How many pumps should I be able to do?

The number of pumps you can perform as a result can predict your chances of a cardiovascular event – but your strength and fitness also do.

A Harvard study is presented as the first of its kind to reveal the link between upright capacity and heart health. Finding men capable of performing more than 40 uprisings has a significantly reduced risk of cardiovascular events.

The research team badyzed data collected from more than 1,000 male firefighters over a 10-year period. The Fireys were between 21 and 66 years old and their average body mbad index was 28.7 (technical weight muscular people can also fall into this range).

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The men were instructed to do tractions in time, up to a metronome set at 80 beats per minute – one less beat, one beat – until they reach 80 pumps, miss three or more, or be obliged to stop. another reason.

It is a difficult test. It is therefore not surprising that only 155 men made at least 41 pumps. The men were then divided into categories based on their score: those who scored 31 to 40 push-ups (285 reached that number); 21-30 pumps (389); 11 to 20 pumps (200); and 10 or fewer pumps (75).

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Firefighters were also tested for aerobic fitness. They ran on a treadmill until they reached 85% of their maximum expected heart rate or had to retreat.

The men's test results were then compared to their long-term health, with the badysis published in the newspaper JAMA Network open now.

During the study period, 37 men presented with cardiovascular events (such as coronary heart disease or heart failure) – all but one among men having achieved 40 pumps or less.

After badyzing the numbers, the researchers determined that those who were able to do more than 40 pumps had a 96% reduction in cardiovascular events compared to those who scored 10 or less. All men who could do more than 11 pumps had a lower risk.

This link between uprisings and cardiovascular events was generally maintained, even after researchers had taken into account the age of firefighters and their body mbad index, as well as other cardiovascular risk factors such as blood pressure and smoking.

The ascent capacity also proved to be a better predictor of cardiovascular events than treadmill performance, a result that surprised researchers.

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Does this mean that you should aim for more than 40 pumps if you want to avoid cardiovascular disease?

"Not really," said Stefanos Kales, lead author of the study, professor at the Harvard T.H. Environmental Health Department, Chan School of Public Health and head of occupational medicine at the Cambridge Health Alliance.

The conclusion of the study is not that the ability to do more than 40 pumps will be enough to protect your heart as if by magic. It's rather that the pumps are a convenient and cost-free indicator of a person's fitness – which in turn is an indicator of his risk of cardiovascular disease.

"Basically, better fitness usually means less risk," Kales said. "Pumps are just a quick and dirty measure of fitness."

One of the limitations of the study is that it only looked at men aged 39 on average and physically active jobs – so the results may not apply to women, to men who do not belong at age or less active people. Kales said the researchers hoped to study these populations in future research.

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If you want to take the push-up test, you do not have to struggle with a metronome.

"An easier way to do the test, with less hardware and supervision, would be the number of consecutive pumps completed in one minute without excessive pauses," Kales suggested.

If you score high, congratulations: your health prospects are optimistic. The paper cites earlier research showing that muscle strength is linked to a lower cardiometabolic risk, independent of cardiorespiratory fitness.

But, outside of the bodybuilder or gym rat communities, it's unlikely you'll find a lot of strong people without being in good shape.

"Some people may be good at push-ups, but their aerobic capacity is low or modest, and vice versa," Kales told the coach. "[But] In most cases, such as this study and previous studies that we conducted with police recruits, on average, uplift and aerobics capabilities are positively correlated.

"In other words, most good athletes and / or fit people can succeed in both cases."

Kales said that muscular strength was only one element of a good physical condition, adding that he would recommend to everyday people to follow "a balanced approach of improving his or her body. diet, strength and aerobic workout, as a whole ".

He advised that you seek the permission of a physician before starting any new exercise program, and then find a starting point that is appropriate for your health, fitness, and exercise history: "walk to the site to run or bike, light weight or weight-based exercise, rather than continuing directly to bodyweight exercises such as push-ups and push-ups. "

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