USE IT OR LOSE IT

A new study highlights why it’s so hard to return from training abstinence…

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Ever had a lay-off and struggled to dig deep on your return? According to recent research from the University of Leeds, it could be down to a switched-off protein.

Lead author Fiona Bartoli and her team’s research on mice discovered that deactivating the Piezo1 protein –a bloodflow sensor – reduced the density of capillaries carrying blood to the muscles. By restricting the blood, exercise became more difficult, leading to a reduction in exercise output. This conscious deactivating of the Piezo1 protein, the researchers explained, is what happens to those who become increasingly sedentary.

“Our work sheds new light on how Piezo1’s role in blood vessels is connected to physical activity,” said supervising author, professor David Beech. “Our discovery provides an opportunity to think about how loss of muscle function could be treated in new ways: if we activate Piezo1, it might help to maintain exercise capability in humans.”

It’s also another reason why triathlon’s so damn good for your physical and mental health.