A pacemaker is a small device that's placed in the abdomen or chest to control abnormal heart rhythms. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, a pacemaker allows someone with an arrhythmia to resume a normal, active lifestyle. It does so by sending small electrical signals to the heart to compensate for disrupted normal signals. Pacemakers can also provide information about your heart, breathing rates and blood temperature as your activity levels change.
History
Up until the late 1980s, people with heart problems and a pacemaker were discouraged from participating in sports and undertaking rigorous training programs. Doctors have since learned that rehabilitation is much more effective when heart patients with pacemakers return to regular exercise regimens that include resistance training and cardiovascular exercises, according to a report in the American Journal of Cardiology.
Recovery
Your doctor may instruct you to refrain from playing baseball for about a month to give your body time to adjust to the mechanism, although you may be allowed to hit balls at a batting cage. You should return to your exercise regimen slowly by performing weight-lifting exercises that do not stretch the muscles around the incision and build up to your regular lifting weight prior to picking up a bat. Vigorous activity, such as running, should be avoided until you are comfortable with the device. Mild pain may continue at the site of the implant for a short time and can be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers.
Time Frame
Surgery to implant a pacemaker usually requires a one- or two-day stay in the hospital, according to the Mayo Clinic. Prior to leaving the facility, the doctor sets your new electrical heart monitor to the levels you need to perform your regular activities. Tell your physician about your baseball games and how rigorously you typically play so that the device can be programmed appropriately.
Function
As you head back out to the baseball field, information from your pacemaker can be recorded on a microchip in the mechanism so that your doctor can make necessary adjustments on follow-up visits. After the initial follow-up, you'll connect your pacemaker to your doctor's office by telephone every couple months for additional monitoring. According to MayoClinic.com, various pacemakers come with a wand that can transmit the information over phone lines or wristbands that hold the transmitters and can be connected via phone lines. When you are in season, you may require additional check-ups. While training for your games, you should stick to workouts that mimic your activity levels on the field.
Considerations
A successful pacemaker installation can provide children and adults with the ability to easily play baseball and other invigorating sports, according to Cincinnati Children's Hospital. A typical pacemaker lasts anywhere from five to 15 years, at which point it must be replaced. Children with pacemakers who are still growing may require changes more often. While baseball is not a restricted activity, athletes with pacemakers should refrain from contact sports, such as football, and should avoid running into other players on the baseball field.
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