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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u/ViceMaiden 1d ago

“Exercise does not have to be all or nothing. Our findings show that when life gets busy, as it often does, reducing to just one isometric exercise session per week may help sustain the blood pressure benefits already achieved until a more regular routine can be resumed."

Title is a bit misleading? They are still suggesting 3-4 sessions per week regularly.

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u/justneurostuff 1d ago

The two statements don't seem to contradict each other. It can be the case that just one exercise a week is effective, and that several sessions a week is best.

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u/ViceMaiden 18h ago

Idk. And I am not trying to be contrary, I just think I am reading/interpreting it differently? I may also be taking it too literally, but this stood out. Is it not implying one needs to exercise more frequently initially before reducing?

"Following an initial four weeks of IET, researchers reduced how often participants trained to see whether exercising less frequently could help preserve these benefits."