What is mechanotransduction?
Mechanotranduction is a physiological process by which a mechanical load is converted to response in the cells of tissues such as muscle, ligaments, tendons, cartilage and bones. The mechanical load is a signal detected and read by these cells via special receptors, which converts the mechanical stimulus and ultimately leads to a cascade of signals effecting genes and the structure of the tissue.
How does exercise promote tissue repair?
Exercise, a form of mechanical load, stimulates mechanotransduction in muscle, tendon, bone and cartilage. A variety of biochemical pathways are activated leading to changes in gene expression that promotes tissue repair. The expression of these genes sets about a cascade of pathways in cells that result in formation of tendon, muscle, ligament, cartilage and bone – which is key component of repair.
How does load impact the tendon, muscle, cartilage and bone?
Tendon: Exercise has been shown to increase the expression of insulin-like growth factor. This growth factor promotes cell proliferation and structural changes to tendons. This is important for recovery from tendon injury.
Muscle: In muscles, mechanical stimulation promotes muscle hypertrophy (increase in muscle size) by activating nearby cells via the mechanogrowth factor protein. Additionally, muscle fibres become more aligned, regenerations faster and the integrity of surrounding muscle fibres is not compromised. This helps recovery from muscle injury – but also for everybody in getting stronger and maintaining strength, which isn’t just the bodybuilders, but all people wanting to maintain or improve their level of function.
Cartilage: Mechanical load also upregulates the expression of structural components in cartilage, such as collagen. There is also an increase in the number of cells becoming cartilage cells with mechanical loading. This is important in those that suffer from arthritis.
Bone: When bone is exposed to mechanical loading, bone density is increased, and structural adaptations occur within the bone to promote the bone’s capacity to tolerate load. This is particularly important in the recovery from fractures (once an initial stage of healing has been achieved) and is important in those that suffer osteoporosis.
Ultimately, for musculoskeletal tissues and pain, rest is rarely indicated and controlled mechanical loading will help speed up recovery. That is where physiotherapists come in – to set up a local environment promoting tissue healing, to educate patients on appropriate musculoskeletal load based on their injury, and to guide patients through the recovery pathway. The bottom line is – listen to your physiotherapist and please complete your rehabilitation and home exercises.
Please call 95801985 to learn more information about how physiotherapists can help your patients in recovery from musculoskeletal injury.