What are soleus pushups?

Soleus pushups, as discussed by Andrew Huberman, are a simple exercise that can be done while seated, involving the continuous lifting and lowering of the heels, which effectively contracts the soleus muscle. Despite the soleus being just 1% of the total musculature, doing these pushups has been shown to dramatically improve blood sugar regulation and metabolism. The exercise involves a gentle heel lift (raising about 10 to 15 degrees), without requiring strong muscle contraction, making it an accessible activity for most people and feasible to do during sedentary activities like sitting at a desk or during zoom meetings 1 2.

This exercise is beneficial for overall metabolic health and helps with the regulation of blood glucose, especially postprandial (after eating), and insulin levels, with significant improvements noted in studies 2.