Soleus Push-ups - the Biggest Ever Breakthrough for Human Fitness?

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If there was a magic pill that can provide the benefits of intense exercise, but without any of the sweat, would you take it?

Neuroscientists at the University of Houston have made a potentially ground-breaking discovery for human health. In a new study they showed for the first time that a very light and focused muscle exercise, dubbed the 'soleus push-up', can dramatically boost the body's metabolism and rate of oxygen consumption.

Here we'll cover why this finding might just be one of the biggest ever breakthroughs in modern human biology.
What is the Soleus?

The soleus is a slim minor calf muscle that sits behind the main calf (gastrocnemius) and Achilles tendon, running from the heel to the back of the knee. The muscle is generally activated when the calf is stretched, that is, when the foot is raised above flat and pushing down. Walking or running up a steep hill (but not steps), is an example of when they come into play.

Muscles are the largest lean mass in our bodies, yet in terms of whole-body oxidative metabolism, they only burn 15% of glucose at rest. This lack of muscular metabolism when at rest is associated with the now well-established health risks of too much sitting too much. Surprising to most people, this risk is still high even for people who participate in regular exercise or do workouts, such as going to the gym or running.

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