"Peak Oxygen Uptake Among Healthy Adults: Cross-sectional descriptions and prospective analyses of peak oxygen uptake, physical activity and cardiovascular risk factors in healthy adults (20-90 years)."
Has concluded that it is possible for a 50 year old to be just as physically fit as a sedentary person 30 years younger.
The study shows that by increasing the intensity of your exercise, you can hold back the risk of metabolic syndrome. Which can be one of the factors which lead to type 2 diabetes.
The study goes onto say that the key to maintaining fitness is not just how much exercise is carried out but the intensity. They looked at the benefits of high intensity exercise in the form of interval training and came to the conclusion that, in their words, "very high intensity exercise" is a quick way to increase overall fitness. The optimum interval session they suggest is 4 x 4mins with 4 mins recovery.
As for my recent intensity exercise - last nights session was 8 miles with 2 laps around Newburn Business Park and an interval session of 5 x 3 mins with 75 sec recovery. Despite having to battle with the strong winds in places, the fluidity of my running and consistency over the session was a lot better than of late, so things definitely seem to be moving in the right direction
Comments