Rowing following a stroke at age 63

[flamenco]

I had a stroke 5 weeks ago and thanks to very quick action by my wife, was in hospital within 40 minutes, scanned and administered the clot buster drug and recovered well enough to be let out 3 days later.

I have always been a keen indoor rower but at 63, my sessions were shorter, and much more modest in intensity than they used to be (my 2k 7:25 at BIRC 2006 is never coming back).

My question: apart from gentle and slow, what advice is there for how someone in my place should approach rowing now? I want to keep moving and I know exercise is a good part of recovering from having a stroke but I want to avoid setting another one off.

[Dangerscouse]

First of all best of luck with the recovery.

I am not at all comfortable in advising anything as this needs to be a medical professional. Can you get some advice off a doctor or maybe a physio?

I'm fairly sure they will only recommend very gentle exercise, so if they allow any rowing, it will have to be low and slow. Maybe walking is the best option in the short term?

[lindsayh]

yes I agree - talk to your neurologist and maybe referral to exercise physiologist

[jamesg]

If they've put you on anticoagulants already, you should be all right even if you don't exercise, tho' it's usually advised. Work keeps the pipes open. In any case there's no need for high power work, the erg is for endurance and you'll get plenty if you pull 500 or so long slow strokes a day. This helps with everything from bike and kayak to hill walking and getting under the wife's feet. Once we're sixty there's no point in getting any older, physiologically, and it's best avoided.

Not exercising ranks with smoke and drink on the risk factor scale.

[flamenco]

Thank you for the replies and indeed, low and slow is the name of the game at the moment. My doctor said yes to rowing, gently for now and within a couple of months, upping the intensity so by then getting HR up and getting out of breath is ok and will help with recovery and longer term prevention. Today was 30 mins at 18- 20 spm and covered 6000m it felt quite comfortable and will aim to repeat on Friday and maybe cover 6250m in the 30 mins, at a similar slow stroke rate.

[Ombrax]

Today was 30 mins at 18- 20 spm and covered 6000m it felt quite comfortable and will aim to repeat on Friday and maybe cover 6250m in the 30 mins, at a similar slow stroke rate.

Compared to some of the folks who use the erg I use at the gym, 30 min at 2:30 isn't shabby at all. I often seen 15-20 minute rows at 3:00 or 3:15 /500m with a stroke rate of say, 35 spm. (I should probably stop looking at the memory, but sometimes I can't help myself.)

Good luck with your continuing recovery.

[johnlvs2run]

Today was 30 mins at 18- 20 spm and covered 6000m it felt quite comfortable and will aim to repeat on Friday and maybe cover 6250m in the 30 mins, at a similar slow stroke rate.

I agree with walking, and unless you're quite tall, your stroke rate is too low, i.e. more intense than it needs to be.

Try covering up the rate display, and just use an easy free rating.