When AUT exercise scientist Dr. Matt Brughelli was diagnosed with breast cancer, twice, his world changed overnight. After years of working with athletes, he suddenly faced major surgery, radiation treatment, and relentless fatigue. “I went from swimming every day to being unable to lift my arm,” he recalls. A mastectomy and axillary lymph node biopsy following his second diagnosis left him with severely restricted shoulder mobility, diminished strength, and constant exhaustion.
During recovery, even light activity proved difficult. “I could use an eccentric device, but I didn’t have energy for a 15 minute walk, I was that exhausted,” he says. That stark contrast led to a powerful insight: eccentric training was the one form of exercise he could tolerate consistently. Unlike conventional strength training, which focuses on lifting or pushing, eccentric training emphasizes resisting movement, allowing muscles to activate and grow with significantly less energy demand.
For Brughelli, it was a breakthrough. “It helped me rebuild strength and shoulder functionality without draining my limited energy,” he explains. Recognizing its potential, he joined forces with his team at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) and their commercial partner to make eccentric training more accessible.
The result was "Strength Made Easy," a pair of user-friendly machines engineered to deliver strength gains and functionality with minimal exertion. One is a recumbent eccentric bike that pedals backward as the user gently resists; the other is an upper-body grinder designed to engage the arms and shoulders without pain or stress. These devices enable meaningful improvements in mobility and strength, even for those older or fatigued from metabolic dysfunction.
Originally developed for Brughelli’s personal recovery, the technology has since grown into a broader platform for rehabilitation and prehabilitation. The same strategy is now integral to AUT’s never2old program, supporting adults over 60 in regaining strength and mobility without the discomfort associated with traditional strength training.
To expand access, the affordable technology is being made available to gyms, physiotherapy clinics, aged care facilities, and rehabilitation centers. Brughelli’s message is clear: “Eccentric technology isn’t just for elite athletes. It’s for anyone who wants to move again without pain, with minimal fatigue, and without fear.”
Article provided by Tom McLeod, AUT, 5 June 2025
