Why exercise gets harder the less you do
Doing less exercise could deactivate a vital protein in the body, causing further inactivity and making exercise more difficult, new research suggests.
University of Leeds scientists have discovered that deactivating the Piezo1 protein, a blood flow sensor, reduces the density of capillaries carrying blood to the muscles.
This restricted blood flow means activity becomes more difficult and can lead to a reduction in how much exercise is possible, the team found.
They say the results help to explain the biology of why exercise becomes harder the less you do.
Our study highlights the crucial link between physical activity and physical performance made at this level by Piezo1
