Free Shipping Available on Backpacks

A study published in June found that one 60-minute exercise session shifted the body clock of mice by an hour either way.

Just like exposure to light and eating meals at set times can affect internal clocks, so do the timing of muscle contractions throughout the day.

The researchers in this study, which was published in the Journal of Physiology, made mice run at different phases of the day and examined their response. 

Mice have an active phase and a rest phase which are equivalent to day and night in humans. The mice ran on a treadmill either in the middle of their rest phase, an hour before beginning the rest phase, and in the middle of their active phase.

They found that exercising an hour before rest delayed the onset of the rest phase while exercise in the middle of the active phase caused an advance. The treadmill run in the middle of the rest phase had little effect. 

Christopher Wolff, a co-first author on the study, told The Physiological Society: "This research is really important because it highlights the effect exercise can have on our body clocks. 

“If this is replicated in humans it means that night-shift workers can use exercise to help shift their body clocks. 

“We may also be able to use exercise as a treatment for a 'body clock disorders' that can occur in many chronic diseases such as heart disease."

More studies and trials on human subjects will be needed to see if the results are applicable, but using exercise to control sleeping patterns would certainly be a game-changer for many.

Latest Stories

View all

Pliability vs Flexibility

Pliability vs Flexibility

Pliability vs Flexibility: What’s the Difference, and Why Does It Matter? When it comes to improving movement and preventing injuries, two terms often crop up: pliability and flexibility. At first glance, they might seem interchangeable, but they address different aspects...

Read more

Hybrid Training With Jonny Pain

Hybrid Training With Jonny Pain

Hybrid training pushes the limits of strength, endurance, and versatility, and it's the perfect preparation for events like HYROX. This month, we’ve designed a snapshot of a hybrid athlete’s training week to inspire your routine. While a typical week may...

Read more

Built For Athletes: Black Friday 2024

Read more