Lead wear

Hi Guys

My sport is marathon kayak racing, I paddle an epic v10 surfski, and one of the members of my club who has also recently had a pacemaker fitted told me that his cardiologist and pacemaker rep advised him against paddling anymore as the movement of the arm would wear the leads out.

When I saw my cardiologist and rep 5 weeks ago they advised that I would have no problems returning to the sport that I love, any comment appreciated.

 

Thanks

Tom

2 Comments

no one knows

by Tracey_E - 2016-12-06 09:17:41

There are so few of us who have been paced long term and are very active that there are no guidelines, no studies. It's possible that excessive repetition can damage a lead, but otoh, the leads are thin and flexible and intended to move with us. My doc is firmly in the "do what you want, you won't hurt it" camp. I can think of two members here who have damaged leads from activity, dozens and dozens like me who have never had an issue. Fact is, no one knows for sure. For me, I choose to do what I want, if I'm taking a small risk so be it. So far, so good, and if one day they tell me I killed a lead, I'll have it fixed and probably go right back to doing whatever I want. I had a lead go bad 6 years ago, but it was normal wear, not activity. Leads last on average 15 years, that one lasted 16. I still have one original lead that's 22 years old and still going strong. 

Take some more opinions

by Edward GT - 2016-12-10 23:36:55

Hello Tom. 

I liked TraceyE comment, it seems an intersting point of view. Another thing you can do, is talking to other cardiologists (in this area of pacemaker) and take other opinions, because it might depend on the implant location, if it is placed more to the left, or to the right, up or down, it might depend on the movement you do. You could maybe trying to have some more opinions to decide.

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