Post Op Treadmill incline

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clawie1

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 9, 2013
Messages
72
Location
Torrance, Ca
Hi All Friends

I am going on almost 8 weeks post op. Before surgery, I was a 3-4 day workout person which included intense zumba, cardio kickboxing, and strength training classes. I considered myself pretty fit since I have been doing this for the past 30 years. During these years, I really did not do the treadmill machines so I have no comparison between the then and now. I started cardio rehab last week and this is my routine on the treadmill: I start warming up for 5 minutes at 0, 1, then 1.5 incline and at a pace of 0 to 2.5 and then I gradually increase from 2.5 incline to 3.0 and a pace of 3.0 for about the next 10-15 min and gradually decreasing all until I am done at 25 min. Question: Is this too intense --should I tone it down, or turn it up? Any guidelines? Nita

Minimally invasive Aortic Valve Replacement, St. Jude Bovine, 21mm, July 21, 2013, Keck Hospital USC. Los Angeles, Ca., Dr. Cunningham, Surgeon.
 
Hi Nita-

I'm not a doctor - but at 8 weeks post-op your heart should be fine and you're just waiting for the sternum to finish healing. By eight weeks I was cleared to ride my bike as hard as I wanted, so you should be fine on a treadmill! What is 3.0 in miles per hour or km per hour?

I was told to wait to jog until 12 weeks but that was more because I'd be bouncing the sternum around. Or perhaps my surgeon knew I am clumsy?
 
Hi
I start warming up for 5 minutes at 0, 1, then 1.5 incline and at a pace of 0 to 2.5 and then I gradually increase from 2.5 incline to 3.0 and a pace of 3.0 for about the next 10-15 min and gradually decreasing all until I am done at 25 min. Question: Is this too intense --should I tone it down, or turn it up? Any guidelines? Nita

I asked my surgeon this and he said heartrate was not an issue, it was blood pressure. Pressure is caused when lifting weights (such as your body) so stuff like squats was as much as he'd agree with for a while.

I waited till about 10 weeks before starting back with bench press and stuff and even then did lighter weights higher reps.

what's your HR during training? I kept mine below 140 for a while.
 
Hi Sky Girl,

I am so glad you replied. Sorry if I was not clear but the 3.0 represented the speed I was walking on the treadmill -- a number I could raise or lower depending on my stamina. Here is another question Sky Girl: I did hand weights (max 8 lbs ea) so my arms were pretty toned pre op - when were you allowed to lift more than 5 lbs.? (Sorry I am not familiar with the metric system). I am tempted to work out using my little 2 lb. weights at home, but I am not sure if this is the right thing to do. Cardio rehab doesn't want me to start on arm machines for another 2 weeks and I am getting a little impatient.

About your jogging - that was great news because I can't wait to go back to zumba! Thanks again, Nita
 
Hi Pellicle,

Actually when I am on the treadmill it is in cardio rehab so I am hooked up to their monitor -- they say I am doing great so I must be keeping my HR within the safe zone. Today was the first day I kicked it up to 3.0 incline and 3.0 pace but only for a few minutes and then toned it down. Nita
 
Hi Nita-

I think I was supposed to wait to eight weeks to start lifting much of anything but after my first op I was very bad and designed a bit of a weights program at three weeks. BAD! My sternum was still kicking up a fuss 11 months later when I had to have a re-op. Then I was GOOD and all is fine now. Moral of the story - follow the instructions about weight restriction, it's not worth ongoing pain. That said, 2lb hand weights at 8 weeks should be fine, that's about 1kg and I was allowed to lift 1kg at about four weeks. I'd suggest refraining from chest presses/push ups until that magical 12 week mark though.
 
I can't remember the progression any more, but I do remember that by the end of 12 weeks of cardio rehab (before they approved jogging), I was walking the treadmill at 4.2 MPH with a 10% incline. They considered this to be exemplary for my age (63 at the time) and for my having had not only a valve, but a bypass and a pacemaker as well. I think I started out rehab at something like 3 or 4 MPH, with little to no incline. Over the ensuing 2 years, I have increased my walking pace to 4.3 or 4.4 MPH and the incline to 14-15%. This gets my HR up to the mid-140's, where my cardio likes me to keep it. I also ride a stationary bike at 16MPH for 15-20 minutes before walking. When I feel really good (knees especially) I can jog or do intervals, but my competitive days are behind me now.

Listen to your body. Don't try to over-do it too soon, but push the limits. You will get as much out of rehab as you put into it.
 
Wow Steve,
I am impressed with your numbers 4.2 mph with 10% incline! I think I am pretty safe at 3% incline, 3 mph at this stage of my recovery. I guess I have to look at it from this perspective, if I had gone beyond the safe zone, the alarm would have sounded. I don't know if I can reach your numbers, but I will give this heart a workout!
 
True sky girl,
I am going to do my hand weights after my walk. BTW, Heather Anne recommended the app "Nike Run" -- it works and monitors even while I am playing my own music. I never was a chest press/push up person so that's not an issue for me...thanks again.
 
clawie1 - I think maybe my treadmill performance at rehab could have been affected by the 30+ years before valve surgery -- I was a 7-day a week runner/jogger. I went into surgery in better than average shape for my age, and just had to get past the complications I had from surgery to get back on track.

Rehab can do wonders, though. When I started rehab, one of the older gents (he looked just like ZZ Top!) was barely walking the treadmill with his oxygen tank alongside the machine. By the end of 12 weeks, he had caught up with his peers and was pretty spry at that. Just keep with it, even after rehab.

I also took matters into my own hands during rehab. I was at rehab 3 days a week, and in my regular fitness center, doing the same routine, the other 2 days. So, I pretty much had rehab 5 days a week for 12 weeks. After that, and ever since, I've been going to the local fitness center 5 days a week, along with weights/floor exercises each morning before I leave for work. Keep on Keepin' on!
 
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