⚽ Scientists Trick Brain Into Finding Exercise Less Difficult

As popular as it is to hit the gym or head out for a run, many still find exercise—and the motivation to keep going—something of a struggle. However, a new study suggests that a simple technique could make exercise feel easier.

An international team of researchers have found that applying vibration to certain tendons before exercise can significantly alter how effort is perceived, making physical activity feel less demanding and more fun, even when the body is working harder.

Conducted by scientists from Université de Montréal in Canada and the Université Savoie Mont Blanc in France, the study showed that volunteers who received tendon vibration from a device strapped to their Achilles and knee tendons prior to cycling, exerted more effort and produced higher power output—yet reported no increase in how challenging and uncomfortable they found the workout session.

“It hasn’t been tested in a marathon, only during a short, three-minute cycling exercise,” Benjamin Pageaux, a professor in the School of Kinesiology and Physical Activity Sciences at Université de Montréal, said in a statement. “Still, this is the first time it’s been shown to work with this type of exercise."

Pageaux and three French researchers carried out the experiment in a controlled lab setting using stationary bicycles.

Their goal was to investigate how sensory signals influence the brain's perception of effort during exercise, with higher perceived levels of effort or difficulty usually leading to less enjoyment while exercising.

Participants took part in two test conditions: one involving the vibrating device strapped to the Achilles and knee tendons, and one without.

In the vibration condition, the devices were activated for 10 minutes before the participants began pedaling. Next, the volunteers were instructed to cycle for three minutes at a level they subjectively rated as either “moderate” or “intense,” adjusting their pedaling to meet those perceived intensities.

The outcome was clear. In the tendon vibration condition, participants delivered higher power and recorded greater heart rates compared to the non-vibration sessions—despite indicating the same perceived effort level. This suggests the vibrations altered how their brains processed exertion signals from the muscles, making the workout feel easier and more manageable.

“Depending on the amplitude and frequency of the vibration, we can either excite or inhibit neurons in the spinal cord,” Pageaux said. “Also, prolonged vibration changes the reactivity of the neuromuscular spindles and alters the signal sent to the brain.”

The research provides new insight into the way sensory information affects motivation and performance during physical activity. When exercise feels overly difficult, people are less likely to engage in it or stick with a routine. Conversely, when it feels manageable, they tend to enjoy it more and stay motivated.

“By gaining a better understanding of how the brain evaluates the link between effort and perceived reward during exercise, we hope to promote more regular physical activity,” Pageaux added. “And we all know how essential staying active is for our health and well-being!” #health

-- Melissa Fleur Afshar, Newsweek

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