Welcome to the Chair of Molecular Exercise Physiology
In the EU approximately two thirds of people older than 15 obtain only an insufficient minimum of the recommended daily level of physical activity, implying that the inactive lifestyle could become dominant over the active one. This fact has far-reaching consequences for individual and (global) public health, because an inactive lifestyle leads to a significant degree of metabolic diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus or liver diseases. In contrast to inactivity, regular physical activity improves metabolic profiles, increases skeletal endurance and strength, and reduces the risk of developing the mentioned and other non-communicable dieases (NCDs), such as tumours and neurological diseases.
In addition to increasing physical inactivity with its a.m. consequences, Western society is also confronted with an ever aging population structure. Age-related decreases in skeletal muscle strength, mass, and function, a phenomenon known as sarcopenia, represent significant risk factors for the development of metabolic and non-communicable diseases. In order to maintain skeletal muscle functionality in the elderly, well-defined physical activity is an important tool.
The Chair of Molecular Exercise Physiology deals with the elucidation of molecular mechanisms that are induced by physical activity, but also by inactivity, and can have a positive or negative impact on maintaining health. Molecular mechanisms generally mean the processes that determine the maintenance of health at the cell and molecular level. In particular, the focus of the chair is on the striated muscles (skeletal muscle and heart) and their metabolism-associated changes through physical activity and inactivity in healthy people, defined patient groups and the elderly.
To clarify these and related questions, the scientists at the chair use a wide range of methods, which includes both cell culture and comparative animal and human studies. In this way, the working group of the chair strives to provide new insights into molecular mechanisms induced by physical activity and inactivity, which can contribute significantly to maintaining the health of the human organism.