Physiotherapist explains how the body changes when exercise stops

Masondo spoke to presenter Gugs Mhlungu on 702's Weekend Breakfast. She said stopping exercise for a significant time causes a cascade of physiological declines. These include lower insulin sensitivity, reduced aerobic capacity, worsening blood lipid profiles and weaker mitochondrial function.

She said people are likely to feel the difference after a week or two, and that changes are measurable at cellular level. She explained mitochondria this way: "Inside our muscles, there are little things called mitochondria, which help make energy so that you can move."

Masondo said the longer a person stays off exercise, the longer it takes to regain the former fitness level. She said avoiding stretching makes injuries more likely, especially at the gym.