Pushups and Rowing Machine

I had a pacemeker installed on February 18, 2014, approximately 8 months ago. Pacemaker is working fine, on demand setting and activates only 2% of the time when my heartbeat goes below 40 per minute.

I am still uncomfortable/tight in the pacemaker site but that will probably be something that I willl have to live with.
Prior to the pacemaker (I am age 67) I did 20 pushups a day and used my rowing machine twice a week for 15/20 minutes a session.
Rowing and pushups will put considerable pressure on the pacemaker site.
Does anyone have experience with these two excercises and how they might affect the scar tissue and 2 lead wires?
Thank you,
John

4 Comments

Pushups and Rowing Machine

by Enrique - 2014-10-24 08:10:45

I have a similar case.
I had a PM implanted 10 years ago. When I go to the gym I use a rowing machine regularly, sometimes for 30 min (but I don't do push ups).
I haven't had problems with my PM, or with the leads. I believe that the leads are more likely to cause a problem.
I think that it depends on the location of the leads. I suggest that you ask the folks who check you pacemaker which exercises are ok for you.

PM site

by Theknotguy - 2014-10-24 09:10:03

My PM site was pretty tight too. Mainly because they didn't let me do exercises. So my shoulder was stiff too.

I went back to volunteering at a woodshop at a local charity. The first few weeks the shoulder was sore and stiff but it gradually loosened up. It would "stretch" out while I was working but it didn't feel bad. Then I carried a backpack through an airport. The first couple of days with the backpack made the PM site sore but it loosened up after the first couple of days.

My biggest trouble was with moving heavy wooden planks. I'd "pinch" the PM between my shoulder and my ribcage. The site would be sore for a few days.

After about five months volunteering at the woodshop my PM site isn't sore and I have almost 100% movement with my shoulder.

Start working gradually. You'll overdo it of course. Just back off on your exercise until the soreness goes away. You'll need to use tylenol instead of aspirin.

Hope things go good for you. Enjoy the exercise!

depends

by Tracey_E - 2014-10-25 11:10:05

There are a very few people who have had lead problems from doing these actions. Most of us don't have a problem with it. Excessive repetitive actions can cause problems, but working out here and there is not excessive. The pm and leads are intended to move with us. I regularly row at the gym, kayak, do push ups as well as lift weights. I've never had a problem. My doc said I can do whatever I want as long as I feel ok. If you are tight, be cautious getting started. If it's just lack of use causing the stiffness, you should get your mobility back with patience. If you feel the leads rubbing or the pm being pushed, back off.

Range of Motion

by PeteFindlay - 2014-10-25 11:10:39

I'd focus on light weights and stretching exercises to make sure you've got a comfortable - or at least painless - full range of motion. For example, start with push ups from the knees - even just leaning/pushing against a wall until you can get your elbows back fully.
Then gradually build up the load as you get more comfortable. It will ache, I'm sure. Only you know where the limit is between 'ache' and 'pain'. If it hurts, ease off a bit.

I had my PM in early May, started back on upper body exercises after about 8 weeks. It took a few more weeks to comfortably do pull-ups, push ups and dips at full bodyweight. Since then I haven't had any limitations.

If you've steered clear of upper body exercises for 8 months, it'll probably take a bit of time to loosen up. Just take it steady...

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