A Harvard-affiliated study of more than 1,100 male firefighters found that men who could complete at least 40 push-ups had far fewer cardiovascular events over the next decade than those who could do fewer than 10.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A simple push-up test may offer a useful snapshot of cardiovascular fitness in middle-aged men, according to a 10-year study that found sharply lower rates of heart-related events among active adult men who could perform higher numbers of push-ups.
The study, published in February 2019 in JAMA Network Open, examined 1,104 male career firefighters and found that those who could complete 40 or more push-ups had a 96% lower rate of cardiovascular events than men who could perform fewer than 10. The research was affiliated with Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and was reported by Harvard’s press office.
Researchers followed the firefighters for up to 10 years after baseline medical examinations conducted between 2000 and 2007. The participants came from 10 fire departments in Indiana and had an average age of about 40 when the study began.
Over the follow-up period, researchers recorded 37 cardiovascular events. The study found a clear pattern: men with greater push-up capacity at the start of the study had fewer later heart-related outcomes.
The push-up test was conducted under standardized conditions. Participants performed push-ups in rhythm with a metronome set at 80 beats per minute. The test ended when a participant completed 80 push-ups, missed at least three beats, stopped because of exhaustion or developed symptoms such as dizziness or chest pain.
Researchers placed participants into five groups based on the number of push-ups they completed: fewer than 10, 11 to 20, 21 to 30, 31 to 40, and 41 or more.
The results showed that men who completed 21 to 30 push-ups had a 75% lower rate of cardiovascular events than those who completed fewer than 10. Men who performed 40 or more had a 96% lower rate. The association remained significant after researchers adjusted for age and body mass index.
The study also found that push-up capacity was a stronger predictor of future cardiovascular risk than estimated aerobic capacity from submaximal treadmill testing. Researchers noted that submaximal stress tests can sometimes overestimate or underestimate fitness because they rely on extrapolation rather than direct measurement.
Push-up performance may reflect more than upper-body strength. According to the researchers, it can indicate whole-body muscular fitness and the body’s ability to sustain physical effort, both of which are linked to cardiovascular health.
Men who completed more push-ups also tended to have more favorable cardiovascular risk markers. They generally had lower body mass indexes, better blood pressure readings, lower triglyceride levels and lower smoking rates.
The study was funded by grants from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The researchers stated that the funders had no role in the study design or analysis.
The authors cautioned that the findings show an association, not proof that doing more push-ups directly prevents cardiovascular disease. Other differences among participants may have contributed to the lower risk observed in men with higher push-up capacity.
The study also had limits. The participants were all active male firefighters from Indiana and were predominantly White, meaning the findings may not apply to women, older adults, sedentary individuals or the broader public. About one-quarter of eligible participants did not complete the push-up test, and the analyses were not adjusted for multiple comparisons.
Researchers said more studies are needed before push-up testing could be used broadly as a clinical screening tool. They also cautioned that the results do not establish push-up capacity as an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease risk.
Still, the test has practical advantages. It requires no special equipment, costs nothing and can be completed in about two minutes. The authors said it may offer a quick, objective measure of functional fitness, particularly for middle-aged men in physically demanding jobs.
The findings add to evidence that strength-based measures can provide insight into overall health. For men who struggle to complete 10 push-ups, the study’s implications suggest it may be worth discussing cardiovascular risk, fitness and exercise readiness with a physician.
General health guidance also recommends that people who have been sedentary or have health concerns receive a medical checkup before beginning a new exercise program.
Source: Natural News
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