Cardiac Rehabilitation: Weight and Resistance Training
Topic Overview
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. Resistance
training can help you get the most benefit from your cardiac rehab
program.
Talk with your doctor before you start a
resistance-training program. Your doctor can help make sure your training
program is as safe as possible for you. Everyone is different. So you, your
doctor, and your cardiac rehab team will create an exercise program that fits
with your health risks and your fitness level.
Before you start a
resistance-training program, it's recommended that you first participate in a
cardiac rehabilitation 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. They will help teach you how to train with
weights and will check to make sure you are exercising safely.
You
will start with light weights and add more weight as you get stronger. You will
likely do 8 to 10 different exercises that work the major muscle groups. These
exercises may include the chest press, leg press, and biceps curl.
Credits
|
By
|
Healthwise Staff |
|
Primary Medical Reviewer
|
E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
|
Specialist Medical Reviewer
|
Richard D. Zorowitz, MD - Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation |
|
Last Revised
|
October 5, 2010 |
Last Revised:
October 5, 2010
