Resistance Training for the Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Disease PDF

Preface

There is currently a sufficient amount of evidence to support the use of resistance training (i.e., strength training or weight training) as a method to prevent, treat, and potentially reverse the impact of numerous chronic diseases. Indeed, adhering to a properly designed progressive program can significantly enhance the physical and mental health of both apparently healthy and known disease populations. The importance of resistance training for maintaining health is now widely recognized by numerous organizations, including the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Heart Association, American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, American College of Sports Medicine, National Strength and Conditioning Association, and it is part of the U.S. National Physical Activity Plan. Despite the support of these organizations, a majority of the books describing the relationship between physical activity and chronic disease do not provide an in-depth analysis of the independent and positive effects that can result from resistance training. There is an obvious imbalance favoring the promotion of aerobic activities given that the bulk of research on physical activity has maintained a focus on the benefits of aerobic exercise. Over the past decade, however, resistance training has quickly become increasingly more popular worldwide, and its distinct effects are undeniable given the most recent research findings. It is now clear that resistance training has an independent and valuable impact on disease prevention, and it can uniquely contribute to the treatment of numerous medical conditions.

As the use of exercise in medicine grows, there is a need for an evidence-based guide that will provide a detailed account of the research on resistance training, particularly one that can offer direction and guidance to conduct future studies. The purpose of this book is to fulfill that need by providing the scientific and public health community with the most up-to-date and comprehensive resource on resistance training research available.

This book is written for physical activity, public health and medical researchers, allied health professionals, health educators, and college students. Each chapter provides the reader with a detailed description of the benefits of resistance training for a specific clinical population and includes guidelines on how to construct a tailored resistance training prescription for that population when appropriate. The chapters of this book are written by some of the world's leading exercise physiologists and resistance training researchers and experts. Although resistance training research is discussed in complex detail, an advanced knowledge of the field is not needed.