The Power of Pushups: Free Health Improvements Across the Board
Did you know that 11% of the population can do 50 pushups (according to a nationwide survey)? The pushup is more than a military exercise used for group training and punishment; the pushup is an objective measure of physical fitness and cardiovascular health. A 10-year study of male firefighters (average age of 39) found that those able to perform 40 or more push-ups had a 96% lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) than those who could do fewer than 10. Interestingly, push-up ability was more strongly linked to reduced CVD risk than aerobic capacity, as assessed by treadmill testing, also in the study. The True Power of the Pushup For many, the military introduced us to push-ups, or someone in the military did. I remember when my granddad (Army Veteran WWII) dropped to the floor and cranked out 20 pushups at the age of 80 and then hopped back up to his feet. I was in my teens at the time, but I understood at a young age how valuable push-ups were. Not only is it the perfect flex on the living room floor amongst friends and family, but it is the gateway to longevity and health in our later years. My grandfather remained active and independent until his last breath, nearly ten years later. Keep up this skill after serving. The Perfect Exercise - The pushup is a no-cost, highly effective way to build the chest, shoulders, arms, and the entire core system. This simple exercise measures and develops upper body strength and muscle stamina, improves bone density, and provides the functional ability to lift yourself from the floor. Easily Modified – A regular pushup involves about 65% of your bodyweight supported by your upper body and nearly your entire weight supported by your core. If you cannot do a regular pushup, try a knee pushup and reduce the effort by less than 50% of your body weight. You can also do wall or couch pushups by leaning on either to create a more diagonal angle, further reducing the weight on the arms and core. On the flip side, you can add a weight vest to make them more difficult if you are capable.