THE ROLE OF SKELETAL-MUSCLE IN GLUCOSE-TRANSPORT, GLUCOSE-HOMEOSTASIS, AND INSULIN-RESISTANCE - IMPLICATIONS FOR PHYSICAL THERAPY

Skeletal muscle has a fundamentally important role in the maintenance of normal glucose homeostasis and in regulating whole-body carbohydrat e metabolism. In this review, we discuss the regulation of skeletal mu scle glucose transport by muscular activity and inactivity. A large nu mber of patients routinely seen by physical therapists exhibit some fo rm of skeletal muscle insulin resistance. Therefore, we discuss bow sk eletal muscle insulin resistance can be localized to a relatively smal l muscle mass, or in other circumstances can affect a large proportion of the muscle mass leading to disturbances in whole-body glucose home ostasis We review the mechanisms and regulation of skeletal muscle glu cose transport as background for understanding bow defects in this pro cess may contribute to the underlying pathogenesis of insulin resistan ce. Research into the events regulating glucose entry into skeletal mu scles has considerable impact on bow physical therapy exercise prescri ptions may benefit patients with disturbances in carbohydrate metaboli sm. With an understanding of the principles of proper exercise prescri ption, physical therapists can use exercise training as a primary ther apeutic intervention to improve local muscle and whole-body glucose ut ilization, and thereby minimize insulin resistance.