Splitting Resistance Training Yields Results Similar to Continuous Training

A study conducted by researchers from Tongji University in China showed that splitting resistance exercises into short periods distributed throughout the day achieves improvements in muscle strength and endurance similar to those achieved by a continuous training session, according to results from an eight-week experiment.

The science website 'ScienceAlert' reported on Thursday that the study, published in the journal 'Exercise and Sports Sciences', included 45 male students aged 18 to 25. Researchers divided them into three groups, two of which underwent a training program, while the third did not participate in supervised training.

The two groups trained three times a week on weighted squats. The first group performed three short sets, each lasting one minute and consisting of 20 repetitions, while the second group performed 60 repetitions in a single continuous session, with weights gradually increased during the experiment.

Researchers measured the participants' muscle strength and endurance before and after the training program. The results showed improvements in the indicators for the two groups that practiced the exercises compared to the control group, with no statistically significant differences recorded between intermittent and continuous training.

Researchers noted that participants who performed the exercises in short sessions showed greater enjoyment of the training, suggesting that distributing physical activity over brief periods may make it easier to practice and adhere to, especially for those who find it difficult to dedicate long periods to sports.

These results fall under the concept of 'exercise snacking,' which involves performing short periods of physical activity throughout the day rather than accumulating them in one long session. However, the limited number of participants and the fact that the experiment was restricted to young men accustomed to weightlifting necessitate broader studies to verify the results among different groups and over a longer time frame.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)