Heavy Bag Punching for Cardiac Rehab

[Filibogado]

Hi all:

I am 3 months into post open heart surgery for a double bypass and heart valve replacement. My chest incision and sternum are fully healed, and I feel fully recovered. I have been doing fast walking on a treadmill for 30 minutes every day. My feeling is that, while treadmill walking is great for my lower body, it does nothing for my upper torso.

Between lifting weights and punching bags, I really enjoy the latter much more. I have ordered a freestanding heavy bag stand with a speed ball attachment and an 80 pound bag. I have no intention of going into competitive boxing with any opponent. All I want to do is keep punching the bags just for aerobic and cardiovascular fitness.

I am looking for validation from those who have been through the same medical episode that I had and went on to successfully using this heavy bag routine. My guess is as long as I start gently and slowly with just light punches and gradually increase in power over time, I should be OK. If Arnold Swartznegger can go back into weightlifting, I should be able to go into light punching which I think is a lot less stressful on the chest. A doctor friend once told me that the rib cage is not a load-bearing structure - it is simply a shield or a barrier to protect the heart and lungs, so as long as it is not directly hit by, say, a heavy punch, I should be able to merrily punch the heavy bag without straining my rib cage.

I would appreciate any thoughts on the subject.

Fil

 

[dansalcs]

Hi, I haven't gone through this particular situation but I'm a personal trainer who has helped others go through it. It's really good to see you're taking it seriously and respecting the surgery you've had.

I think I can help with a programme I have designed. It's completely free so you know I'm not trying top sell you anyhting. The programme I have designed considers what you think you can do at maximal pace and then starts you off much lower than this and guides you through it workout by workout.

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I would suggest using the heavy bag on sprint interval days as it is perfectly suited. Instead of entering a speed in the setup page, you could enter an RPE (rate of perceived exertion), a number between zero and ten (zero being no effort and 10 being working so hard you could vomit lol)

I'm really interested to help with this so feel free to post a reply here. I hope I can help. Good luck.

Dan

 

[PLB_old]

Sorry, I have to remove your link and your other comments.... If you would like to share your free program, you are more than welcome to post it on here for others to benefit from as well. Any link that requires a subscription, has ads on it, etc. is considered spamming and will be removed from the forum. Also, soliciting members to PM you or otherwise taking the conversation off of the forum is also considered spamming.

 

[dansalcs]

Hi, I didn't intend to spam. The program is actually an excel download, no subscription necessary, that requires some RPE details to be filled in so that a program can be developed starting at approximately 60% RPE, ideal for the gentleman posting.

Is there anyway I can upload this. The link I posted was direct to the download?

Thanks for the tips. Won't do it again.

 

[FAMAS]

I have Boxed for a while, and have owned my own Heavybag at home for 2 years. Personally I agree, it's probably one of the best cardio exercises, as you sweat like crazy, but you're doing upper body, abs, legs, everything all together. Gets you toned and increases stamina.

Such a pity, I must write these things and realize I haven't been at it for ages, due to lack of time... Well this has nothing to do with the reply though, sorry ^_^

Indeed, I also must say, you're a 'particular' case, no offense, so yes, start easy, very easy, usually on the first day people think they can go all out and have a sprained wrist for a week *lol*

I Wish you all the best, take it easy and just have fun, it's a great exercise companion No matter how much you hurt it it will come back to you

 

[PLB_old]

Hi, I didn't intend to spam. The program is actually an excel download, no subscription necessary, that requires some RPE details to be filled in so that a program can be developed starting at approximately 60% RPE, ideal for the gentleman posting.

Is there anyway I can upload this. The link I posted was direct to the download?

Thanks for the tips. Won't do it again.

Sorry, I haven't been on the forum in a bit... If you want to add an attachment, right under the Quick Reply box, there is a button called "Go Advanced." Go into that.. are more options in your editing menu, one is a picture of a paperclip. If you go to that, you should be able to add your file.

 

[CrazyOldMan]

Personally I would be scared of the impact from working a heavy bag so close to heart surgery, but then again I never was good at moderation.
Weights can be controlled and made slow enough to have no impact on the chest at all. Newton's 3rd law says striking a bag has to generate impact in the person doing the striking.
You may easily be up for this but I would want a physio and possibly cardiologist to advise me if this was safe yet. Damaging an arm etc. is one thing, the heart, I would err on the side of paraniod.