kitesurfing

Exercise...kitesurfing

by Lake Breeze - 2013-03-31 11:03:22

I was told that people should wait 6-8 weeks before lifting their left arm over their head and about that long to do strenuous exercise. The leads need to stabilize into place. You would hate to have to repeat the procedure all over again due to the leads becoming detached. However,,,,maybe things have changed over the past 2 years since I had mine implanted.

golf

by Tracey_E - 2013-04-02 04:04:02

He may well have meant you can play a full game of golf at 6 weeks! As I said, they all vary in what they tell us. When I got my first one (1994) I wasn't given any instructions other than watch the stitches. Really, after the first 48 hours it's all precaution and there are no firm rules that they all agree on but the average is 6 weeks for raising the arm above shoulder level and lifting more than 5 pounds. Other than that, move the arm normally so your shoulder doesn't freeze.

My dr said 3 months for the full swing but not all drs will think that's necessary. You could chip and putt now if you felt like it, that doesn't involve arm above the shoulder.

I'd call my path more careless and restless than aggressive! I started walking the day I was released from the hospital. I increased speed and time, added a stationary bike. Bouncing didn't feel good so I didn't run or get on the regular bike but I was fine with anything non-impact aerobic. The day I got the stitches out, I stopped on the way home and bought roller blades and a tennis racket, booked a ski trip and made plans to learn to swim. My problem is congenital and I was never allowed to do any of those things before, I went through school never playing a sport or doing more than keeping score in gym class. Can you say kid in a candy store? I haven't slowed down since.

I got a new lead 2 years ago with my last battery replacement so that meant the same rules as the first placement. Again, I was out walking the day I got home, on the bike within two weeks. Some days I'd over do it and feel sore so would cut back the next day. I tried the elliptical too soon, the bouncing made me sore so I went back to the stationary bike. I didn't have a plan, I just tried things to see how I felt.

limitations

by Tracey_E - 2013-04-02 12:04:22

I guess we don't have any kitesurfers here so I'll chime in on general limitations. Ask 10 drs, get 10 sets of instructions. There are no studies, we are the first generations to be paced long term, there aren't enough of us out here who are paced and very active to know for sure what's ok and what's not.

I have heard people told no heavy lifting, no weights above shoulder level, no pull ups because of risk to the leads. There are people afraid to do much of anything.

The other end of the spectrum is my dr who says the leads are not going anywhere after we heal, do whatever I want as long as I feel good. Add to that my own feeling that I'd rather go for it and take a small risk of messing up a lead than sit on the sidelines in fear. I asked my dr what would happen if I messed up a lead, he shrugged and said we'll fix it. Good enough for me! I got my first one in 1994 and have never had a problem.

That said, there are a few exercises that agitate the scar tissue around my pm- ring rows (lay under rings, pull yourself up like an upside down push up) and toes to bar (hang from pull up bar, swing legs so toes hit the bar). Sometimes I modify from what the rest of the class does, sometimes I do it anyway. It's just the scar tissue so it's uncomfortable for a day or two but harmless. You may run into something similar at some point.

One last thought, you might want to take it easy for a bit longer than 6 weeks. Get back to surfing and swimming, sure, but maybe hold off on the extremes a few weeks more. I live in a golf mecca so my ep's instructions include golfing. He said anything after 6 weeks except a full golf swing, wait until 3 months for that. I'm thinking holding onto the kite might be in the same category as the full golf swing, motion-wise.

Kitesurfing

by Kiter - 2013-04-02 12:04:25

Thanks Lake Breeze andTraceyE...I appreciate your feedback on kitesurfing...also helpful feedback on golf.

I just assumed that when the doctor said golf in 6 weeks, that meant real golf. Given that a typical week for me also includes 36 holes and an equivalent amount of range time, i'm sure I'll go stir crazy.

TraceyE, how long did you wait before at least chipping and putting?

Also, it seems that from what I am reading on the various posts, that from a training perspective, I should limit myself to light cardio and ab work during the first 6 weeks.

If anyone here has taken a more aggresive path to training and conditioning "safely" during this initial recovery period I am interested in hearing more.

Thanks!

All of the above!

by derickboy9 - 2013-04-16 02:04:01

Hey There,
I have kite-boarded ,windsurfed and raced mountain bikes (leadville 100) and had a couple of big crashes- all since getting my Pacemaker 5 years ago. Didn't think twice about having the Pacemaker.
Best of Luck
D

Any updates on the kiteboarding?

by MarkFranklin99 - 2016-09-03 22:57:35

Hi @kiter, how long did you end up waiting? Also, what kind of kiting do you do? Racing, surf, jumps?

Its been 4.5 weeks for me now, (who's counting), I'm starting to feel great but I'm also slowly going stir crazy . I've stacked on a couple of kg from not being as active as I normally am (3 runs per week).

Can I jump back on on a kiteboard in a week?