People with an inactive lifestyle can improve their health by incorporating at least five minutes of eccentric exercise into their day, a new study has shown.
Researchers from Edith Cowan University have found that a five-minute a day, home-based bodyweight eccentric exercise programme improves the physical and mental health of sedentary adults.
During the four-week trial, those taking part completed daily exercise involving 10 repetitions each of wall push-ups, chair reclines, chair squats and heel drops focusing on eccentric exercise – slowly lowering the heel below the level of a step while focusing on the eccentric (lengthening) phase of the calf muscle contraction.
Lead researcher Professor Ken Nosaka said: “We saw significant improvements in muscle strength, flexibility, strength endurance and mental health,…