Higher Push-Up Capacity Linked to Lower Incidence of CVD Events

TUESDAY, Feb. 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Higher push-up capacity is associated with a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events among male firefighters, according to a study published online Feb. 15 in JAMA Network Open.

Justin Yang, M.D., M.P.H., from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, and colleagues examined the correlation between push-up capacity and subsequent CVD event incidence in a cohort of male firefighters. Participants were stratified based on the number of push-ups completed and were followed for 10 years. Data were included for 1,104 men with available push-up data.

The researchers noted 37 CVD-related outcomes in participants with push-up data. There was a significant negative correlation between increasing push-up capacity and CVD events. Compared with those completing fewer than 10 push-ups, those who were able to complete more than 40 had a significantly lower risk for incident CVD events (incidence rate ratio, 0.04).

“Further research is warranted to determine the association of push-up capacity with CVD risk in the general population and the potential use of push-ups as a clinical assessment tool,” the authors write.

One author disclosed serving as an expert witness in firefighter cases and receiving personal fees from law companies.

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