Lower weights instead of raising them for bigger muscles, study suggests

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Researchers said this indicated a 7.2 per cent increase in muscle cells in those who lowered weights, compared with 5.4 per cent increase among those who lifted and lowered weights. “In the case of a dumbbell curl, many people may believe the lifting action provides the most benefit, or at least some benefit, but we found concentric muscle contractions contributed little to the training effects. “With the small amount of daily exercise needed to see results, people don’t necessarily even have to go to the gym – they can incorporate eccentric exercise into their everyday routine.” Lifting weights, or strength training, has gained popularity in recent years, with many studies exploring its benefits. In September, a study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, which observed more than 100,000 people over a ten year period, found that those who lifted weights once or twice a week with no other exercise lowered their risk of dying by 9-22 per cent.