Can You Swim With a Pacemaker? What to Know

Whether you’re a lifelong swimmer or just want to get into the pool for a new exercise routine, it’s generally safe to swim if you have a pacemaker. But there are some considerations to keep in mind, especially if your pacemaker was recently installed, according to Nikhil Warrier, MD, cardiac electrophysiologist and medical director of electrophysiology at MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California.

“Usually you can start getting active within a few days after an implant, based on what that activity entails,” he says. “However, swimming poses a different challenge, so you often have to wait for a certain amount of time, depending on what type of device you have.”

It’s wise to know how and when you can ramp up your physical activity with a pacemaker — and when it’s safe to get back in the pool.

Recovery After Pacemaker Surgery: Activities to Limit or Avoid

• A leadless pacemaker attaches to the inner wall of your heart and doesn’t have a separate battery or wires (leads).
• A single- or dual-chamber pacemaker uses wires that attach to one or two chambers of your heart.
• A biventricular pacemaker has two wires connecting to the lower chambers of your heart, and a third wire that attaches to your heart’s upper chamber for cardiac resynchronization therapy.

“With leadless, you will likely feel much freer to get back to your normal routine without limitations sooner than with the traditional type,” Warrier says. “With either, it’s important to gradually increase the workload over the first few weeks. A reasonable target for returning to your baseline level of exercise — what you had before the surgery — is about four to six weeks.”

“These activities can increase pressure at the incision and potentially lead to complications,” Dr. Gould says. “Instead, it’s recommended that within the first few months, you focus on walking to promote increased circulation and lifting lighter weights of less than 10 pounds to prevent frozen shoulder syndrome.”

When Can I Resume Swimming and Other Activities After Pacemaker Surgery?

Swimming With a Pacemaker: Long-Term Outlook

Once you’re fully recovered and get the green light from your cardiologist, you can go back to swimming. But you may need to adjust your swimming routine or perform different strokes than before, Gould says.

For example, the butterfly stroke is not recommended if you have a traditional pacemaker because it could dislodge a lead. The motion of this particular stroke may also cause clavicular pinch, in which the pacemaker wires get stuck between the collarbone and a rib. If this happens, it can potentially affect pacemaker function, Gould says.

When to See a Doctor

• Dizziness
• Lightheadedness
• Fainting
• Palpitations or irregular heartbeats
• Fever
• Chills
• Beeping or vibration from the device
• Bleeding or drainage from the incision site
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain or tightness

“One sign that a pacemaker may need medical attention is if someone’s heart rate goes too low,” Gould says. “The pacemaker is programmed for a minimum heart rate, so if someone’s heart rate is below that threshold, it could be due to a pacemaker malfunction.”

You also should seek medical attention if you receive direct contact to the area of the pacemaker and then have swelling, redness, or other signs of infection, he says.

It’s also important to speak with your cardiologist to get the go-ahead for swimming and other physical activities to make sure your incision is fully healed and there’s no risk of infection.

The Takeaway

• You can swim if you have a pacemaker, but you should wait for at least four to six weeks to avoid an infection, and you should get in the pool only after getting your doctor’s approval.
• Other activities to limit during recovery include lifting weights over 10 pounds and strenuous upper-body pursuits such as golfing and bowling.
• Consider avoiding the butterfly stroke if you have a pacemaker with leads, as it can cause complications.
• Ask your doctor or cardiologist which exercise routines are best for your specific situation and recovery.