Rush20
Well-known member
I'm curious how soon and at what intensity those who lifted weights prior to surgery resumed their training post surgery?
I had AVR on 8/29/03. I completed my 12-week Phase II rehab on Christmas Eve and resumed my personal training program on 12/29/03. To me it was symbolic to start on 12/29 due to the 4-month anniversary of my surgery more than anything else.
Anyway, I'm about 4 weeks into new program and I'm lifting 3-days per week and working the treadmill 3-days per week. Although I started very light, I'm back to about 75% of my pre-surgery lifting weight. My reps are very strict and I'm really focusing on breathing correctly. I try for 12-15 reps and 3 sets of each exercise. Although I have been focusing on dumbell expercises for control, I have been performing the bench press and squat.
My question, do you think this is too soon to begin lifting this heavy? I bought a Heart Rate Monitor and noticed (obviously) that my heart rate is the highest during the exercises that work the largest body muscles, i.e. legs, chest. Although my cardiologist gave me the green light to use weights, he really didn't go into any specific detail. The last day of my Phase II, I told the nurses I planned to resume lifting in the next few weeks and they told me to keep it light, between 5 and 10 lbs. I thought that perhaps they didn't hear me correctly in that I wasn't stuffing envelopes!
In addition to lifting weights, I enjoy biking and baseball/softball in season (Chicago; April-October). I have been lifting consistently since I was 15 (I'm 40 now) so I have a good idea of what I'm doing, however I want to avoid any cardiac-related pitfalls. Any thoughts, ideas are appreciated.
I had AVR on 8/29/03. I completed my 12-week Phase II rehab on Christmas Eve and resumed my personal training program on 12/29/03. To me it was symbolic to start on 12/29 due to the 4-month anniversary of my surgery more than anything else.
Anyway, I'm about 4 weeks into new program and I'm lifting 3-days per week and working the treadmill 3-days per week. Although I started very light, I'm back to about 75% of my pre-surgery lifting weight. My reps are very strict and I'm really focusing on breathing correctly. I try for 12-15 reps and 3 sets of each exercise. Although I have been focusing on dumbell expercises for control, I have been performing the bench press and squat.
My question, do you think this is too soon to begin lifting this heavy? I bought a Heart Rate Monitor and noticed (obviously) that my heart rate is the highest during the exercises that work the largest body muscles, i.e. legs, chest. Although my cardiologist gave me the green light to use weights, he really didn't go into any specific detail. The last day of my Phase II, I told the nurses I planned to resume lifting in the next few weeks and they told me to keep it light, between 5 and 10 lbs. I thought that perhaps they didn't hear me correctly in that I wasn't stuffing envelopes!
In addition to lifting weights, I enjoy biking and baseball/softball in season (Chicago; April-October). I have been lifting consistently since I was 15 (I'm 40 now) so I have a good idea of what I'm doing, however I want to avoid any cardiac-related pitfalls. Any thoughts, ideas are appreciated.