Rowing?

I am the wife of an avid competitive rower (age 60) who rows daily during the season and who is about to get a pacemaker put in on Monday. His doctor is willing to let him try rowing (after recovery of course) but is wary about it. Rowing is huge to him. I found posts from people who work out on the erg(ometer) but not posts of rowers who were able to row after getting a pacemaker. Are there any rowers out there who were able to continue post pacemaker? If so would love to hear from you!!!

10 Comments

rowing

by Tracey_E - 2016-03-12 10:03:19

As long as they know about it beforehand, they should be able to position it so that it's not a problem. Casual rowing is fine for anyone, but excessive repetitive motion can damage the leads sometimes if they're in a place where they will be stressed repeatedly. The most common position is just under the collarbone, just under the skin, but it can go anywhere on the upper chest. If his doctor seems hesitant about this, ask for a plastic surgeon to consult. Some ep's don't want to deal with more than the heart.

Rower

by Sarbear - 2016-03-13 09:03:05

Hello-I'm a 25 year old rower and I had a pacemaker put in about 2 months ago. As long as everything still looks good at my next check up in April I should be cleared to row as of May! I'd let them know in advance in case that influences positioning, Good luck!

Good News!

by Terry - 2016-03-13 12:03:22

Athletic people may benefit from a healthy heart that pumps the way it was supposed to. Some doctors still bypass the cardiac conduction system (Google that). And that causes well known deleterious effects. Take a look at His-pacing.org because you need to be involved with your healthcare optimization.
Terry

placement

by Tracey_E - 2016-03-14 01:03:11

Just under the skin, just under the collarbone is the fastest access to the veins and heals the fastest. Going deeper means a little longer healing but imo it's well worth it in the end. They can access the veins from anywhere on the upper chest so I don't know why he'd call it safest. What it is, is easiest for him.

More and more doctors are offering alternate placements. My first was in 1994 and it was unheard of then, I was young and underweight so my ep brought in a plastic surgeon to make it look nicer. He retired so I had to find a new one for my last replacement, he also didn't hesitate to bring in a plastic surgeon.

Rowers

by rowingchris - 2016-03-14 01:03:14

Hi, I just had a bipolar pacemaker (Biotronik) implanted, and I am also a rower. They tell me that 3 weeks after the surgery I can start rowing again.
But I agree with catthree that your husband should check with the doctors before.

catthree

by Tracey_E - 2016-03-14 03:03:20

There are some new ones that use your breathing as well as motion to get rate response to kick in. Biotronik has one that uses a really sophisticated CLS (closed loop stimulation). Something to check out when yours needs replaced.

Many of us are on beta blockers, but they aren't necessary just because we have a pacer, only if we have afib or svt or something like that in addition to whatever caused us to need the pacer.

lee

by LeeT - 2016-03-14 07:03:18

First and formost he must give the implant time (incisions to heal completely) to adhere to the inner heart. Separate the nodes (connection) and you start over. I'm a weight lifter for years and continue to lift but it will not be the same. There are many athletes who do more but but the reality is one doesn't have to give up the sport just return to it slowly. The implant is a life time investment it must come first careful how he treats this is serious but the fact that it's new experience unknown make it worse. Excessive hard core workouts can create difficulties if the nodes are damaged. For now its implant recovery return to rowing if the implant in on the left side use the right arm muscle more soon he will make the proper adjustments. And FOLLOW THE DOCTORS SUGGESTIONS. Never try to macho through it clearly there are limitations.

Medication & RR

by catthree - 2016-03-14 11:03:45

As an [ex]-competitive bicycle racer who had to give up serious cycling, there are a couple of points no one seems to have raised. The first is whether the doctor is putting your husband on any beta blockers in conjunction with the pacemaker. If so, beta blockers hold down heart rate, which makes previous levels of exertion simply impossible. Second, since you don't say why he is getting the PM, there is the issue of "rate response." If your husband's HR does not increase "normally" under exercise, the PM can be programmed to increase its pacing rate when it detects exercise (often by a motion detector which rowing will trigger appropriately) but since the RR is programmed as opposed to "natural" that may also impact his rowing. My guess, though, is that rowing is an exercise well served by the rate response, which does not work well if there is minimal motion (cycling), or doesn't seem to know the difference between running uphill vs. on the flat.

Rower's Wife

by Rower - 2016-03-14 12:03:25

Hi Sarbear! Did they place yours in the usual spot or elsewhere and if elsewhere, where? The doc says he has to do it in the usual place to be safest. His surgery is tomorrow morning. Thank you so much for your response!

rowing after pacemaker

by Rower - 2019-12-22 18:34:53

I seem to be late for this post but the answer is yes!  My husband, almost 65, has had his for almost 3 years and rows daily during the season.  We are in Boston and he even rowed in the head of the Charles, though didn't train for the race, just rowed as normal.  But as per his situation he has someone at the boat house lift the boat in and out of the water for him.  His doctor was also worried and he has done beautifully!  

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