The six-second workout that works wonders

Researchers claim that six-second bursts of vigorous exercise can help improve the health of the elderly.

16:17 28 July 2014

High Intensity Training (HIT), which promotes short bursts of rigorous exercise, is proven to do wonders to the health of elderly people. The pilot study, which was participated by 12 pensioners, showed promising benefits that researchers said would help avert the “astronomical” costs of their ill health.

HIT, unlike a comfortable half-hour jog or a leisurely stroll for an hour, involves pushing yourself to the limits in a very short period of time.

Participants were asked to exercise in a lab for two days per week and the participants exerted themselves to the max on an exercise bike for six seconds. After pushing their heart rate higher, they stopped and let it recover. Then, they went for it again and again, building up to a complete one minute of exercise at the end of the trial.

Dr Babraj told the BBC the benefits could be huge: "We've got an ageing population and if we don't encourage them to be active, the economic burden of that is going to be astronomical.

"A lot of diseases are associated with sedentary behaviour - like cardiovascular disease and diabetes - but if we can keep people active and functioning then we can reduce the risk.

"Also on the social side, they are less likely to be socially active and will interact with people more.”