Hi, I'm a 57 year old male swimmer with atrial fibrillation taking rhythmol twice a day. (I'm in sinus rhythm most of the time.) I also do a 2,800 yard workout four times a week and aspire to NQT for the 50 and 100 freestyle.
I can't seem to get straight answers from my cardiologist. He says that it is fine to swim, but deeper questions are beyond him.
For example...
Is it OK to really press myself in my workouts?
(I'm out of breath at the end of some of my sets, but who isn't?)
Should I be thinking of long even swims rather than sprint swims?
(I do mile and two mile open water swims, but they're not very exciting for me.)
I'm fighting for breath sometimes during my sets. Is this just a matter of conditioning, or is there a direct link to the a fib?
I have the low side of normal blood pressure. Is there any relationship between blood pressure and whether people are better constituted to be sprinters vs. distance swimmers?
Any information from M.D.s and/or others who have heart conditions would be appreciated.
See you at nationals!
Parents
Former Member
Originally posted by Hink
How does one get tested for slow and fast twitch?
You can't get tested for slow and fast twich fibers.
Usually they develop when your young but when you miss the chance to train your fast twitch fibers or the midtwicht fibers they will usually become slow twitch fibers when you get older.
But it's mainly about genetics so if you happen to have some retired gold medalists on the sprint distances you could also become a fast sprinter when you get a late start although you surley won't get to break a world record ;)
I wrote something more detailed here : forums.usms.org/showthread.php
Originally posted by Hink
How does one get tested for slow and fast twitch?
You can't get tested for slow and fast twich fibers.
Usually they develop when your young but when you miss the chance to train your fast twitch fibers or the midtwicht fibers they will usually become slow twitch fibers when you get older.
But it's mainly about genetics so if you happen to have some retired gold medalists on the sprint distances you could also become a fast sprinter when you get a late start although you surley won't get to break a world record ;)
I wrote something more detailed here : forums.usms.org/showthread.php
