Skeletal muscle is the largest organ in the body and is compartmentalized into numerous muscles. These muscles are made up of single fibers or cells embedded in a collagen matrix. Interactions between motor neuron and muscle fibers cause forces that generate actin and myosin to slide across each other allowing the muscles to contract. This contraction can have effects on the remodeling of the muscle fibers, release of calcium, changes in the muscle and nerve interactions, and much more.
Immediate Effect
The immediate effect of exercise on the skeletal muscles results in a lot of damage to the muscle fibers. After exercising, necrosis, damage to the contractile components, and oxidative stress will occur. Protein degradation within the muscle tissue does occur with exercise. If only exercising occasionally and strenuously, this damage can be more severe and have a larger effect.
Long Term Effects
The long term affects of moderate and continuous exercise on skeletal muscles help to positively change the structure of the muscle, metabolism within the muscle cells, and endurance of the skeletal muscles. This also causes a change in the patterns of protein synthesis. Genetic function of muscle fibers is improved by continuous exercise, as well as promoting growth factor release.
Other Effects
Other effects that exercise does have on skeletal muscle are varied, but are targeted toward increasing strength and function of the muscle fibers. Remodeling of the contractile fibers within the muscle to improve the speed of contraction and release will happen with working out. Exercise also changes the muscle and nerve interactions and increase the release and absorption of calcium. Blood flow and oxygen utilization are also increased and improved in skeletal muscle when the muscles are exposed to exercise.
Precautions
Exercise has the best effect on skeletal muscle when it is moderate and done on a regular basis. Seek a medical professional's advice before beginning an exercise routine to ensure that you are healthy enough to participate in exercise.
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