Role of Exercise Therapy in Prevention of Decline in Aging Muscle Function: Glucocorticoid Myopathy and Unloading

Abstract

Changes in skeletal muscle quantity and quality lead to disability in the aging population. Physiological changes in aging skeletal muscle are associated with a decline in mass, strength, and inability to maintain balance. Glucocorticoids, which are in wide exploitation in various clinical scenarios, lead to the loss of the myofibrillar apparatus, changes in the extracellular matrix, and a decrease in muscle strength and motor activity, particularly in the elderly. Exercise therapy has shown to be a useful tool for the prevention of different diseases, including glucocorticoid myopathy and muscle unloading in the elderly. The purpose of the paper is to discuss the possibilities of using exercise therapy in the prevention of glucocorticoid caused myopathy and unloading in the elderly and to describe relationships between the muscle contractile apparatus and the extracellular matrix in different types of aging muscles.

Role of Myofibrillar Protein Catabolism in Development of Glucocorticoid Myopathy: Aging and Functional Activity Aspects

“…A decrease in AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity in the elderly is the reason for reduced mitochondrial function. AMPK is activated in response to moderate functional activity and may be an effective measure in the prevention of disability and diseases in the elderly [ 18 ].…”

“…It is not clear yet in what conditions (character of muscle activity, duration of activity, and recovery period between activities) AMPK blocks the activation of TORC 1. The optimization of increased functional activity programs that lead to interaction between signaling pathways in myofibrillar and mitochondrial compartments (protein synthesis/degradation rate) has proven to be effective in the elderly and myopathic population at causing muscle hypertrophy and maintaining endurance capacity at the same time [ 18 ]. Resistance type muscle activity causes anabolic and anticatabolic effects in skeletal muscle: FT muscle fibers hypertrophy and myofibrillar proteins turn over faster.…”

“…Slow regeneration of skeletal muscle is in good correlation with a decreased number of satellite cells under the basal lamina of muscle fibers [ 15 ]. The catabolic action of glucocorticoids and aging on skeletal muscle also depend on the functional activity of muscle [ 7 , 17 , 18 ]. Therefore the aim of the present short review was to assess the role of myofibrillar protein catabolism in the development of glucocorticoid-caused myopathy from aging and functional activity aspects.…”

Physical rehabilitation improves muscle function following volumetric muscle loss injury

“…Physical rehabilitation has been investigated as a strategy to treat acute muscle injuries (e.g., contusion) [ 13 ], for the recovery of skeletal muscle damaged due to age [ 14 – 16 ], pathological (e.g., muscular dystrophy), and metabolic (e.g., diabetes) conditions [ 17 , 18 ]. For acute muscle injuries, it has been shown to accelerate muscle healing/ regeneration by modulating the immune response, facilitating vascularization and the release of pro-myogenic growth factors, and reducing fibrosis [ 19 – 23 ].…”

Efeito agudo do alongamento na marcha de idosas em terreno inclinado

“…A redução do TPAS e VEL e o aumento do TA são influência de uma menor capacidade de deslocamento. A redução do TPAS e da VEL está diretamente ligada à redução das capacidades elásticas e contráteis do complexo músculo-tendíneo em razão das degenerações do envelhecimento (38). Essas alterações levam à realização de um passo menos estável e mais suscetível a acidentes.…”