Resistance Exercise in Individuals With and Without Cardiovascular Disease: 2007 Update

Abstract

Prescribed and supervised resistance training (RT) enhances muscular strength and endurance, functional capacity and independence, and quality of life while reducing disability in persons with and without cardiovascular disease. These benefits have made RT an accepted component of programs for health and fitness. The American Heart Association recommendations describing the rationale for participation in and considerations for prescribing RT were published in 2000. This update provides current information regarding the (1) health benefits of RT, (2) impact of RT on the cardiovascular system structure and function, (3) role of RT in modifying cardiovascular disease risk factors, (4) benefits in selected populations, (5) process of medical evaluation for participation in RT, and (6) prescriptive methods. The purpose of this update is to provide clinicians with recommendations to facilitate the use of this valuable modality.

Resistance exercise training during pregnancy and newborn's birth size: a randomised controlled trial

“…55 There is compelling evidence that improved muscular strength has beneficial effects in the prevention of chronic diseases, as well as in the ability to cope with daily living activities in both healthy and diseased people. 9,10 Regular resistance-type physical activities, such as the ones performed by our training group, are the main determinants of muscular strength 11,56 and are recommended for improving public health by major medical organisations. [11][12][13] In the case of pregnant women, increased muscle strength may attenuate the cardiovascular response to any given load during physical activities of daily living because the load now represents a lower percentage of the maximal muscle contraction.…”

“…9,10 Regular resistance-type physical activities, such as the ones performed by our training group, are the main determinants of muscular strength 11,56 and are recommended for improving public health by major medical organisations. [11][12][13] In the case of pregnant women, increased muscle strength may attenuate the cardiovascular response to any given load during physical activities of daily living because the load now represents a lower percentage of the maximal muscle contraction. 57 Other potential benefits of resistance training include better posture, prevention of gestational low back pain and diastasis recti, and strengthening of the pelvic floor.…”

“…9,10 Resistance exercise training (for example, weightlifting) increases muscle strength and is recommended by major health organisations for improving public health. [11][12][13] In the case of pregnant women, light resistance exercise training might be easier and better tolerated than aerobic training, owing to lower cardiovascular stress and caloric expenditure. To better understand how maternal resistance exercise training during pregnancy affects offspring's birth weight is, therefore, of medical relevance.…”

2010 ACCF/AHA/AATS/ACR/ASA/SCA/SCAI/SIR/STS/SVM Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Patients With Thoracic Aortic Disease: Executive Summary

“…For patients who are very much interested in maintaining some sort of weight lifting program, choosing sets of repetitive light weights appears to make more sense than permitting heavy weight lifting. 209 AVR indicates aortic valve replacement; CT, computed tomographic imaging; CXR, chest x-ray; IMH, intramural hematoma; MR, magnetic resonance imaging; PAU, penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer; and TTE, transthoracic echocardiography. *US Food and Drug Administration stent graft studies usually required before discharge or at 30-day CT scan to detect endovascular leaks.…”

Effect of 12 weeks of resistance exercise on post-exercise hypotension in stage 1 hypertensive individuals

“…3,4 However, resistance exercise training (RET) is also considered as an important contribution to exercise training programs for hypertensive individuals. [5][6][7][8] PEH could be clinically relevant, because it would mantain BP of hypertensinve individuals transiently at lower levels during day-time intervals, when BP is typically at its highest levels. 2 Despite PEH being considered clinically relevant for BP control both in normotensive and hypertensive individuals, [9][10][11] there is a lack of data regarding whether PEH would still be observed in hypertensive individuals after physical conditioning programs, specially in RET programs.…”