Trainer Recommends 5 Chest and Back Exercises After Study Ties Low Muscle Mass to Heart Risk
Updated
Updated · The Independent · Jul 2
Trainer Recommends 5 Chest and Back Exercises After Study Ties Low Muscle Mass to Heart Risk
2 articles · Updated · The Independent · Jul 2
Summary
Five beginner chest and back exercises were recommended by personal trainer Edwina Jenner after new research linked stronger upper-body muscles to lower heart attack risk.
A 10-year study of 1,722 adults, published in Radiology, used AI to analyze heart scan images and found people with below-average muscle mass faced a 58% higher heart attack risk and 85% higher death risk.
The scans mainly captured back muscles, parts of the chest muscles and the intercostal muscles between the ribs, suggesting skeletal muscle visible on coronary CT scans may help flag cardiovascular risk.
Jenner’s routine includes bent-over rows, chest presses, single-arm lunge rows, wall press-ups and reverse flys, with advice to start around 2kg, alternate pushing and pulling moves, and train twice a week.