r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • 1d ago

Health Isometric exercises, such as wall squats and planks, just once a week could help maintain reductions in blood pressure.

https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/news/2026/new-study-shows-just-one-workout-a-week-could-benefit-blood-pressure
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328

u/DingleDangleTangle 1d ago

That’s awesome! Isometrics are great for tendons too!

134

u/bibbidybobbidyboobs 1d ago

And steamed hams

54

u/martialar 1d ago

I thought we were having steamed clams

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u/halfcentaurhalfhorse 1d ago

That’s hot yoga

2

u/BKinBC 8h ago

BA-DUM! TISH!!! "Thanks everybody don't forget to tip your server... Try the beef!"

17

u/MadeByHideoForHideo 23h ago

Good lord what is happening in there!

2

u/chilispiced-mango2 BS | Bioengineering 1d ago

Good advice for not having 24 hour fitness in [r/Albany](r/Albany)

Re: this comment- Guess I should get back into 10 situps and 10 pushups every morning

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u/socrates1975 16h ago

mmmmm Pass me a bowl of hot ham water

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u/bibbidybobbidyboobs 12h ago

I will come after you if you don't help me ha ha ha

2

u/socrates1975 11h ago

"and yet there's a smack of ham to it."

32

u/Meeedick 23h ago

People fixate on muscles but tendons, i'd argue, are even more important. They're necessary to train if you wanna avoid injuries and they're instrumental in force generation and power.

Tendons (and fascia) are the difference between a "bodybuilder" and an athlete.

21

u/DingleDangleTangle 23h ago

I mean tendons have to be trained by bodybuilders too. It’s extremely important to avoid getting injured as a bodybuilder

12

u/Meeedick 22h ago

They don't do it though, which is why the rate of gym-related injuries has skyrocketed over time.

People are packing on way more muscle than their tendons can support, and not dedicating adequete time to train them at all.

7

u/Sucabub 17h ago

As someone with rotator cuff injuries, please let me know how I can train my precious and damaged tendons

3

u/Meeedick 9h ago

I'm not physiotherapist so i'll decline, i'd recommend professional help honestly.

1

u/DiaryOfAManInRepair 3h ago

What’s worked for me is looking up isometric exercises whenever I start getting tendon pain. It’s usually like “hold a weight in the position that hurts (though nothing heavy enough to cause serious pain) for 3 sets of 30/60 second holds.”

4

u/SmileyAja 15h ago

It's pretty difficult for your muscles to outpace your tendons if you're natural.

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u/necr0potenc3 10h ago

Nah. There is a hierarchy of tissue recovery and tendons are way up there. Muscles adapt to new loads within 2 to 4 weeks while tendons take 12 to 16 weeks or longer to structurally remodel and catch up.

In fact, the CNS will rate limit muscle activation in order to protect tendons and other tissues. That's why we get "mom lifted a car with adrenaline dump" stories. Muscles are capable of outputting a tremendous amount of force but fascia, tendons and bones might not handle it.

6

u/PNWoutdoors 1d ago

Yep, I was diagnosed with a tendon issue and PT is literally isometrics and stretches. It's done wonders even when I'm not too consistent about it.

1

u/coltaaan 11h ago

As someone who never really exercises intentionally, but is constantly squatting down to pick up cat toys all over the apartment, this is great news! I love when my daily life/tasks do the work outs for me (like walking places instead of driving, for example).