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TL;DR
This narrative review synthesizes current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms of muscle biology and exercise physiology, from evolutionary adaptations to modern athletic performance.
Physiological Reviews · 3 authors, 2 centres
This summary was generated by AI from a single paper. It has not been reviewed by a clinician and is not clinical advice. Verify against the source before acting on it.
This narrative review synthesizes current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms of muscle biology and exercise physiology, from evolutionary adaptations to modern athletic performance.
This narrative review explores the historical and molecular foundations of exercise physiology, detailing how evolutionary pressures shaped human musculoskeletal and metabolic systems for endurance. It synthesizes advances in understanding muscle plasticity, the identification of myokines, and the role of skeletal muscle as an endocrine organ. The review highlights the impact of technologies like single-cell RNA sequencing on revealing cellular heterogeneity and dynamics within muscle. A central conclusion is that despite progress, the mechanistic basis of chronic training-induced adaptation, detraining, and muscle memory remains poorly understood. The authors caution that direct translation of preclinical findings, such as 'exercise mimetics,' to humans is unsupported and potentially risky. The implications point toward a future requiring deeper integration between basic research, sports science, and coaching to optimize performance and public health interventions safely and effectively.