Even an indestructible bodybuilder like Arnold Schwarzenegger has not been immune to serious injuries and health setbacks.

The legendary bodybuilder, Hollywood action star, and former governor of California has undergone multiple surgeries and had to recover from serious injuries. One of the most significant parts of Schwarzenegger’s medical history is his heart.

Born with a congenital heart condition called a bicuspid aortic valve, his valve had only two flaps instead of the normal three. And because of that, he had to undergo a preventive open-heart surgery in 1997 to replace his aortic valve. Fortunately, he recovered and continued his acting career. 

But twenty years later, his heart required further treatment, so, in 2018, he underwent a minimally invasive valve replacement procedure. However, due to some complications, doctors were forced to perform emergency open-heart surgery. 

In 2020, he had to undergo another heart procedure to replace his aortic valve. As per the doctors, it was necessary for his long-term congenital heart condition. Due to scar tissue from previous surgeries messing with his heartbeat, he revealed that he received a pacemaker in 2024.

Injuries and surgeries faced by Arnold Schwarzenegger

Apart from heart procedures, Schwarzenegger has also faced several orthopedic injuries and surgeries. Weirdly enough, none of them occurred during his bodybuilding career. In an interview with Men’s Health magazine, when asked if he regretted doing any exercise, he replied:

"I don't regret a set that I did too much... The reality is I got banged up more actually by doing stunts—jumping around and flying off things and getting trampled by horses... car accidents, all the things you have doing stunts."

In the late 1980s, he once suffered a torn ACL while filming in South Africa, after performing intense action scenes during the making of Red Heat.

Schwarzenegger underwent surgery to repair the torn ACL, followed by months of rehabilitation, and resumed filming as soon as he recovered. 

In 2003, he had surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in his shoulder. Later, he got hip replacement surgery done. Schwarzenegger has also suffered injuries from accidents. In 2001, a motorcycle crash left him with broken ribs, and in 2006, a skiing accident fractured his femur.

He ended up undergoing surgery and months of recovery. But as luck would have it, he was also involved in another motorcycle accident that same year, receiving stitches in his lip.

Today, even in his late seventies, Schwarzenegger works out regularly and is one of the most prominent advocates for healthy living. He has a set of rules he follows to maintain joint health, and these are:

• Keep moving regularly
• Stay active even with pain
• Have a daily routine of exercise
• Maintaining a routine for strong mobility 
• Adapt your workouts with age.
• Take care of your health
• Talk to a doctor if something feels wrong with your joints
• Have a clear goal or vision for staying healthy 

His medical history shows that you can overcome even the most serious health setbacks with resilience and determination.

Follow Bodybuilding Bros for all things fitness!

Written by

Ruwa Javed

Edited by

Joyita Das