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Three-Minute Workouts Boost Fitness Dramatically
22 Oct
Summary
- Nine minutes of weekly exercise increased VO2 max by 20%.
- Whole-body strength saw a 33% improvement in six weeks.
- Small trial involved 12 participants in supervised sessions.
A small, six-week trial has indicated that brief, high-intensity exercise can lead to significant fitness improvements. Participants who completed three one-minute exercise sessions per week, amounting to just nine minutes of activity, experienced a 20 percent increase in their estimated VO2 max. Additionally, their whole-body strength index rose by 33 percent.
These intensive one-minute bouts, including activities like stair climbing and jump squats, were supervised and required participants to reach 77 to 95 percent of their maximum heart rate. The study noted favorable changes in body weight and composition, though metabolic blood variables remained unchanged. This research suggests a minimal dose of vigorous exercise can be effective, but it is not a universal replacement for longer, comprehensive training programs.
