Researchers tackle exercise

Ability to exercise and to keep going are key factors in good health – but now evidence suggests that inactive people are less tolerant to exercise, leading to a downward spiral that can trigger the development of chronic disease.

The researchers from Leeds and Liverpool universities plan to work with elite athletes and groups of healthy young and elderly people to better understand how their different bodies respond to exercise.

In a project funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, scientists will work with the British Cycling Science team to examine the response to exercise of the groups.

They hope to develop a model which sets out how the physical make-up of elite athletes is optimised to sustain high levels of exercise.

The model will be used to understand better why exercise tolerance is limited in elderly people or those who do not exercise and as the basis for drawing up interventions in patients with heart and lung conditions where problems exercising are key factors.

Lead researcher Harry Rossiter said: “We know that having a powerful heart, efficient lungs and fatigue-resistant muscles that are economical in turning chemical energy into mechanical power are each important to be able to sustain physical activity.

“But the exceptional performance of elite athletes is not predicted simply from knowing the capacity of heart, lungs or muscles.

“The body is like an engine – not only does each component have to do their own job well, but their responses also need to be integrated effectively.”