Sports

Hi I wanted to ask if I can take swimming classes barring in mind I had the pacemaker for almost 7 weeks and my shoulder hurts a bit and I can't lift it completely since I didn't lift my arm for 5 weeks 

Thanks in advance 

3 Comments

Maybe wait a little longer ?

by Gemita - 2020-11-22 04:35:23

Omar although I do not believe any harm will come to you if you do start gentle swimming lessons immediately, I do not think you would be very comfortable, enjoy your lessons or fully benefit from them while you are clearly still healing and have only just started moving your arm again.

Personally I would wait just a bit longer and then you can really fully engage in any swimming programme.  In the mean time do gentle exercises to keep your shoulder mobile.  Please see some recent posts on shoulder pain.  One contributor mentioned a physio exercise of gently rolling a ball at eye level up and down a wall on the affected arm side to help ease pain and stiffness.  Please have a look a few posts down.  Might prepare the way for some early swimming lessons.

Swimming has many health benefits, so the earlier you can start the programme the better. 

Swimming is probably one of the toughest sports to return to

by crustyg - 2020-11-22 05:16:11

There's a lot of shoulder movement and stretching of the chest involved, so be prepared for some twinges from the pocket that holds your PM.

But there's no reason why you shouldn't get back to swimming at this stage.  I did.

go for it

by Tracey_E - 2020-11-22 11:31:41

Ease into it, but it should be good for your shoulder. 

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I am 100% pacemaker dependant and have been all my life. I try not to think about how a little metal box keeps me alive - it would drive me crazy. So I lead a very active life.