<\/p>\n
New research has suggested that frequency of exercise rather than single long sessions is more beneficial for your health.<\/p>\n
Experts have tried to find out whether a little activity every day is better than a lot of exercise in fewer sessions.<\/p>\n
A sports science professor said the work found that “if you only go to the gym once a week, it’s not as effective as doing a bit of exercise every day at home”.<\/p>\n
The four-week training study also found that “just lowering a dumbbell slowly one to six times a day” is more beneficial than long stints in the gym.<\/p>\n
Research from Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Australia in collaboration with Niigata University and Nishikyushu University in Japan saw three groups of participants perform arm resistance exercises.<\/p>\n
The volunteers performed 30 biceps contractions on a machine each week. One group did six contractions a day for five days; another piled up 30 in one day. Another group performed only six contractions a week.<\/p>\n
Changes in muscle strength and thickness were compared between all participants.<\/p>\n
The group that spread the activity out over five days saw the biggest increase in muscle strength \u2014 an increase of more than 10 percent.<\/p>\n
ECU exercise and sport science professor Ken Nosaka said, \u201cPeople think they have to do a long resistance training session in the gym, but that’s not the case.<\/p>\n
“Just lowering a heavy dumbbell slowly one to six times a day is enough.<\/p>\n
Read more on Sky News: “Muscle strength is important for our health. This could help prevent a decline in muscle mass and strength with aging.<\/p>\n “A decrease in muscle mass is a cause of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, dementia, as well as musculoskeletal problems such as osteoporosis.<\/p>\n “Muscle adaptations happen when we’re resting; if someone could somehow train 24 hours a day, there wouldn’t actually be any improvement.”<\/p>\n
Four days of storms, forecasters warn<\/strong><\/p>\n