Functional and Metabolic Muscle Responses to Exercise

The study of functional changes in the muscular system under physical exertion remains a pressing issue in modern physiology and sports science. Advances in modern molecular genetic research methods have significantly enhanced our understanding in this field. However, the overemphasis on molecular aspects has somewhat overshadowed the systemic approach to analyzing muscle function during physical activity and related processes. This has resulted in an overwhelming amount of data requiring comprehensive analysis and systematization through an interdisciplinary approach. While numerous studies have addressed systemic analysis of muscle function and fatigue, most focus on examining classical fatigue markers. These markers, however, fail to fully explain the complex processes occurring in muscles during physical exertion. Therefore, in preparing this article, we aimed not only to systematize accumulated data on the subject. Our analysis revealed non-canonical roles of key players including calpains, as well as the nervous and immune systems. These findings may prove crucial for better understanding muscular mechanisms during exercise. A thorough comprehension of these mechanisms could enable better control of bodily states during physical exertion, enhancing performance while mitigating negative effects. The materials presented here may serve as a foundation for future experiments targeting critical control points and developing novel monitoring methods for muscular processes at varying activity levels.