Training triggers the recovery of muscles and bones

This protein, as researchers from South Korea found out, is released by muscles during physical activity. It helps not only to strengthen muscles, but also literally revitalizes bones, slowing down the aging process of the musculoskeletal system.

It turned out that in young people, CLCF1 rises sharply in the blood after just one workout. But the elderly need to practice regularly for at least 12 weeks to achieve the same effect. This explains why sports don’t seem to help with age — it just takes longer for the body to start the necessary processes.

To test the hypothesis, the scientists conducted experiments on elderly mice. Those who were injected with CLCF1 showed improvements in muscle strength and bone density. But if you block the work of this protein, even active training did not bring benefits. This confirms that CLCF1 is one of the main players in the body’s rejuvenation system through physical activity.

In addition, protein has been shown to help cells produce more energy, prevent bone breakdown, and trigger bone repair. It is precisely these molecular changes that explain why sport is not just about warming up muscles, but a profound restructuring of the body.

“We have shown for the first time why physical activity becomes less effective with age,” says Dr. Yang from the research group. “This discovery will help develop new approaches to the treatment of age—related muscle loss and bone fragility.”

In the future, it may be possible to create drugs that mimic the effect of CLCF1. In the meantime, the good news is that even at an age, workouts really work. It’s just that the body needs a little more time and patience to launch its inner youth.