Lifting weights for just three SECONDS a day is enough to build muscles, study finds

LIFTING weights for just three seconds a day is enough to build muscles.

A single maximum effort rep, five days a week for a month, was found to boost couch potatoes’ biceps strength by up to 12 per cent.

It shows out-of-condition or older people can beef up without long gym sessions, researchers say.

Professor Ken Nosaka said: “If we find the three-second rule applies to other muscles, you might be able to do a whole-body exercise in less than 30 seconds.

“Also, performing only one maximal contraction per day means you do not get sore.

“Many people think you have to spend a lot of time exercising but it’s not the case. Short, quality exercise can still be good for your body.”

The findings are from tests on 39 unfit students.

They performed just one biceps curl, once a day for five days a week over four weeks.

It meant they did a total of just 60 seconds of weight-lifting over 20 sessions.

Prof Nosaka, from Perth, Australia, added that the mini workouts could stave off weakness and frailty in old age.

He added: “It can prevent muscle strength loss due to diseases, sedentary lifestyle and space flights.”