Skeletal muscle activity and CNS neuro-plasticity.

Abstract

The systemic health benefits of regular skeletal muscle activity are well documented. Increased skeletal muscle activity is associated with an improved systemic metabolic state, reduced incidence of diabetes and obesity, and improved function with age. Despite these known systemic benefits, many healthy people do not meet the recommended daily dose of skeletal muscle activity (exercise) needed to prevent systemic metabolic disease, leading to an increased prevalence of obesity. People with central nervous system (CNS) damage (from a complete spinal cord injury, for example), are even further compromised as they are unable to activate their own musculature. In this perspective paper, we discuss recent findings relating skeletal muscle activity and CNS signaling. A central theme is that appropriately prescribed skeletal muscle activity (rehabilitation) may have important implications for optimizing neural plasticity, enhancing stem cell proliferation and differentiation, and improving the overall environment for regenerative approaches for people with CNS damage (spinal cord injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, closed cranial trauma, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, dementia, and psychiatric disorders).