The theory: Six minutes of strength training a week is enough for improved health

Distance jobs and social restrictions during the pandemic have meant that many people move less.

At the same time, home training has grown in popularity.

At Glasgow University, a research project is underway that examines how little training is required to notice a difference in someone who is untrained. 

- If you train each major muscle group once a week until you can not lift more, you get visible health benefits.

Our hypothesis is that one minute per week may be enough for each muscle group, says heart health professor Jason Gill in the documentary The Truth About Home Exercise. 

Muscles control the sugar content

The major muscle groups trained in the experiment are legs, chest, torso, back, shoulders and arms.

By training until the muscles are exhausted, you maximize the growth of muscles, says Jason Gill.

In the long run, it is good for both the heart and the blood sugar balance. 

- Muscles are a really good sugar sinker.

Sugar in the blood is absorbed by the muscles.

Bigger muscles give you better control of blood sugar levels, says Jason Gill in the documentary. 

Jacob Gudiol is a Swedish physiotherapist and has written books on health and exercise.

He has not taken part in Jason Gill's ongoing study, but believes that this type of exercise can give positive health results. 

- Strength training is good for both blood pressure and blood fats.

Muscle mass itself is a kind of buffer.

You can handle a larger supply of food, you can eat a bag of sweets and lower your blood sugar faster compared to if you have less muscle mass, says Jacob Gudiol to SVT. 

"One minute training can be done at any time"

He believes that very little exercise can have a good effect if it is intense and exhaustive.

So a more intense and shorter workout can suit some people perfectly. 

- One minute of training, even if you drive until you are completely exhausted, you can do almost anytime. I had probably had to breathe heavily for a few minutes afterwards, but had not become sweaty so that a shower was needed. Previously, it was thought that a training session had to be at least 20 minutes to give something, but that is pure bullshit, says Jacob Gudiol.