2023-10-25 16:16:25
Everyone knows the importance of warming up our muscles before exercise, but what actually happens when we warm up our muscles?
In a study recently published in the Journal of General Physiology, a research team – led by Osaka University, Jikki University School of Medicine, and the National Institutes of Quantum Science and Technology in Japan – revealed how heating affects muscle contraction, and how this might benefit people who need to improve their exercise performance. .
Skeletal muscles contract in response to electrical signals from the nervous system, which activate proteins in muscle cells and allow us to move.
The team previously explored how heart muscle contractions are affected by temperature, and how heart muscles can contract efficiently within the body’s temperature range.
There are 3 types of muscles in the body:
Skeletal muscle
These are the muscles investigated in the study, which are the specialized tissue that attaches to bones and allows movement. Skeletal muscles and bones together are called the musculoskeletal system (also known as the locomotor system).
Skeletal muscles are under our conscious control, which is why they are also known as voluntary muscles. It is also referred to using another term, “striated muscle”, as the tissue appears striated when viewed under a microscope.
Cardiac muscles
These are the muscles of the heart, as the heart contracts and relaxes without our conscious control.
Smooth muscles
They are found in many internal structures, including the digestive system, uterus, and blood vessels such as arteries. Smooth muscles are arranged in layered sheets that contract in waves along the structure.
Another common term to refer to them is involuntary muscles, because smooth muscle movement occurs without our awareness.
How does warming up enhance muscle performance?
Using muscle proteins and advanced microscopy, the research team wanted to determine how temperature affects skeletal muscle. Do these muscles have similar sensitivity to temperature, or are they different from cardiac muscles?
The research team found that some proteins found in muscle cells act as a temperature sensor, and that heating affects structural contraction systems, and this improves muscle performance.
“Our findings indicate differences in the temperature sensitivity of proteins responsible for contraction in skeletal muscle versus cardiac muscle,” says co-author Kotaro Aoyama. “Basically, the skeletal muscle that moves our body is more sensitive to heating than the heart.”
The researchers found that the effect of skeletal muscles on high temperature may allow them to contract relatively quickly when warming up, even from slight warming due to light movement or exercise, which means greater effectiveness in performance and movement.
Improving muscle performance
This study provides new insights into how muscle performance during pre-exercise warm-up is improved at the protein level, as skeletal muscle performance is improved by warming up muscles.
Incorporating appropriate warm-up routines into the daily lives of individuals, especially the elderly, can improve the performance of their muscles and exercises, thus reducing the risk of injury.
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