Journal article
Precision Physical Therapy: Exercise, the Epigenome, and the Heritability of Environmentally Modified Traits
Physical therapy, Vol.98(11), pp.946-952
11/2018
DOI: 10.1093/ptj/pzy092
PMCID: PMC6185994
PMID: 30388254
Abstract
One of the newest frontiers of physical therapy is the field of epigenetics, which examines how pervasive environmental factors such as exercise regulate the expression of genes. The epigenome may be one of the most powerful systems through which exercise exerts its beneficial effects on health and longevity. Large epidemiology studies show that individuals who regularly exercise demonstrate a lower “epigenetic age,” experience fewer metabolic diseases, and enjoy greater longevity. However, the dose, mode, intensity, and duration of exercise required to achieve a healthy epigenetic profile is unknown. As experts in exercise prescription, physical therapists are ideally suited to contribute to the discovery of this dose-response relationship. This perspective makes a case for the genesis of “precision physical therapy,” which capitalizes on epigenetic discoveries to optimize exercise-based interventions. Summarized here is the emerging body of knowledge supporting epigenetic adaptations to exercise in humans, including the intriguing possibility that these environmentally modified traits could be passed down to offspring. In the future, it is likely that epigenetic data will enhance our understanding of individual disease risk and individual response to prescribed exercise. The profession of physical therapy must be alert to new epigenetic knowledge that can enhance the specificity and efficacy of movement-based treatments.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Precision Physical Therapy: Exercise, the Epigenome, and the Heritability of Environmentally Modified Traits
- Creators
- Jessica R Woelfel - Department of Emergency Medicine, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IowaShauna Dudley-Javoroski - Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, Carver College of Medicine, University of IowaRichard K Shields - Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, Carver College of Medicine, 1–252 Medical Education Building, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52252 (USA)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Physical therapy, Vol.98(11), pp.946-952
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- DOI
- 10.1093/ptj/pzy092
- PMID
- 30388254
- PMCID
- PMC6185994
- ISSN
- 0031-9023
- eISSN
- 1538-6724
- Grant note
- R01-HD082109; R01-HD084645 / ; ; ;
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 11/2018
- Academic Unit
- Orthopedics and Rehabilitation; Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science
- Record Identifier
- 9984046923702771
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