How 'Eccentric' Exercise Opens Up a Whole New World of Fitness
About this episode
This episode discusses the benefits of eccentric exercise and its impact on fitness and health.
Eccentric exercise — movements where your muscles lengthen under tension, such as walking downstairs or lowering into a squat — builds greater force with less oxygen demand and less cardiovascular strain than conventional exercise Muscle soreness after eccentric exercise usually comes from inflammation and irritation in connective tissue rather than widespread muscle destruction, and your body rapidly adapts after only one or two sessions Elderly women who performed descending stair walking twice weekly for 12 weeks improved blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, cholesterol markers, and lower-body strength more than women who focused on ascending stairs Short home-based eccentric exercise routines involving movements such as chair squats, wall pushups and heel drops improved strength, flexibility, and mental health, while more than 90% of participants continued exercising afterward Eccentric training improves balance, coordination, joint stability, and injury resistance because your muscles and nervous system learn how to absorb force more efficiently during real-life movement
More episodes of Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health
- Why We Started with Your Gut
- What Is the Difference Between Sunspots and Skin Cancer?
- Advanced Heart, Kidney, and Metabolic Disease Linked to Higher Cancer Risk
- Scientists Reveal Creatine's Hidden Power Beyond Muscle Gains
- How We Finally Got the Active Ingredient Where It Belongs
- Study: This Ancient Remedy May Outperform Modern Eye Drops
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health podcast page.