Weight training with a Mitral Valve Prolapse

July 22, 2006 12:20 AM

Is it really dangerous to lift weights with a mitral valve prolapse?

I was diagnosed as having a mitral valve prolapse when I was 12 or 13 and my cardiologist repeated over and over again that I should avoid static activity such as water skiing or wrestling. However, I also soon learned that Arnold Schwarzenegger had the exact same condition and didn't have to have surgery on his heart until years after he was Mr. Universe. My doctor tells me I should lift more than 50 pounds when working out, and I have started lifting regularly and find this to be a huge impediment on my progress. I trust my doctor well enough but I also know doctors err on the extreme side of caution, also my doctor treats mostly small children (I'm almost 18) which I would think would make him even more cautious. Would lifting heavier weights seriously endanger my body and if so how? In addition what exactly is MVPS (mitral valve prolapse syndrome)? Do I automatically have it because I have an MVP?

posted by bigspoon to health & fitness (8 comments total)

"My doctor tells me I should lift more than 50 pounds"

There's a missing "not" that's not in there, right?

And you're asking non-doctors and doctors who are not your doctors and who don't need to assume liability, who know only what you, a layman, knows about his case and condition, to tell you to ignore the advice your doctor gave you after actually examining you?

C'mon, I understand and sympathize that you want to lift more, but your doctor, who is trained and licensed and who has personally examined you, is erring on the side of caution for a reason. Since that reason is your health and his liability, I'm going to guess it's a good enough reason that you'd get the same answer after seeking a second opinion from any other licensed and trained medical doctor who examined you.

But if you're insistent on ignoring your doctor's advice, and think a second opinion would be different, then seek out that second opinion of a licensed and trained medical doctor who can take your medical history and personally examine you.

Don't ask strangers on the Internet. Or ask, but don't take their advice. Because it's literally your life at stake. And being dead'll be a much bigger impediment to your workout progress than a 50 pound limit.
posted by orthogonality at 1:04 AM on July 22, 2006 [1 favorite has favorites]

My understanding is that MVP is common, and can vary widely in severity. I don't experience chest-pain unless I consume caffeine prior to engaging in strenuous activity. I lift frequently but don't use much more than 50 lbs in free weights. I do engage in high intensity exercise on a regular basis.

The medical advice you relay in your question makes little sense to me, and I suspect that you have misquoted or misunderstood it. I would not describe Water Skiing or Wrestling as "static activity" and I can't think why you would be restricted to lifting "more than 50 lbs".

I think that the limitations MVP imposes on your activity are a function of the severity of your condition. Only a doctor and you yourself can assess this severity. Personally, I have not curtailed any activity but the consumption of caffeine, and have not suffered complications other than a susceptibility to overuse injuries related to the associated joint hypermobility.
posted by Manjusri at 3:01 AM on July 22, 2006

I have MVP and I have to say that when I was diagnosed my cardiologist ENCOURAGED me to get excercise. He said it would actually make my heart stronger and better able to handle the condition. Granted, excercise is much more difficult for me than it is for those without it, but I think it does help.

HOWEVER, there are varying levels of MVP. Some people have more severe cases than others. I would say, if you have questions about something that was diagnosed when you were much younger, you might want to find somebody who treats adults. (And, given the fact that you ask what exactly MVP is, it makes me wonder about how good your doctor is. I can't imagine diagnosing someone with something and then not fully explaining it.)

And...here's a WebMD entry on MVP if you want to read more about it.
posted by ebeeb at 10:09 AM on July 22, 2006

I didn't ask what MVP was, I was asking if I automatically had the "syndrome" (http://www.nursing.wright.edu/practice/mvp/default.htm) because I had the valve prolapse. Also he did use the term "static activity" to describe any activity where I was heavily straining only one part of my body. I'm not planning on ignoring my doctors orders anytime soon, but I would like to know more about MVP and the people who have it.
posted by bigspoon at 1:12 PM on July 22, 2006

I'm not sure what a 50 pound limit even is/means. The amount of weight you should lift varies greatly with the excercise, for example, 50 pound one arm curls are a lot. 50 pound leg presses are nothing (you probably do more work than a 50 pound leg press walking up stairs). Does the 50 pounds refer to a particular excercise, like bench presses?

Biting my tongue on the rest of your comments.
posted by RustyBrooks at 3:12 PM on July 22, 2006

I'm repeating exactly what my doctor told me, 50 pounds at one time, i.e. 25 for each bicep curl, this is the actual example he used. I wish someone would answer my question instead of talking down to me.
posted by bigspoon at 9:19 PM on July 22, 2006

I wish someone would answer my question instead of talking down to me.

If you mean "give me the answer I want, regardless of anything else", then you'll be waiting a while. No-one here is in a position to go "Well, I know more than your doctor without ever examining you. Lift away!"
posted by mendel at 11:07 PM on July 22, 2006

"my doctor tells me I should lift more than 50 pounds when working out,"

bigspoon writes "I'm repeating exactly what my doctor told me, 50 pounds at one time, i.e. 25 for each bicep curl, this is the actual example he used. I wish someone would answer my question instead of talking down to me."

Ok, my bad. But 50 as an absolute lower limit? Did you ask him why? Are you certain he wasn't just giving you an example rather than setting a limit? I mean, whenever you're not lifting, you're lifting less than 50 pounds. when you carry a bad of groceries, you're lifting less than 50 pounds. 50 as an absolute lower limit make no sense to me. Perhaps he meant less than 50 pounds wouldn't increase your strength, but I don't think that's a prohibition on working up to 50 pounds.
posted by orthogonality at 4:42 PM on July 24, 2006