Martial Arts and dilated Aorta

[marka]

Hi

What are you thoughts on doing Marital Arts with a dialted Aorta?

Would the repeated punching, blocking movements cause a high risk blood pressure?


Thanks
Mark

 

[Ross]

I would advise against it until it's fixed. Your going to get split opinions, but this would be my choice.

 

[SumoRunner]

I'd think it was only OK if you didn't take any punches to the chest. What's the probability of that?

 

[Tom F.]

I have been involved in martial arts since 1968, and also went through an open heart procedure to fix an ascending aortic aneurysm. I think that you should be asking your doctor this question, as the size of your aorta and the rate of change is quite important here. Otherwise, which arts? If you are involved in any throwing arts I would cool it. The impact from falling might be very dangerous. If you are involved in karate or a similar arts it might be ok to practice alone, slowly, and softly. A full blown punch or kick with proper stance, kime, and breath control would, I think, cause a spike in your blood preasure, which is not a good thing with your condition. And for sure I would not kumite until your is fixed. I strong shot to the chest might be fatal.

 

[Philip B]

Dialated

Dialated

I would concur with others who have asked the question about how dialated is your aorta? I would be less concerned about getting hit and more concerned about spikes in blood pressure if you have a good sized anneurysm. My surgeon initially advised me to canel the golf vacation I had planned one week before my surgery date. He was concerned that my 5.8 cm aortic anneuysm would blow. He did change his mind when he realized Mazatlan probably had better emergency medical services than the hospital in my rural community.

Now, if you're into the martial arts stuff I see on television like ripping people's hearts out and and that kind of stuff...

-Philip

 

[marka]

I suppose I knew there would be no definite answer to this.

My Cardio said my only limitation was doing weights, which seems to be pretty much the standard answer, but I still don't find a lot of comfort in this and still take it easy with exercise.

The Martial Art is Kung Fu, some aspects of it are probably not ok and there is an unknown risk, could be high could be low. I would prefer not to sit out some parts of it, so I'll probably not go ahead with it.


Thanks
Mark

 

[Magic8Ball]

I did Taekwondo until about 6 months before i got the news i needed surgery.

So i'd say i was doing it with at least a 5.5 dilated aorta.

The difference is i had no idea i had the dilation...had i known i'd have quit years ago...would that have been better? who knows...i enjoyed it though.

I think because you know its an issue you wouldn't enjoy the sessions and would punk out when the going got tuff....so probably not worth doing in the first place.

Regards.

 

[Superbob]

I had a dilated aorta also (5.3 at time of surgery) and my doc said moderate exercise was fine -- walking, working out in the gym -- but NOT any heavy lifting. I don't know enough about martial arts but possibly there are some aspects that are okay, but others not okay. I would be cautious and work carefully with your doctor on this. Best wishes to you, Mark.

 

[Bad Mad]

After my 1st AVR in 2001, I continued to play (contact) high intensity sport until 2006, when my cardiologist called me in to say that my Aorta dilatation (4.3cm) was causing him concern, given my training/playing regime. My valve was also leaking slightly-moderatley again.

On his strong advice, and that of other specialists I went to, I gave up my sport, and just continued with moderate exercise until my surgery 10 weeks ago. The danger is two fold:

1) The pressure the elevated BP (under duress) puts on the aorta.
2) contact to the chest area. That said it would take one almighty blow to rupture your aorta - seen more in motorcycle accidents.

If you do a search on the net there is a journal (author: bono et al - I think) which has specific guidlines on contact sports and aortic dilatation. Much will depend on why your aorta is dilated. i.e. BAVD or marfan's disease etc.

Generally, the recommendation is that with an aorta of 4cm+ high intensity contact sports are a no no, given the fact that it is possible for an aorta of less than 5cm in diameter to dissect/rupture.

Hope this helps.