A small study suggests that performing seated soleus push-ups, a simple calf muscle exercise done while sitting, may significantly reduce blood sugar spikes in people with prediabetes, offering a low-barrier option for managing metabolic health during prolonged sitting periods.
A small 2025 study in the journal Sports has drawn attention to an unusually simple way of helping blunt blood sugar spikes in people with prediabetes: seated soleus push-ups, or SPU. According to the report highlighted by Taiwanese physician Li Sihsien, the exercise involves repeatedly raising and lowering the heels while sitting, so that the calf muscle beneath the knee keeps contracting without requiring gym equipment, sweat, or much space.
The research, which involved 10 people with an average age of about 53, tested whether that movement could make a difference during an oral glucose tolerance test, a standard assessment in which blood sugar is measured after a glucose drink. Participants who performed SPU during the two-hour test period saw a roughly 32% smaller rise in blood sugar than those who remained still. The study also found that the blood sugar response was reduced by about 26% even without specialised electromyography equipment to monitor muscle effort, suggesting the effect was visible in routine conditions rather than only under laboratory supervision.
Li described SPU as distinct from casual fidgeting or leg bouncing. The movement is deliberate and rhythmic, with the feet planted on the floor and the heels lifted and lowered in a controlled pattern. He said the method may be especially useful for people who spend long periods sitting, including office workers and travellers, because it can be done almost anywhere and does not depend on intense exertion or access to a fitness facility.
Still, Li cautioned that the findings come from an early-stage study with a very small sample, so they should not be treated as a replacement for regular exercise or medical care. Even so, the work adds to growing interest in low-barrier ways to interrupt prolonged sitting, particularly for people at risk of metabolic disease. The broader point, as he framed it, is that even modest movement can matter when daily life leaves people sitting for much of the day.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
