Morphometric and Molecular Muscle Remodeling after Passive Stretching in Elderly Female Rats

CONCLUSION: Three sessions of static stretching reduced the gene expression level of TGF- β 1, which, owing to its anti-fibrotic role, might contribute to the remodeling of the intramuscular connective tissue of the aging muscle. In addition, immunostaining revealed that TNF- α levels increased in the aging muscle tissue in response to stretching, indicating its effect on stimulating extracellular matrix degradation. These outcomes have important clinical implications in reinforcing the use of stretching exercises in the elderly, considering that the aging muscle presents an infiltration of connective tissue.
Source: Clinics - Category: General Medicine Source Type: research