Posted on 09/23/2022 2:51:34 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
The soleus muscle in the calf, though only 1% of your body weight, can do big things to improve the metabolic health if activated correctly.
Marc Hamilton has discovered an approach for optimal activation—he's pioneering the "soleus pushup" (SPU) which effectively elevates muscle metabolism for hours, even while one is sitting. The soleus is a posterior leg muscle that runs from just below the knee to the heel.
Hamilton's research suggests the soleus pushup's ability to sustain an elevated oxidative metabolism to improve the regulation of blood glucose is more effective than any popular methods currently touted as a solution including exercise, weight loss and intermittent fasting.
When the SPU was tested, the whole-body effects on blood chemistry included a 52% improvement in the excursion of blood glucose (sugar) and 60% less insulin requirement over three hours after ingesting a glucose drink.
The new approach of keeping the soleus muscle metabolism humming is also effective at doubling the normal rate of fat metabolism in the fasting period between meals, reducing the levels of fat in the blood (VLDL triglyceride).
The soleus pushup
While seated with feet flat on the floor and muscles relaxed, the heel rises while the front of the foot stays put. When the heel gets to the top of its range of motion, the foot is passively released to come back down. The aim is to simultaneously shorten the calf muscle while the soleus is naturally activated by its motor neurons.
The researchers point out that this is not some new fitness tip. It's a potent physiological movement that capitalizes on unique features of the soleus.
“We are unaware of any existing or promising pharmaceuticals that come close to raising and sustaining whole-body oxidative metabolism at this magnitude."
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
“Apparently there’s a major vein that runs right down the middle of it”
I think that vein goes right through my boy parts as well.
Watch out for..... CRAMPS!
So basically, rocking in a rocking chair, which is kind of amazing, because in 2017 I literally sat in a rocking chair and rocked my newborn grand daughter for at least 10-12 hours a day and I melted. Could have been not eating very much. Either or.
PS - Rocked her for 10-12 hours a day minimum, for 6 months.
Caught up on lots of streaming shows.
that’s real talent
Install a treadle driven generator under every desk and keep those laptops charged!
Even with all of our knowledge we still don't know everything there is to know about the human body.
New things are just being learned about vertigo and tinnitus as well.
All I see is future arthritis and/or carpal tunnel syndrome.
Sounds good and it is easy to do while sitting or standing.
My wife had a hip replaced on 2 March this year. She had PT 2 times a week and did the exercises on her own for about a month before her hip replacement. Then, daily post op.
This seated exercise was one of the pre op and post op PT’s.
We have a waist high dresser in our master bedroom that is 7.5’ long. She did this exercise standing in front of the dresser and walks sideways up and down the front of the dresser with her finger tips on the top of the dresser for balance.
Her surgery was excellent and uneventful. She still does these exercise sets in her chair and in front of our dresser.
2+ months after her surgery, her Ortho doc did a complete checkup and work out observation. He told her to keep doing the exercises and to make an appt., 1 year from that date for a follow up.
She is 81 and weighs the same as she did when we were married 62 years ago.
This I can do! Thank you for posting!
Interesting that you mentioned a treadle. I was thinking that sewing on a treadle sewing machine would be good.
I love this!
Exercise while freeping.
It never ceases to amaze me how some “researcher” comes out with some “new discovery” of commonly known facts/conclusions long-known by competent health professionals. Living off grants is easier than working, I guess.
I’ve been teaching this exercise and it’s benefits for 25 years to my physical therapy patients. Yes, it works.
Should a person alternate legs or do them together?
How often, how long are you supposed to do it?
Whatever way you prefer. Some people like alternating so as to mimic the rhythm of walking, this is better for people who are attempting to improve their coordination also.
Go at a slow steady pace, one that you could continue almost indefinitely. The more the better, if you remember to do it regularly when you are seated, it often becomes an unconscious, healthy habit.
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