Tallmadge, Ohio – February 9, 2012 – NZ Manufacturing, Inc., a leader in high-quality resistance training and physical rehabilitation equipment, recommends resistance training as a beneficial tool in maintaining heart health, preventing heart disease, and even improving conditions of heart disease.

The American Heart Association published research in the journal Circulation to support this approach in 2000. The research concluded that resistance training, when appropriately prescribed and supervised, has favorable effects on factors that affect heart health, such as:

  • Muscular strength and endurance
  • Cardiovascular function
  • Metabolism
  • Coronary risk factors
  • Psychosocial well-being

More specifically, research revealed that resistance exercise performed with a lighter load and higher repetitions reduces plasma glucose and insulin levels, increases high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and lowers resting blood pressure without altering cardiovascular function in healthy people.

Later, in a 2007 edition of Circulation, research expanded to conclude that proper resistance training is beneficial for people suffering from cardiac disease, too. Besides strengthening the heart, scientists found that strength training helps cardiac patients develop bodily strength, improve endurance, increase independence and enjoy an overall higher quality of life.

As a result of these and other studies, many guidelines now recommend the inclusion of mild-to-moderate resistance training for those with cardiovascular disease. Resistance training, as part of a heart patients’ normal exercise routine, better prepares them to perform daily tasks safely and more efficiently. Activities of daily living, such as lifting, carrying and pushing, place a much greater stress on the musculoskeletal system compared to the cardiovascular system. Therefore, strength and endurance are essential for the safe return to daily and vocational activities. They also help reduce susceptibility to falls in the frail and elderly.

It’s important to keep in mind that resistance training should serve as a complement to, rather than a replacement for, a heart patient’s cardio and aerobic exercise prescription. For healthy adults, the AHA recommends 8-10 strength-training exercises twice a week. It advises selecting a resistance level that will fatigue muscles within 8-12 repetitions. For beginners, as well as older or frailer individuals, it suggests utilizing lighter weights and aiming for 10-15 repetitions per set.

Before beginning any exercise program, NZ Manufacturing always advises consulting with a physician. The company also recommends exploring its full line of resistance exercise tools, such as the MediCordz® Wall Mount Kit that allows optimal function in a minimal space, whether it be a clinic or home setting. NZ Manufacturing also suggests its MediCordz Bungie Upper Body Kit, used for upper body physical rehabilitation assignments. Both are easy to use, made of high-quality materials and extremely versatile for cardiac patients, as well as athletes and general fitness-conscious individuals.

For more information on these and other NZ Manufacturing products, please call 1-800-886-6621 or email info@nzmfg.com. NZ Manufacturing is based in Tallmadge, Ohio.

Sources:

American Heart Association (AHA) Science Advisory: Resistance Exercise in Individuals With and Without Cardiovascular Disease

Strengthen Your Heart with Strength Training

Weight Lifting For Health And Heart

Importance of resistance training for patients after a cardiac event