Relationship between chronic heat stress protocols and skeletal muscle adaptation

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K23270
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0909:Sports sciences, physical education, health sciences, and related fields
• Research Institution: Niigata University of Health and Welfare (2021-2022); Health Science University (2020)
• Principal Investigator: Ryo Ikegami 新潟医療福祉大学, リハビリテーション学部, 助教 (70881770)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 温熱療法

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study investigated the effects of thermal stimulation on muscle hypertrophy in slow-twitch and fast-twitch muscles. Therefore, we measured the intracellular calcium ion concentration and the activity of the muscle hypertrophy signaling pathway in fast-twitch muscle, which exhibits lower buffering capacity compared to slow-twitch muscle with higher buffering capacity, following thermal stimulation. The findings indicate a higher prevalence of temperature-sensitive channels in slow muscles compared to fast muscles. Furthermore, the activity of the hypertrophic signal was observed to be higher in fast muscles following the application of thermal stimulation. These findings underscore the potential efficacy of thermal stimulation as a valuable tool for promoting muscle hypertrophy in clinical practice. Consequently, careful consideration should be given to muscle selection when utilizing thermal stimulation for clinical applications in muscle hypertrophy.

Free Research Field

リハビリテーション

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の最終的な目標は，温熱刺激による筋肥大メカニズムを解明し，運動トレーニングに変わる新たな筋肥大方法として臨床応用への発展を目指すことである．近年，温熱刺激はタンパク合成経路を活性化させることが示されている．しかしながら，そのメカニズムは未解明であり，臨床現場において筋肥大目的に温熱療法を適応し成功した例は無い．本研究は筋繊維タイプにより温熱刺激に対する筋肥大の効果が異なることを示唆しており，今後温熱刺激による筋肥大を臨床応用する上で有用なプロトコルの立案への貢献が期待される．