function, scar etc, they were happy for me to start 'gentle' running. Of course, their definition of gentle may be different to mine! I left it to a full 4 weeks before stepping up from walking, but have done a couple of steady 5k runs now. It feels great to get a bit of intensity back!

Their issue was more with excessive movement and exertion of the arm and chest, so still no big arm swings or press ups and the like. That will have to wait to the 6 week check up, I guess, before I can start gradually working back towards full mobility and heavy weights.

Of course, everyone's different, but it would be worth asking and maybe getting an early check-up if you feel ready to get moving a bit quicker than the standard guidelines.

Don't Rush to Exercise.

by len613 - 2014-06-09 05:06:44

I am surprised your dr. did not advise you.
If you exercise too soon the attached wire to your heart can become undone before scar tissue has formed. One to two months is a reasonable wait.

Len

You know you're wired when...

You have an excuse for being a couch potato.

Member Quotes

But I think it will make me feel a lot better. My stamina to walk is already better, even right after surgery. They had me walk all around the floor before they would release me. I did so without being exhausted and winded the way I had been.