How Exercise May Affect the Body’s Muscle Clock

Circadian rhythms influence daily behaviors in a 24-hour cycle.

• The circadian clock mechanism in mammals is a transcriptional-translational feedback loop present in nearly every cell.
• The central clock, located in the hypothalamus, responds primarily to external light cues.
• Peripheral clocks, including the skeletal muscle clock, receive signals from the central clock and are also influenced by feeding and activity.
• Exercise timing can adjust the muscle clock phase, suggesting its role as a time cue for metabolic regulation.
• Disruptions in the skeletal muscle clock are associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, particularly in shift workers.
• Exercising at specific times of day may serve as a therapeutic strategy to improve metabolic health and glycemic control in type 2 diabetes.

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