Monday 22 April 2013

Lifting Strategy for Heart Health

Your arteries can begin to stiffen with old age and the condition is considered a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Unfortunately, high-intensity weight training can also increase arterial stiffness. A study published in the International Journal of Sports Medicine suggests a strategy that can help prevent this increase.

Because low-intensity weight training has been shown to decrease arterial stiffness, researchers had a group of healthy young adults push plates at 80% of one rep max (1RM) and also at 50% of 1RM during the same session. Half put the intensity at the beginning while the rest ended their workout with the more intense protocol.

Low-intensity training at 50% of 1RM after high-intensity work helps prevent an increase in arterial stiffness, so it might be a good idea to warm down with a couple sets of easy lifts before reaching for your post-workout shake.

1 comment:

  1. It is indeed true, not forcing yourself to extreme training will well your body adjust in certain circumstances of weight management. Another addition according to what I have read about l-arganine which contains nitric oxide might also help in promoting a healthy blood flow within your heart to the entire body.

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