Pressing question re press ups

[JohnLeCarre]

Hello!

I'm a year on from NSTEMI, after which I completed a 6 week Cardiac Rehab course.

I have vague memories of being warned off doing press ups...does that ring a bell with anyone? Or am I just looking for excuses to avoid one of my less favoured exercises!!

TIA.

[321wheeliebin]

hi I also suffered a heart attack last year , and completed my cardiac rehab , they gave me a list of gyms to go to but I couldn’t make the times offered to me , my advice would be see your GP before you start press ups or other heavy exercises

[Chappychap]

Following open heart surgery press ups were expressly prohibited until my chest was sufficiently healed.

It took about 12 weeks until I was cleared for press ups by the cardio rehab team, but after that the message was as many as you like, provided your heart rate doesn't exceed the max approved figure.

By all means check with your GP, but I'd guess you'll be fine!

Incidentally there was an interesting report published in the US, they examined the medical records of thousands of firemen who had to complete a fitness test each year, and then they looked at their health status twenty years later. What exercise best predicted future health?

You'd think that the firemen with the lowest incidence of heart problems would have been those with the best scores in the cardio fitness tests. True enough, they did well, but they weren't the best.

The best single predictor for avoiding or at least surviving heart attacks turned out to be those firemen with the highest score for the number of press ups completed within two minutes. It's part of a growing body of evidence that shows resistance training can be just as important as cardio training for our general health.

Good luck!

[Blearyeyed]

Although resistance training of various types is good to get back to in small amounts to improve cardio health , it doesn't have to be push ups or weight training.Find resistance activities that you enjoy instead then you'll do them more often.

Exercise should always be something positive in your life not an added form of Stress.

Push ups should be avoided for some , and it is best to get the go ahead from your physio or cardio team before you begin push ups and weights. Then if it's allowed you only to a few repetitions within your comfort zone and increase as you get stronger and that comfort zone expands.

The study on Firemen in Alabama was obviously begun on physically fit people and was used to prove which exercises could show fitness levels and be a predictor of people Cardiovascular Health. The study was interesting , but was exaggerated in the Media. It actually showed that people whom could do 10 push ups without difficulty also seemed to have as good a cardio health level as those whom could push up for the USA.

It's worth remembering that these people were healthy when they began and were not in recovery , so if it turns out that push ups aren't right for you or something you want to do you may as well do something else instead, as the researcher's stated they aren't a guarantee against heart disease.

Regular , short intervals of various types of aerobic exercise and some resistance training are recommended, the best of all things being walking . Cycling and swimming or aqua exercises are great options and can involve resistance exercise. Rowing and racquet sports are also good . Adding wall push ups into physio exercises at home is another option.

Don't forget that lots of daily activities are classed as exercise like gardening , cleaning , washing your car , playing active games , especially if you have children, DIY , your job etc.

And of course you can add in fun social activities like dancing the night away or paddle boarding or kayaking on a holiday , just have fun with it.

The key to it is just to keep positive and keep active.

[WeeHoolet in reply to Blearyeyed]

'The key to it is just to keep positive and keep active'

You're right, Blearyeyed. If only I could! 😟

[Blearyeyed in reply to WeeHoolet]

I know it often feels like that's easier said than done for me too, take care , Bee

[WeeHoolet in reply to Blearyeyed]

👍🦉

[Lowerfield_no_more]

Talk to your GP who will have access to your medical records and can advise. Or perhaps the BHF Heart Helpline nurse. I also had an NSTEMI and no-one mentioned press-ups to me. However we are all different and what might be good for one person might not be good for another and vice versa. But if you are in any doubt just don't do press-ups, and find something else to do!

[Oldknees]

I am nearly 6 years down the line from a cabg x5 after 4 months I told my GP what exercise I was doing she panicked and rang my cardiologist he said as long as he has no after effects let him do as he wants.Every morning after my cup of tea I do 50 press ups,dips and squats.I am then ready for the day ahead.I also do lots of other stuff but that's another story.If it feels good do it.x

[baly_2023]

Hi today it's been 3 months since my STEMI HA.

I'm doing the cardiologist rehabilitation and just to give you an idea of what I do there ( to gauge excersion levels) is

3 sets of chest press 10,8,8

30kg, 40kg,45kg

3 sets of shoulder press 10,8,8

25kg,35kg,45kg

3 sets of lateral rows 10,8,8

30kg ,40kg,45kg

3 sets of lateral pull downs 10,8,8

25kg,30kg,35kg

leg extensions 40kg,45kg,50kg

leg squats machine 65kg,75kg,100kg

on top of this it's 10 mins on rowing machine, bike and treadmill ( walk)

I asked my cardio instructor if I could start to weights at home but less intense , he said yes no problem. I also asked why some Internet sites say no weight training after heart attack ie overhead shoulder press seems to be a no , he said that's old thinking and we now want people to do such things ( but ensure we know, we are happy, and you don't be stupid).

My point is I read a lot of you can't do this but found after joining cardio rehabilitation and after being assessed after a few weeks and then importantly asking them for advice I now do some of the things I read I can't.

hope that helps

[JohnLeCarre in reply to baly_2023]

Thanks... sounds like the Cardiac Rehab set up where you live is quite different to mine. There was far less focus (although still some) on resistance training. That's a useful guide to see.

[baly_2023 in reply to JohnLeCarre]

But please make sure you get the sign off from your rehabilitation team, they know you , know your recovery and will give the best advice and workout at a level which is beneficial and safe.