PHA training or peripheral heart action training is a form of bodybuilding circuit training that was popularized by former AAU Mr. America and Mr. Universe Bob Gajda in the 1960s. The smaller muscles around the heart are worked on first before the larger muscles around the body's periphery.[1]
The technique requires the exerciser to continuously exercise over a long period of time with no breaks.[2] It is typically performed using multi-muscle exercises such as squats, pulls and presses and follow a specific strategy so that no one muscle is covered in two corresponding exercises.[citation needed]
A common approach with PHA training is to alternate from upper body to lower body and back again.[citation needed] This is different from many other circuit-style approaches.[citation needed]
A 2015 study found that after 30 training sessions performed in three months, PHA resistance exercise promoted cardiovascular adaptations, with a decrease in the power spectral component of vascular sympathetic activity and an increase in the vagal modulation. Low-frequency oscillation estimated from systolic blood pressure variability seems to be a suitable index of the sympathetic modulation of vasomotor activity. This investigation also want to emphasize the beneficial effects of this particular resistance exercise training, considering also that the increase in muscular strength is inversely associated with all-cause mortality and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome, independent of cardiorespiratory fitness levels.[3]
References
edit- ^ Hurtado, Carlos (June 8, 2020), Fitness Goals for Beginners - How to get into the best shape of your life
- ^ Oswald, Louise (March 17, 1996), "GLADIATOR? I'M JUST GLAD I GOT OUT ALIVE!; LOUISE OSWALD JOINS GLADIATORS SELECTION TEST", The People, pp. FEATURES, Pg. 8, 9[dead link]
- ^ Piras, Alessandro; Persiani, Michela; Damiani, Nicholas; Perazzolo, Monica; Raffi, Milena (April 2015). "Peripheral heart action (PHA) training as a valid substitute to high intensity interval training to improve resting cardiovascular changes and autonomic adaptation". European Journal of Applied Physiology. 115 (4): 763–773. doi:10.1007/s00421-014-3057-9. ISSN 1439-6327. PMID 25428724. S2CID 18742423.
 | This sports-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This bodybuilding-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |