Resistance Training for Health and Rehabilitation

For many years, resistance training has been recognized for its value in improving the health and performance of athletes and other healthy persons. Only recently has scientific evidence emerged that relates to its benefits in the prevention and rehabilitation of chronic diseases and medical conditions such as arthritis, pulmonary disorders, and heart disease.

Resistance Training for Health and Rehabilitation is the first text to address the expanding role of resistance training for health, disease prevention, and rehabilitation. It was originally developed by the late Michael Pollock, PhD--one of the nation's most respected experts on the prescription of physical activity--and then was taken over by the two editors after Dr. Pollock passed away.

The book is a collection of the most current thinking of leading researchers and preeminent scientists who break through the myths surrounding resistance exercises in patients with disease and low fitness levels.

Resistance Training for Health and Rehabilitation presents a clear and sound rationale for including resistance training as a health benefit. The evidence points to positive changes in cardiovascular function, metabolism, coronary risk factors, and psychosocial well-being for people with and without disease.

This unique resource will help professionals quickly identify the pros and cons of resistance training as it relates to a wide range of medical conditions. Just as important, it provides guidelines that will ensure the development of safe resistance activities for patients with health impairments, including physical disabilities.

All this valuable information is presented in four easy-to-follow parts. Part I introduces the concept of resistance training. Part II addresses how resistance training applies to special populations and conditions. Part III deals with resistance training and chronic visceral diseases, and Part IV covers chronic physical disabilities.

Included are many exercise prescription guidelines for using resistance training with specific groups such as menopausal women; the elderly; organ transplant recipients; and patients with osteoporosis, diabetes, or low back pain. The book also contains studies demonstrating the benefits of resistance training in a variety of populations.

The American College of Sports Medicine, American Heart Association, American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, and the Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity all include resistance training as an integral component of a well-rounded physical conditioning program. This book serves as a trusted and reliable complement to these guidelines.

Resistance Training for Health and Rehabilitation will appeal to all those involved in promoting and maintaining health through resistance training. Researchers can draw on specific studies included in the text as they develop their own ideas of resistance training prescription in different fields of study. And practitioners will find no better source of exercise prescriptions for both their healthy and rehabilitating patients.