APTA Supports Fitness as Way to Prevent Heart Disease

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Physical therapists say that regular, moderate-intensity physical activity can serve as a first line of defense against heart disease, the number one killer of American women. As women prepare for this Friday's National Wear Red Day for Women, the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) provides advice for women to achieve healthier hearts.

Physical therapists support the U.S. Surgeon General's recommendation that moderate-intensity physical activity done five or more times a week (such as 30 minutes of brisk walking) has substantial health benefits to people of all ages. Benefits include reducing risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, colon cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure as well as helping with weight control and relieving pain associated with some forms of arthritis.

"Prevention and risk factor modification, and overall wellness must become a first line of defense against heart disease," says APTA Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Section President Dianne V. Jewell, PT, PhD, CCS, FAACVPR. "As experts in prevention and rehabilitation, physical therapists can educate patients about healthy lifestyles and develop and implement safe and effective exercise programs that are uniquely appropriate for each individual."

To find a physical therapist near you, please visit APTA's Web site at http://www.apta.org/ and click on "Find A PT." For more information about incorporating physical activity into daily living, please go to http://www.apta.org/news/feature_releases/overweightrisks

The American Physical Therapy Association (http://www.apta.org/) is a national professional organization representing nearly 67,000 physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and students. Its goal is to foster advancements in physical therapy practice, research, and education.