Adaptation of the Musculoskeletal System to Exercise

Abstract

Skeletal muscles have the ability to adapt to various physiological stimuli. Exercise is a stimulus that induces various molecular, metabolic, and morphological changes in skeletal muscles. Exercise-induced changes can lead to increased muscle strength and endurance, as well as contribute to injury prevention. A proper understanding of muscle structure and function is essential to comprehend the musculoskeletal responses to exercise. The response to exercise can be classified as acute or chronic. Acute responses are immediate changes that occur with a single exercise session, while chronic responses are changes and adaptations that occur over time, both at rest and during exercise. The type of adaptation mechanism that takes place in skeletal muscle in response to exercise depends on the stimulus. Resistance exercise training leads to an increase in muscle mass and fiber cross-sectional area, as well as neural adaptations, while endurance exercise training induces metabolic adaptations to increase maximal oxygen consumption and mitochondrial biogenesis, improve energy source selection, and provide resistance to fatigue. The adaptations to exercise are influenced by several factors, including an individual's initial level of physical fitness and the type, intensity, duration, and frequency of exercise. Musculoskeletal disorders lead to pain that negatively affects quality of life. Designing personalized exercise programs is necessary to minimize possible complications during and after exercise in individuals with musculoskeletal pathologies in addition to comprehensive pain management. The modifications in the exercise programs including the increases in workload should be planned, systematic, and gradual, with adequate rest intervals provided.