Morphological adaptations in response to chronic exercise across musculoskeletal tissues: a systematic review

To date, there is no systematic review that summarizes the morphological adaptations of musculoskeletal system in response to chronic exercise. This selected original articles published English between 2000 and 2020, with a clear exercise intervention presenting change tissue under study, covering human participants irrespective age, gender or health condition. In total, 2819 records were identified. After removal duplicates, title abstract screening full-text review, 67 included final analysis (6 for inter-vertebral disc, 6 cartilage, 36 bone, 2 ligament, 9 tendon 7 muscle). The most used interventions aerobic, resistance, plyometric Population ranged from children healthy active people individuals conclusion, as are tissues which vary increased stiffness an increase cross-sectional area. Although can adapt, several questions still linger, such optimal dose type exercise, whether occur injured tissue, functional implications these adaptations. Future research should address questions.