Weight machines

I'm 61 and recently had my first pacemaker implanted. For the last 2 years I'd been using weight machines at the gym to maintain upper body strength. (In fact, it was my passing out after using the weights that first alerted me that I had a pacing issue.)

I was told by the tech in electrophysiology, no weight lifting, although she said exercises like curls and tricep training would be all right. But nothing which might cause lead detachment. Now that I'm back at the gym, I've pushed a little further, doing a rowing machine (gently, at low weight) and an ab cruncher.

I would like to do more, although at lower weights than what I have. But don't want to mess up leads. I have a left side pectoral placement. Not sure exactly where the leads go from there.

Any advice?

4 Comments

Schematic Of PM & Leads

by SMITTY - 2010-12-06 06:12:01

Kestrel

I can't comment what you can or cannot do with weights now that you have a pacemaker. But if you want to see a good schematic drawing on a pacemaker and leads placement I can tell you how to do that. One of our members, Juan, put one in the member gallery.

If you are not familiar with that feature, after you log in, on the upper left side of the home page under Clubhouse is Member Gallery. Click on that and when Filter Images comes up put in the name Juan and click. That will take you to the picture I am talking about. If you enlarge that picture you will get a picture of a typical location of a pacemaker and the route of the leads.

Smitty

Same Concern

by Creaky - 2010-12-06 11:12:34

I'm 74 and about 9 weeks post pacemaker. I am back in the gym doing almost everything though at a lighter weight than before. What I am avoiding is over the head presses and any repetitive motions forward and back. From what I've read here and wherever I can find any credible info is that there is a risk of breaking the leads. My EP said they don't tell patients not to do things but be aware that the more stress you place on the leads the more chance there is of breaking one. So, I've adopted a philosophy to do almost everything but at half to 2/3 my previous weight and not to do presses or flys. I'm still trying to devise ways to maintain shoulder strength and flexibility without the above. Not sure how possible it is to do a really good job at that.
Harry

ask the dr, not the tech

by Tracey_E - 2010-12-09 06:12:59

Some drs are more conservative than others but most of them are ok with us lifting weights once we've had time to heal. We're all built differently and every dr puts the pm in differently so maybe there's a reason why it'd be bad for you to lift, but my guess is that's just a generic overly conservative statement.

I do whatever I want and don't worry about it! My dr has always said if I feel up to it, go for it, he's never restricted any of my activities. I've had a pm for 16 yrs now and have one original lead, had one lead replaced last year. It was not a big deal, it was done when the battery was replaced. I don't know if the broken lead was just bad luck, the lead wore out from age, or if it was something I did, but I'm not babying my new one either! Life's too short to worry about every little thing that might possibly cause a problem. But that's just me, your mileage may vary :o)

Comments from my doc

by SUPERSTARDJ01 - 2010-12-30 04:12:11

Hi,

My Doctor said weights are ok as long as you DO NOT do any lifting on the chest, I've had my pacemaker just over 1 yr and was fitted when I was 29 and was a big gym goer before, I started going again about 3 mths after having it fitted only about 6 mths ago started doing light weights on chest i.e. 20kgs at most and don't push too hard, I'm not a Doctor but if you have doubts call cardiology and ask.

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