Just one minute of hard cycling a week might improve your health

NCT ID NCT05249205

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tested whether doing a very short, intense cycling workout just once a week can improve aerobic fitness as much as doing it twice a week. The workout, called REHIT, involves only 10 minutes of easy cycling with two 20-second all-out sprints. The study aimed to see if one session per week is enough to boost fitness in healthy but inactive adults. However, the study was terminated early and only enrolled 15 people, so the findings are limited.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

Reduced-exertion high-intensity interval training (REHIT) - a 10-minute cycling workout with two 20-second all-out sprints

What this could lead to

If it works, this could show that even one short weekly workout improves fitness, making exercise more accessible for busy people.

What could go wrong

This is a very small, terminated study with only 15 participants, so results may not be reliable or apply to the general population.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Swansea University

    Swansea, SA1 8EN, United Kingdom

  • University of Stirling

    Stirling, Stirlingshire, FK9 4LA, United Kingdom

  • University of Worcester

    Worcester, Worcestershire, United Kingdom