Eccentric exercise isn't as odd as it sounds
When you think of eccentrics, Jack Churchill (no relation to Winston) might head your list. He fought (and survived) World War II, battling in Normandy with a Scottish broadsword and a longbow. In contrast, eccentric exercise is not an oddity and should become a conventional part of your well-armed attack on muscle weakness and poor balance. It can also help lower blood pressure and improve other markers of cardiovascular health, according to one review of studies in the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials.
So, what makes an exercise eccentric? It targets the lengthening phase of a movement, putting increased tension and pressure on specific muscles. For example, it's accomplished while lowering a dumbbell or hand weight, walking downhill and doing a squat, which lengthens the muscles along the back of your leg and butt. You can get eccentric using lower- and upper-body weight machines in the gym, with handheld weights or your own body weight.
Start practicing these muscle extensions slowly. And tune into the amount of weight you can use (it may be more than when you're focusing on muscle contraction). Then you can move on to my old favorite -- jumping up and down in place. It's a plyometric exercise that rapidly combines eccentric motion with contraction.
To get started cultivating eccentric exercise habits, explore the strength-building routines in my book "The RealAge Workout" and fuel your new, more muscley physique with the nutritional muscle-building advice (creatine, everyone?) in "What to Eat When." (This is especially important if you're taking GP-1s.)
Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic and author of four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. Check out his latest, "The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow," and find out more at www.4YOUngevity.com. Email your health and wellness questions to Dr. Mike at questions@4YOUngevity.com.
(c)2026 Michael Roizen, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
(c) 2026 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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