Muscle Exercise

Skeletal muscle contractions during cold exposure are stimulated by muscle shivering and enhance the endocrine function by releasing certain muscle-derived peptides: myokines and exerkines, which may prevent or even reverse negative effects of different health conditions. At the same time, shivering induced by cold exposure is the most important means to maintain body temperature. The effects of whole-body cryostimulation (WBC) on muscle damage secondary to eccentric contractions, its impact on aerobic or anaerobic capacity and exercise capacity are reviewed in this chapter. Exercise and cold exposure activate the same pathways in myokines released by the muscle: changes in myokines during shivering or in response to exercise alone or together with WBC are described. WBC can be a practical tool to support the effects of regular training workouts, especially among those subjects who are beginning to be active. WBC alone is not able to significantly modify physical performance or body composition, but by improving muscle regeneration and flexibility and endocrine function it may have beneficial effects on health.