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Episode details

World Service,4 mins

Wall squats and planks best for lowering blood pressure

Newshour

Available for over a year

New British research suggests the best kind of exercise you can do to reduce your blood pressure is exercise where you don't actually move. It's called "isometric". It involves engaging muscles by stressing them in a 'plank' or 'wall-sitting' position. Researchers from universities in Canterbury and Leicester say adopting such positions - for as long as you can manage - is almost twice as effective as the government-recommended aerobic activity. Fitness influencer Olivia Nevil gave Newshour's Paul Henley a first-hand demonstration of the exercises. (Picture: Group of people performing the plank exercise which is good for lowering blood pressure. Credit: Getty Images)

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