Swimming????

I had been swimming up until sev. months before I got the PM - three workouts a week averaging over 2000 meters each. Am concerned about swimming again as the freestyle stroke involves a huge amount of upper chest stretching and rotation. Are there any swimmers out there with a PM who went back to vigorous swimming?

5 Comments

HMMM

by ro - 2010-04-09 07:04:56

I am not a swimmer, but I know that you'd want to make sure you're really healed before doing that kind of exercise and with that kind of intensity. My leads moved so easily during the first few months from relatively little range of motion that I had to have three lead revisions (which, of course lengthens the recovery time) so you might want to talk to your MD and also a PT about how to get back to that level.
good luck,
ro

glad you asked

by morganbeth44 - 2010-04-09 11:04:56

I am a competitive swimmer and I am very worried that after I get my pacemaker next week that I will not be able to get back to that same level of competition. I was a Division I swimmer and coach a YMCA team now as the head coach. That would be a major loss for me, but I am confident that so long as you give it enough time to heal and really set in place you should be able to get back in the water and back to swimming at the same intensity; just might be a little longer post surgery than other forms of exercise maybe?

Swimming etc

by ElectricFrank - 2010-04-10 12:04:07

The real issue is giving the leads time to scar into the vein wall. I don't have any idea how long it takes to complete, but for something like swimming where a major part of the sport is stretching I would think I would give it 6 months or so.

I wonder if anyone on here knows how long it takes before lead extraction becomes difficult. At that point the leads must be pretty secure.

frank

Swimming

by Selwyn - 2010-04-17 08:04:03

I swim a few miles a week. When I was getting my pacemaker inserted I asked the doctor to make sure that there was enough slack on the wires to fully extend my arm for the freestyle. This I recommend. Sometimes the wires can be a little tight.
You should be able to get back into swimming about 6 weeks after implant, by then wound strength is just about complete. I certainly did.
The only problem I have recently had is a little inflammation at the upper edge of the pacemaker around the scar; as I push backwards in freestyle there is a tendency for the pacemaker edge to stick out and this rubs the skin after about 1.5 miles. I have no fat under the skin and the pacemaker and wires can be seen under the skin. I am trying to not push back so hard on the pacemaker side.
As I have increased the muscle mass over the chest since the pacemaker insertion, next time around, I will ask the doctor's opinion if a slightly lower insertion would be of use. Kind regards

Hmmmmmmm

by OPERMOM - 2010-04-24 07:04:50

I am 75 and got my pacemaker 2/09. I work out at the YMCA as many times a week as I can get there.. I do the water arobics, and some free style swimming, Recently I realized that I can do a some butterflys which help my back. However my left arm gives out. March of 2010 I had a mild stroke but I am back in the water again. Obese as well..
I have had Mitral and aorta valve repair, triple by-pass in the 90"s, More recent two stents and then the pacemaker. My aorta valve is leaking. I have had many fainting spells in the past.

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