Our muscles - they keep our body upright and in shape. They move us from A to B and they communicate with the other organs of our body.
The latter is a finding of Professor Bente Pedersen. The Danish scientist has been researching for some time how muscles influence the entire organism via certain messenger substances - the myokines, as she calls them - with the help of physical activity and training. The healing effect of active muscles is an essential part of myokine research.
Muscle as an endocrine organ
Researchers suspect that several thousand myokines are released from muscle cells during muscle activity and then distributed throughout the body. To date, however, only about 600 of these hormone-like messengers are known or have been studied.
Myokines act both locally in certain organs and tissues and systemically in the entire organism with a variety of positive effects - and often far away from their point of origin, the muscle cells. They reach their destination via the bloodstream. This makes the muscles, just like the thyroid or pancreas, a so-called endocrine organ with important regulatory and coordinating functions in the body.
The all-rounders directly from the muscle
Myokines play an important role in cardiovascular health, in the immune system, but also in brain and nervous system health. For example, the so-called interleukin 8 (IL-8) makes blood vessels sprout, myonectin reduces the risk of heart muscle damage, and brain-derived nerotrophic factor (BDNF) protects neurons in the brain and promotes the formation of new synapses.
In the process, myokines minimize the risk of diseases such as diabetes, obesity, Parkinson's, osteoporosis, and even several types of cancer.
It can be strenuous
There is a big difference between regular exercise and occasional exercise. Some myokines only develop their potential during intense strength-oriented muscle work, while others are only effective during endurance-oriented stress. A variety of sports and training types with different volumes and intensities are therefore the means of choice for achieving anti-inflammatory, fat-burning and preventive effects, for example.
The right training dose, i.e. a systematic and progressive approach with sufficient regeneration, is essential. This is because overstraining and too little rest make the healing myokines partly responsible for degradation processes. The dose makes the poison - and vice versa, well-planned and regular activity brings healing.
In order to transport this knowledge into the responsible health policy and to every end user, the expert Alliance for Health e.V. is engaged in a never-ending dialogue. Every training facility can benefit from this and stand out as a prevention provider through the supporting marketing and educational materials.
Source and image source: BODYMEDIA
Published on: 1 October 2023