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Hunt told Sky News the appointment was a “ privilege ”. Picture : Brendan Beckett / News Corp Australia .
Head space
Greg Hunt appointed new chair of Monash ’ s Turner Institute .
By Emilie Lauer
Monash University has appointed former health and aged care minister Greg Hunt as the chair of the Turner Advisory Council for Brain and Mental Health .
The retired politician , who previously served under the previous Morrison government , will advise mental health research , treatment and education .
Hunt said his new position will allow him to explore his interest in the mental health space .
“ Mental health is a long standing deep , personal passion ,” he said .
“ It stems from the family experiences I had growing up where my mother struggled with bipolar .”
Hunt said there is scope to focus on suicide prevention , eating disorder treatment , age-based mental health and Indigenous mental health .
One in two Australian adults experience mental health related issues during their lives , according to the health department .
In 2019 , suicide was the leading cause of death for people aged between 15 and 49 across the nation .
During 2022 , 53 per cent of Australians said they needed support to manage their mental health .
Monash University Chancellor Simon McKeon said Hunt ’ s previous political career will bring “ value to the institute ”.
“ Hunt is a passionate advocate for mental health and his vast expertise in healthcare policy ,” McKeon said .
Since its launch in 2019 , the Turner institute has received more than $ 80 million in research funding and conducted 129 projects .
The institute ’ s most recent project established new guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD . ■
Power lift
New study shows best way to build muscles .
By NCA NewsWire
A
groundbreaking new study has shown how you can increase muscle growth while spending half the amount of the amount of time in the gym .
The study , authored by Edith Cowan University professor Ken Nosaka , found that eccentric muscle contractions – the contractions that occur when a muscle is lengthened as the weight is lower – are more effective at building size .
Further , the study , which was published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology , found that muscle gains could be made doing half the number of repetitions .
In the study , groups of people performed three different curl exercises twice a week for five weeks as well as another group who did no exercise .
One group performed eccentric-only or lowering exercises , a second group performed concentric or lifting exercises and the third group performed both concentric and eccentric exercises – but the eccentric group did half the amount of repetitions as the other groups .
The study , which involved researchers from Niigata University , Nishikyushu University and Londrina University in Brazil .
Researchers found that the group that performed the eccentric-only exercises achieved strength gains that equalled the other groups despite performing half the amount of repetitions , while the muscles grew more in thickness than the other groups .
“ This latest study shows we can be far more efficient in the time we spend exercising and still see significant results by focusing on eccentric muscle contractions ,” Nosaka said .
“ In the case of a dumbbell curl , many people may believe the lifting action provides the most benefit , or at least some benefit , but we found concentric muscle contractions contributed little to the training effects ,” he said .
Nosaka suggested the relationship between our muscles and brain activation might be the key behind the findings .
“ Recruitment of the motor unit in the brain is important for increasing our strength ,” he said .
“ Eccentric contractions can activate the brain more ,” he said , adding it takes greater concentration in focusing on lowering weights .
“ We already know one eccentric muscle contraction a day can increase muscle strength if it ’ s performed five days a week – even if it ’ s only three seconds a day – but concentric ( lifting a weight ) or isometric muscle contractions ( holding a weight ) does not provide such an effect ,” Nosaka said . Bringing it back to the gym , Nosaka recommends using two hands to perform the concentric element of the movement and one hand lowering – the eccentric element – in the following exercises : bicep curls , overhead extensions , front raises and shoulder press .
Heading down to the legs , Nosaka said the same technique could be applied to knee extensions , leg curls , and calf raises . ■
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