Playing Sports with a pacemaker

Hello, I am a mom of a seven year old with a pacemaker. He had his pacemaker put in when he was a year and a half. We were told that since he is getting older and the sports he plays will be getting somewhat more rough he should stick to golf and tennis. This is pretty upsetting to my guy. We are definitely following the Dr.' s orders. But I was just curious of any other experiences anyone has had. Thank you so much

Bonnie (Max's Mom)

5 Comments

There should be more than golf and tennis

by Pacemum - 2015-01-10 01:01:46

I know the some sports can be a bit rough but I am sure that there will be a lot more sports your son can enjoy unless he has some other heart defect to consider.

My daughter is very active and dispite having other heart problems she is still is able to take part in most PE activities at school.

Really?

by Busdriver - 2015-01-10 07:01:41

Most medical professionals advise against contact sports of any kind. One wrong hit in the wrong spot could spell trouble for your child. Why would any parent risk that? I realize today's parenting style is to do whatever it takes to give the child whatever he or she wants. Sometimes saying "no" and "because I said so" is the best answer for all the right reasons.

compromise

by Tracey_E - 2015-01-10 09:01:30

All of us are told no contact sports, doesn't matter the age. Most paced kids are allowed to do a long list of other non-contact sports, definitely more than golf and tennis. Don't go against your dr's orders, but I think it's worth having a conversation about specifically what the dr is worried about by eliminating all other sports. Honestly, if someone is going to be that restrictive but allow tennis, he's obviously never played tennis. I'd be more worried about a kid with an abdominal pacer stretching to serve or diving after a fast ball than a lot of other sports. How many paced kids does this dr have?

otoh, when I was your son's age, pm's weren't given to children unless it was critical so I got by without until I was an adult. I did no sports, I was not allowed to do anything that would get the heart rate up (because it didn't go up). Teachers at school freaked out and didn't let me do anything, even things that in hindsight would have been ok. My parents were great, focused on what I could do, not what I could not. I rode horses, took a very easy dance class, rode my bike, did Girl Scouts and art classes. In gym class, I was really good at keeping score and using the stopwatch. I had the occasional melt down as a teenager, I sometimes felt left out and different, but I grew up happy and healthy.

Busdriver, it's not a matter of letting the kids run the house and have whatever they want, it's about giving a child as full a life as possible. Having been that kid, I can tell you that having a heart condition never bothered me, but being made to feel I was different than the other kids, to sit on the sidelines when they were having fun... that was hard. Sometimes there is no choice, and kids with restrictions grow up just fine (no, sitting on the sidelines did not ruin my life) but sometimes drs are overly restrictive not because it's in the patient's best interest, but because they don't have other similar patients and they are paranoid so they say no when the true answer is they do not know if it's ok or not.

Heart Children

by Pacemum - 2015-01-11 06:01:25

Many children with PM have other underlying structural heart problems which will also contribute to the level of physical activity they can enjoy. Some children who do not have PM's are advised not to take part in contact sports due to the increased strain they may have of the blood flow through the heart. There is a misconception that the PM itself is the sole reason for avoiding certain activities.

Questions parents of any child with a heart condition should ask

(1) Is it safe for my child to undertake physical exercise?
(a) How much?
(b) How often?
(c) What type?

Ask about

(2) Cardiovasular exercise?
(3) Static/weight or resistance exercise?
(4) Specific types or activity my child should avoid
(a) Contact Sports?
(b) Weight Lifting?
(c) Martial Arts?
(d) Trampolining?
(e) Cross Country/long running type sports?
(f) Any others?
(g) If not what can they do?

(5) Will he/she be able to self limit?
(6) How would he/she know when to stop?
(7) How can exercise activities be adapted to allow my childs participation?

Most school sports are athletics, team based, swimming sports etc. The important question is number (7) as many sports can be adapted to allow participation. Those teaching are usually qualified professionals and as part of their training they will have learnt how to adapt sports.

Therefore there will be a lot more sports then tennis and golf.

Things to think about

by Pacemum - 2015-01-11 07:01:18

When considering participation you have to consider who you need to make the game or sport happen.

Its not just a case of just opposing teams or players but sports require other key people such as referees, linesmen, umpires which are essential to the sports.

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Member Quotes

I am just now 40 but have had these blackouts all my life. I am thrilled with the pacer and would do it all over again.