Surfing and working out

Anyone out there surf and stand up paddle? Are there any risks I need to be aware of when surfing after the leads are set and scarred over? I got my PM three weeks ago and I'm patiently waiting for the 6 weeks to pass. How about excercise? Are there any excercises that absolutely shoud not be done because of this little computer? Like pull ups, flys, military presses? Thanks for your thoughts. You guys are great. This is a great website!

3 Comments

go for it!

by Tracey_E - 2008-12-15 04:12:26

I'm way too klutzy to be a surfer but I have been working out with a pm for 15 yrs now. If it's ok with your doctor, you can probably start aerobic exercise now. Just start out slowly, be careful to keep your arm below your shoulder and no weights yet. Once you're past the six weeks, aside from contact sports (karate, football) there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to do any exercise you want.

Depending on your build and where your pm is placed, some exercises such as flies may pull on your pm. I sometimes feel mine but it's more an awareness than a pain. If it pulls more than just a bit or is painful, stop. I don't let it stop me for long, I just ease into whatever it is more slowly. (I'm just a wee bit stubborn, "can't" isn't my favorite word!)

What I have heard

by turboz24 - 2008-12-15 09:12:06

Some doctors would rather you not do any over the head weight lifting, but my doc cleared me to basically do what ever I wanted.

If your implant is just under the skin, I would be really careful about getting hit in that location or sliding over the site. I would suggest wearing a wetsuit or at least a rash guard at all times when surfing. Not that you would damage the PM or leads, but my ICD hurts when rubbed or hit, so just a suggestion.

Surfer with ICD

by thisis1234 - 2016-09-04 18:08:52

I have done a lot of surfing with my sub-pectoral implanted ICD, since 2010. The ICD saved my life twice (once on-water, once out of water). The issues have been from my heart, not my ICD. In practice, I've been able to enjoy most sports with my ICD. The only sports I've avoided are martial arts (judo, karate) - anything where I'd take a direct hit to the device as a normal consequence of the sport - even then it would probably take a lot of abuse to cause an actual problem.

My ICD is sub-pectoral (under the muscle) - not sure what to say if your pacemaker is just under the skin.

 

 

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It is just over 10 years since a dual lead device was implanted for complete heart block. It has worked perfectly and I have traveled well near two million miles internationally since then.