The short answer is YES . . . . . . . . . . and no.
At the Exercise Physiology Group in Melbourne, we incorporate a version of the HIT Protocol in most of our exercise consultations. Whether you come to us for muscle or joint pain, osteoporosis or a specific injury, we figure the least we can do is expose you to the protective elements of the HIT Protocol.
For those of you who haven’t caught up with the latest in exercise research, the HIT Protocol is a new take on exercising for health that revolves around 36 twenty second high intensity bursts of exercise per month (Yes, that’s right, only 12 minutes per month) . Like many exercise-based studies there is a primary focus for the research into this exercise method, but many quasi-researchers attempt to extrapolate the findings to push a different agenda. In this instance fast-tracking improvements in aerobic capacity with minimal effort.
The University of Nottingham studies have yielded conclusive results of favourable changes in insulin response and blood lipid profiles (associated with a lower risk of diabetes and heart disease). With diabetes, heart disease and other related conditions occupying four of the top 10 leading causes of death in high income countries, isn’t this a “big win’ in the fight for a healthier population?
If you’re a person who is in the high risk category, surely it seems far more attractive to contemplate starting an exercise habit when the method is as accessible as the HIT Protocol. For us as exercise professionals, just getting you in the door is a victory. From there, we have a greater chance of helping you develop some exercise habits that deliver a more holistic health benefit.
