EvidenceCLimitedStudies in people with real weaknesses: small, short or conflicting trials, or observational studies only.
In one study of about 1,100 active male firefighters, men who could do more than 40 push-ups had far fewer heart events over 10 years. Larger studies are needed to confirm it.
Who it's for
Active, middle-aged men; not shown to predict heart disease in women or others.
What to expect
A rough fitness marker, not a test that can predict one person's risk.
Watch out for
Only one study, with few events and little adjustment.
More push-ups went with far fewer heart events
A dot with a line shows the effect and its range for firefighters doing over 40 push-ups versus under 10.
← BetterWorse →
No difference
Over 40 push-ups vs. under 100.04 (0.01 to 0.36)Clear improvement
Figure. Kaplan-Meier Curves for the Cumulative Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Outcome in 5 Push-up Categories Push-up categories are by numbers of push-ups performed during baseline…
A study that followed 1,104 male firefighters (average age about 40) for 10 years found that men who did more than 40 push-ups had a much lower rate of heart events than men who did fewer than 102Observational study · 2019 · 1,562 peopleAssociation Between Push-up Exercise Capacity and Future Cardiovascular Events Among Active Adult Men.The findings suggest that higher baseline push-up capacity is associated with a lower incidence of CVD events. Although larger studies in more diverse cohorts are needed, push-up capacity may be a simple, no-cost measure to estimate functional status.JAMA Netw Open. The rate was about 96% lower in relative terms (a ratio of 0.04). It counted only 37 events, so the true gap could be much smaller or larger. The study adjusted only for age and body weight, and reviewed records after the fact2Observational study · 2019 · 1,562 peopleAssociation Between Push-up Exercise Capacity and Future Cardiovascular Events Among Active Adult Men.The findings suggest that higher baseline push-up capacity is associated with a lower incidence of CVD events. Although larger studies in more diverse cohorts are needed, push-up capacity may be a simple, no-cost measure to estimate functional status.JAMA Netw Open.
A review that pooled 94 studies found that adults with the strongest handgrip had about 27% lower odds of heart disease than adults with the weakest grip1Meta-analysis · 2026Clinical importance of simple muscular fitness tests to predict long-term health conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 94 cohort studies.Our findings suggest increased handgrip strength and chair-stand test performance are associated with a lower risk of multiple long-term health conditions among adults. This research underscores the predictive value of simple field-based muscular strength tests which appear to be clinically useful for adults across…Br J Sports Med. This is a different strength test, not push-ups. The review rated the overall evidence as very low to moderate quality1Meta-analysis · 2026Clinical importance of simple muscular fitness tests to predict long-term health conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 94 cohort studies.Our findings suggest increased handgrip strength and chair-stand test performance are associated with a lower risk of multiple long-term health conditions among adults. This research underscores the predictive value of simple field-based muscular strength tests which appear to be clinically useful for adults across…Br J Sports Med. These figures compare groups, so the gain for one person depends on how high their risk was to begin with.
A study that followed 38,588 Swedish men from age 18 for up to 40 years linked high muscle strength in the teen years to a 12% lower risk of heart disease or stroke. Low strength was linked to a 31% higher risk of death from heart disease3Observational study · 2014Muscle strength in adolescent men and risk of cardiovascular disease events and mortality in middle age: a prospective cohort study.Muscle strength in adolescent men is inversely associated with later CVD events and CVD mortality in middle age, independently of cardiorespiratory fitness and other important confounders. Thus, the role of muscle fitness in the prevention and pathogenesis of CVD warrants increased attention.BMC Med. Strength was measured by handgrip, elbow and knee tests, not push-ups.
Studies in children and teens linked push-up performance to better markers of heart risk, such as waist size, stiffness of the arteries and fitness. These looked at one point in time and did not follow anyone for heart disease4Observational study · 2026Predictive Value of Musculoskeletal Fitness for Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Adolescents with Congenital Heart Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study.Systematically increasing MF in rehabilitation may provide a feasible strategy to mitigate CVD risk in adolescents with ConHD.J Clin Med,6Study · 2012Muscular fitness and clustered cardiovascular disease risk in Australian youth.001) CRF categories. Among youth, low muscular fitness levels as well as low CRF should be avoided for primary CVD prevention.Eur J Appl Physiol,7Study · 2019Association between 90o push-up and cardiorespiratory fitness: cross-sectional evidence of push-up as a tractable tool for physical fitness surveillance in youth.The 90o push-up test (a measure of upper body muscle strength and endurance) was associated with cardiorespiratory fitness, anterior trunk muscle strength and endurance, and lower back and posterior thigh muscle flexibility in youth aged 8-12 years old. Although the current findings do not establish a causal…BMC Pediatr.
Key studies
Study
Who
What it found
Study following people, 20192Observational study · 2019 · 1,562 peopleAssociation Between Push-up Exercise Capacity and Future Cardiovascular Events Among Active Adult Men.The findings suggest that higher baseline push-up capacity is associated with a lower incidence of CVD events. Although larger studies in more diverse cohorts are needed, push-up capacity may be a simple, no-cost measure to estimate functional status.JAMA Netw Open
1,104 male firefighters, 10 years
More than 40 push-ups linked to far fewer heart events
Review of 94 studies, 20261Meta-analysis · 2026Clinical importance of simple muscular fitness tests to predict long-term health conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 94 cohort studies.Our findings suggest increased handgrip strength and chair-stand test performance are associated with a lower risk of multiple long-term health conditions among adults. This research underscores the predictive value of simple field-based muscular strength tests which appear to be clinically useful for adults across…Br J Sports Med
Adults, handgrip strength
Strongest grip linked to about 27% lower odds of heart disease
Study following people, 20143Observational study · 2014Muscle strength in adolescent men and risk of cardiovascular disease events and mortality in middle age: a prospective cohort study.Muscle strength in adolescent men is inversely associated with later CVD events and CVD mortality in middle age, independently of cardiorespiratory fitness and other important confounders. Thus, the role of muscle fitness in the prevention and pathogenesis of CVD warrants increased attention.BMC Med
38,588 Swedish men from age 18
High teen strength linked to 12% lower heart disease risk
One-time study, 20126Study · 2012Muscular fitness and clustered cardiovascular disease risk in Australian youth.001) CRF categories. Among youth, low muscular fitness levels as well as low CRF should be avoided for primary CVD prevention.Eur J Appl Physiol
1,642 Australian youth
Push-up endurance linked to lower clustered heart risk score
What we don't know
Whether the push-up link holds in women, older adults, or people who are not active, since only one study followed adults for heart events.
Whether push-ups predict heart disease once smoking, blood pressure, cholesterol and overall fitness are accounted for.
Written by AI from the studies listed, without review by a clinician, and graded with the GRADE method. It can be wrong, so check the studies it cites. Education, not medical advice.