Downstairs gets the thumbs up

PROFESSOR Ken Nosaka will explain why walking down stairs is better than walking up in the next ECU lecture event on Wednesday.

In his free talk titled ‘Let’s Get Eccentric! Eccentric Exercise is Medicine’, Prof Nosaka will outline his extensive research, which has shown the health benefits of eccentric exercise are much greater than concentric exercise.

“Eccentric exercise is where load is placed on the muscle while it is lengthening, rather than shortening,” he said.

“For example, walking down stairs is eccentric exercise because your front thigh muscles are lengthening when they are placed under load, as opposed to walking up stairs in which the muscles are shortening, performing mainly concentric contractions.”

Prof Nosaka’s research has revealed that eccentric exercise can provide a range of health benefits, including reducing the risk of diabetes and improving muscle strength and fitness. “You don’t need any special equipment to do eccentric exercise,” he said.

“If you work in a tall building, try taking the lift up to work, but then walk down the stairs when you go home.

“Or if you are using weights, concentrate on the lowering the weights slowly because the lowering action causes your muscles to perform eccentric exercise.

“Even sitting down in your chair slowly makes your leg muscles contract eccentrically.”

The lecture will run from 11am to 1pm on June 12 in the Building 32 lecture theatre at ECU’s Joondalup campus.

Register at www.eventbrite.com.au.