Weight and resistance training for cardiac rehabilitation
Resistance training with weights, elastic bands, or your own body weight may help you regain the physical strength and confidence to do the daily tasks you performed before your heart problem or surgery.
Until further studies are done, rehab with weights is only recommended for adults who are considered low-risk, meaning they do not have exercise-related heart problems, joint or bone injuries, stroke, or uncontrolled high blood pressure above certain levels. Your doctor will need to give you an exercise prescription that indicates it's safe for you to do a weight-training program.
Before you begin a weight-training program, it's recommended that you first do a traditional exercise program for 2 to 4 weeks. A physical therapist or other rehab professional can carefully design and monitor a program that's right for your level of injury and fitness.
Programs usually include a single set of 8 to 10 different exercises, such as the chest press, shoulder press, and biceps curl, that work the major muscle groups. Older and more frail people will use lower weights and start more slowly.
| Author: | Robin Parks, MS | Last Updated: October 16, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Cheryl Allind, RN, BS - Cardiac Rehabilitation Neil J. Stone, MD, FACC, FACP - Internal Medicine, Cardiology | |
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