But this concept falls short.<\/p>\n
In reality we can go much further, and say that exercise is as necessary for our health as breathing or eating, while a sedentary lifestyle and lack of movement can be classified as a source of illness.<\/p>\n
Myokines are hormones that communicate via the bloodstream with various organs, such as the brain, adipose tissue, liver, bone, and the immune system. According to a 2024 review<\/a>, they are the reason why exercise is beneficial for the immune system.<\/p>\n The most widely studied myokine to date is interleukin-6 (IL)-6<\/a>. While it is released at rest, it is released at levels up to 100 times higher during high-intensity or aerobic endurance exercise.<\/p>\n Also of importance are irisin<\/a>, which is key to maintaining body fat balance, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF<\/a>), which is involved in neuroplasticity and cognitive function.<\/p>\n Exercise also stimulates other organs to release exerkines<\/a>, which are equally important. A 2022 review<\/a> revealed the role that these molecules play in cardiovascular, metabolic, immune, and neurological health.<\/p>\n If we are inactive \u2013 meaning few exerkines circulate in our bodies \u2013 the risk of disease and all-cause mortality increases.<\/p>\n Myokines act in different ways in different parts of the body:<\/p>\n Immune system<\/p>\n Recent publications<\/a> identify at least nine myokines that influence the proper functioning of the immune system<\/a>.<\/p>\n These include irisin, decorin, and the interleukins IL-6, IL-7, and IL-15. Their release during exercise promotes the proliferation and differentiation of our immune cells, enhancing immune surveillance.<\/p>\n They also reduce chronic systemic inflammation, a key factor in preventing many metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. IL-6, for example, acts as an anti-inflammatory signal that can regulate the activity of lymphocytes, macrophages<\/a>, and NK cells.<\/p>\n Nervous and neurocognitive system<\/p>\n Muscle exerts a direct influence on the brain<\/a> via what has been termed the “muscle-brain axis”.<\/p>\n Evidence shows that molecules such as BDNF, irisin, and cathepsin B can stimulate the formation of new neurons. They are also linked to improved learning and memory, and are associated with protection against the cognitive decline associated with neurodegenerative diseases<\/a>.<\/p>\n Irisin<\/a>, for instance, has been linked to increased levels of BDNF in the hippocampus, a region crucial for memory. And cathepsin B<\/a> contributes to neuronal regeneration and improved cognition.<\/p>\n This set of chemical signals explains why physically active people have a lower risk of cognitive decline and better emotional health.<\/p>\n The brain “listens” to what the muscles are saying when they contract, and responds by adapting and becoming stronger.<\/p>\n During exercise, IL-6 plays a key role in mobilizing fatty acids<\/a> from adipose tissue, primarily visceral fat (which accumulates in the abdominal cavity and poses a greater risk). This promotes fat burning and helps maintain blood glucose levels.<\/p>\n It also regulates insulin sensitivity, enabling the muscle to take up glucose more efficiently. This mechanism explains some of the benefits of exercise in preventing type 2 diabetes<\/a>.<\/p>\n Overall, muscle acts as a “metabolic thermostat” that regulates energy expenditure and determines when to mobilize, store, or use energy depending on physical activity.<\/p>\n Cardiovascular system<\/p>\n Although exercise for cardiac patients should be prescribed by a healthcare professional such as a cardiologist or physiotherapist, it can help prevent cardiovascular disease<\/a>.<\/p>\n Physical activity triggers the release of exerkines<\/a>, which promote vasodilation, improve vascular function, and reduce arterial stiffness.<\/p>\n This explains<\/a> why physically active people have a lower risk of high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, and heart failure.<\/p>\n Bones and osteoporosis<\/p>\n Muscles also interact with the skeleton. Multiple myokines promote bone formation and remodeling by stimulating the activity of osteoblasts (bone-forming cells) and regulating bone mineral density<\/a>.<\/p>\n This is a necessary complement to the mechanical stresses of exercise, and to prevent and combat osteoporosis<\/p>\n Tumor suppression and reduced cancer risk<\/p>\n An article published in The Lancet Oncology<\/a> identifies a sedentary lifestyle as a risk factor for more than 10 types of cancer<\/a>.<\/p>\n This is partly explained by the fact that during exercise, myokines are released, which inhibit the spread of cancer cells and reduce DNA damage from potentially malignant cells.<\/p>\n To this we can add exercise’s ability to mobilize the immune cells capable of recognizing and destroying tumor cells in the early stages of growth<\/a>.<\/p>\n Even one session of exercise significantly increases the levels of myokines capable of suppressing the growth of cancer cells.<\/p>\n Related: Exercise Triggers Memory-Related ‘Brain Ripples’, Study Finds<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Taken together, all this evidence shows that our muscles act as an endocrine organ.<\/p>\n Every single muscle contraction sends signals that regulate the body’s internal balance \u2013 meaning movement is biologically necessary for our bodily systems to function properly.<\/p>\n Beatriz Carpallo Porcar<\/a>, Fisioterapeuta. Personal docente e investigador en el grado de Fisioterapia en la Universidad San Jorge. Miembro del grupo de investigaci\u00f3n iPhysio., Universidad San Jorge<\/a>; Andr\u00e9s R\u00e1fales Perucha<\/a>, Fisioterapeuta y Personal Docente e Investigador de la Universidad San Jorge. Miembro del grupo de investigaci\u00f3n UNLOC., Universidad San Jorge<\/a>; Daniel Sanju\u00e1n S\u00e1nchez<\/a>, Fisioterapeuta y personal docente investigador en la Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud en Universidad San Jorge, profesor asociado en la Facultad de Enfermer\u00eda y Fisioterapia en la Universitat de Lleida. Miembro del grupo de investigaci\u00f3n iPhysio, Universidad San Jorge<\/a>; Jos\u00e9 Lesmes Poveda L\u00f3pez<\/a>, Profesor de Fisioterapia, Universidad San Jorge<\/a>, and Paula Cordova Alegre<\/a>, Personal docente – investigador en los grados de fisioterapia y enfermer\u00eda de la Universidad San Jorge, Universidad San Jorge<\/a><\/p>\n This article is republished from The Conversation<\/a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It is tempting to understand muscle’s role in the body as a simple mechanical motor. But the truth…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":944016,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4322],"tags":[1630,105,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-944015","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-fitness","8":"tag-fitness","9":"tag-health","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/116533891549986352","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/944015","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=944015"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/944015\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/944016"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=944015"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=944015"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=944015"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Older-people-doing-yoga-outdoors.jpg\")
Exercise is necessary for our health. (Vlada Karpovich\/Pexels<\/a>)<\/p>\n![\"People](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-485458530-642x429.jpg\")
Muscle exerts a direct influence on the brain. (Mikolette\/Getty Images)Glucose and fat metabolism<\/p>\n![\"Subscribe](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Generic-Health-Promo-Final-642x273.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n