Sheeza Basharatover 1 year ago

Exercise Prescription

The fact that exercise is good for you isn't newsworthy. However, research into which forms are best, for how long, and for what conditions in particular has received much interest of late. Given the reluctance of many patients to follow time-consuming or complicated exercise prescriptions, perhaps the most notable recent news is how little time per day may be needed.⁠ ⁠ Researchers in the United Kingdom analyzed data from fitness trackers worn by more than 71,000 individuals. The findings suggest that short, vigorous exercise may be more beneficial than longer, moderate exercise. The data showed that although more exercise time generally led to improved health, the protective events did eventually plateau. Experts suggest that a brief but challenging workout can shrink artery-clogging plaques, improve blood pressure, and boost overall fitness.⁠ ⁠ This shorter-than-expected workout time may help patients with adherence to exercise prescriptions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise each week. However, only 54% of Americans get their weekly 150 minutes of aerobic activity. "Lack of time is one of the main reasons people have reported for not engaging in exercise," says study author Matthew Ahmadi, PhD. Thus, the hope is that needing only 8 minutes a day instead of 30 minutes could convince busy patients to get the exercise they need.