Pilates and Pace Maker

I am a 61 year old female with a St. Judes PM implanted late July 2014. I have been taking Pilates on a reformer once a week for the past year and a half. I also take Yoga and mat Pilates several times a week. The doctor has suggested I wait a month before resuming the reformer. He has also advised against repetitive motion such as tennis.

I miss the reformer terribly, but concerned with some of the upper body exercises on them. Any one out there work on a reformer? what about planks and downward dog yoga positions? I'm not sure that my doctor is aware of the position of these moves.

5 Comments

Wait---

by jpotts - 2014-09-02 06:09:15

I did yoga before I had my pacemaker. I also worked out and played tennis, and swimming a few miles. Wait 6 weeks. stretching of the arm, hence = stretching of pacemaker lead. It has to have time for a solid scar tissue to form preventing a lead from dislodging. I know I hate it also.

Find a nice place to walk. I went and bought myself a lantern and walk 3-5 miles on the beach at night a few times a week. I want to go to my athletic club but do not as the temptation is great. Even though you do not hurt you have not healed.

Yoga

by azviking - 2014-09-03 02:09:55

I waited six weeks before returning to yoga and took it easy for a week or two on pm side stretching and stress poses. I listened to my body. If I remember correctly I did not do downward dog initially. Back to a full program soon thereafter.

I walked almost immediately after surgery to get some exercise.


79 yo male.

azviking


Pilates and Pace Maker

by tbiancardi - 2014-09-03 03:09:23

Thank you both. At least I know that there is light at the end of the tunnel and that I can resume my activities once I have given myself time to heal. I have been walking and keeping active that way.

taling about pilates reformer

by tbiancardi - 2014-09-10 07:09:14

I just had the PM implanted on July 30, 2014. Had to go the MD today as one of the stitches was coming through and had not yet dissolved. While there I explained to the MD that the shoulder on the implanted side was bothering me. I didn't know if it was my recurring bursitis or the effects from the implantation.

The doctor said that the shoulder had nothing to do with the implantation. He encouraged mobility of the shoulder, but using common sense. So..... the range of motion you may be feeling or lack there of, may just be your limit. If you haven't done that exercise in two years, maybe your range of motion had decreased?

I have also heard that repetitive exercises involving the chest are not good. The PM specialist at the MD office said that playing professional tennis would not be a good move. ( I don't play tennis)

I'll see what happens after I get back to the reformer. I was quiet advanced. We'll see where my range of motion is since I've been away from it for almost two months.

Keep doing the reformer. It's so good for you!

talking about pilates reformer

by lahbigbro6 - 2014-09-10 07:09:28

Hi getting in on the conversation. I notice my range of motion is not as good with my 2nd pacemaker. Its been 2 years and I have not done the arm exercise that you sit cross legged, arms raised at shoulder level and bring arms into chest with ropes. Do you ladies do that one ? I am thinking that I did not stretch enough when it was ok to ...

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