Connect
Exercise after a PFA
I am a 76 year old woman. I had bovine mitral and aortic valve replacements with cryo maze ablation via open heart surgery in 2022. I was doing great until March. 2026 when my Afib and atrial flutter returned. I had a pulsed field ablation for Afib and atypical atrial flutter on 8/5/2026. Before the ablation I swam 4 days a week for 1 1/2 hours, recently decreased to 3 times a week per my EP. On the days I didn’t swim I would walk 5-6 miles. I was fluid overloaded after the procedure so waited 2 days before walking a little over a mile. I have been gradually increasing my distance and speed, still really taking it easy. My pulse goes higher when I swim but it is easier than walking. My plan is to wait 2 weeks before swimming. Thoughts?
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart Rhythm Conditions Support Group.
Connect
Before a mile swim, I am a 4. After the swim, an 11.
Heart + blood cancer pt.
I don’t understand what you mean by a 4 and 11.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@bobthepug
Before the workout I feel like crap, a 4 on a scale of 1-10. After the swim, I feel great and am off the scale at 11.
Check out scene from spinal tap movie.
@shmerdloff
Totally agree pre ablation. Just don’t want to mess things up by getting my heart rate too fast while swimming. May start with 30 minutes twice a week and go up from there.
It is always smartest to be cautious about such things, as your question suggests you are. Your intuition, your mojo, how you feel, your energy level...whatever concept you feel has the most face validity for you right now, that is probably going to be your best guide. If you feel sapped, lethargic, then continue to take it easy until your system rights itself. You've been under duress, and you're not the person you were five years ago. Bouncing back might be that much more difficult and take longer these days, not unreasonably.
Getting out and walking at a pace that keeps your heart under the (Age + Heart Rate < 220) calculus is probably a safe metric to use. Today, walking slowly, your heart might zip up to a rate that, when added to your age, gets close to or at that magic 220 number. Next week even, the same effort and pace, your heart might happily supply your systems at a rate about 15 beats a minue less. The obvious inference is that your higher HR this week means your heart is smarting still and a bit cranky. Go easy! Next week will probably be better.
As you say, you want to be cautious and not force the heart to compromise its healing by pushing the limits, certainly NOT by exceeding that metric calculus of Age + HR < 220.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionThank you so much. This has been extremely helpful. So far the most my heart has felt increased on the formula is 191, today the highest was 186. When I go back to swimming in another week I will monitor my pulse and closely. I will also start with 30 minute swims and gradually increase depending on the formula. Again thank you!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI, too am a regular swimmer, and while in afib I was regularly getting heart rates into the 170s and 180s. I thought it showed my heart was strong, not realizing it was caused by the afib.
I had my PFA in August 2025 and did my first easy swim 3 weeks later. I discussed exercise and swimming with my EP's office, and as @gloaming notes above, did my best to limit my HR to 220 minus my age, so about 150. I have a Garmin watch I wear while swimming, and the swim readout shows HR prominently. At the end of every lap I am able to look at my watch and decide if I can continue at the same pace, speed up, or stop and let my HR get down again.
I am now getting close to one year since the PFA, and generally know my HR range as I swim. I do, however, still check my watch on every lap to make sure my HR is in a good range. Good swimming to you!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsThanks so much for the response. It is really encouraging. My Apple Watch doesn’t show my heart rate on the watch, only after I finish on my phone. But I will be able to check it on my heart rate icon on my watch face.
At 5 mos post PFA, I’m still stuck re exercise. A saunter up my slightly inclined street or 15 min Wii balance exercises sends me into brief afib once my heart rate gets over 115 or so.. Stops when I stop.The EP says take it slow but I miss swimming. My LA is severely enlarged- 160- but I’m hoping if I keep working at it slooowly, it will improve. Glad to read about yr success.