Exercise with a pacemaker?

@mauricepower how soon after implant can I ride stationary bike

@coach356
Personally, it’s not something I would try since it’s only been 10 months since my implant. Maybe with more time for healing/imbedding of the pacemaker I might try it. But then again as far as I know I have to be careful about a too fast heart rate so it’s probably off-limits for me.

@coach356
Your medical provider's especially the doctor who put your device in should have given you clear advice on exercise.

I was given strict guidance on movements of arm. You just had surgery and with any surgery you have to follow the guidance of your doctors.

My device was put under my chest muscle due to my skin being so thin for my device to go under. So you can see what I did and what advice I got was unique to me just like you.

Call your medical providers and get the specfic directions for you. I can pass on that they are more worried about your arms than your legs. I was told walking was okay immediately (remember my directions not yours) but needed to take it easy on arm movements for a month as I swam and was doing water aerobics.

Glad to see your post asking about exercise. That is a positive in how you are feeling and your dedication to get back to exercising which is not only great for you body but for your mental health as well.

I think it depends a LOT on the type of pacemaker.

The common pacemaker is a device implanted in the shoulder area with some wires running into the heart. I know those require restricted movement of the arm for several weeks, to avoid opening the incision and to make certain the wires "take root" (my perception). I happen to have a wireless pacemaker implanted directly into the heart, and my surgeon told me that I have no restriction on arm movement BUT he advised to resume to normal activity levels as I felt "up to it". Start with short walks, and increase as I felt comfortable doing them. I.e., don't overdo, and if I start feeling tired, rest. "Let your body tell you when enough is enough." The expectation is many months, not days or even weeks.

I think everyone is gong to tell you the same thing: Follow the advice of the surgeon who did the implant. He/she knows what your conditions were and are.

I can only add this anecdote. I am generally a fast healer. Years ago, I had both shoulder joints replaced, first one then the other. When it came time for my first rehab session, I was already past the last exercise in their 3-month program. Indeed, in 3 months, I had the other shoulder done. In follow up appointments with the surgeon, he was amazed at how quickly I was recovering, and his only caution was to make sure I wasn't pushing too hard, lest I tear the ligament inside (that had to be cut to implant the new joint).

But I can tell you that it's been two months now since my implant, and I still get very fatigued after short walks and mild activity, with a high (100-110) heart rate.

So, be careful. There are no pain sensors INSIDE the body. Your only clues will come from side effects and what you might feel at "skin level". Depending on what YOUR surgeon says, you might resume some exercises while watching carefully for signs other than muscle fatigue that you might be pushing too hard. You don't want to mess up the fuel pump.

@coach356 Your doctor should have discharged you from the procedure with specific guidance regarding limitations. I was allowed to resume normal activities after 10 days with one exception. It was VERY IMPORTANT not to lift my left arm above shoulder height for 12 weeks and no lifting above 5 pounds. This restriction is to prevent the wires that go into the heart from pulling out while healing.

I had a pacemaker installed two weeks ago and was told to keep the arm below shoulder level and not to lift anything above 10 pounds with the arm. I was told I can start bike riding after two days, so I did, I have my two-week checkup in two days and have put over 100 miles on my bike.

I walk daily and with my ICD I feel best to keep my heart rate in the Moderate range. The intense range really exhausts me.