How does Temperature affect muscles?

Answer by josh
Submitted on 12/26/2005
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Decreasing temperature will cause muscles to have less strength and to contract more slowly. This is because they are made of physical molecules, like most other things. When they are colder, the molecules do not move as fast as when they are warm. In addition, nerves are colder. They do not conduct nerve impulses as fast. In effect, the muscles might not work as well as usual because the nerves are numb. Plus, the distribution of blood is different, which a lot blood vessels constricting, to preserve body heat (of course, how much depends on warm the body is, with a lot less vasoconstriction when the body is warm). This will also affect the way muscles work, especially with repeated activity, like writing the same thing over and over. Finally, all of these changes will decrease the amount of coordination that the person has. This is because the brain is used to having nerve impulses travel at certain speeds; the brain is also used to feedback arriving from muscles at certain intervals. So one might expect that the effects of decreasing temperature would decrease coordination. One must remember that the motion of writing is not just the activity of muscles. There is a large element of visual feedback in controlling activities like writing. Various types of sensory feedback, such as spindles in the muscles and receptors in the skin (for example, measuring the strength of the grip) also play a role. All of these things (except the visual feedback) will be affected by the changes in temperature, not jsut the strength of the muscles.

Answer by Tom
Submitted on 3/30/2006
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Answered By: Jeffrey Utz, M.D., Neuroscience, pediatrics, Allegheny University Area of science: Anatomy Message: Decreasing temperature will cause muscles to have less strength and to contract more slowly. This is because they are made of physical molecules, like most other things. When they are colder, the molecules do not move as fast as when they are warm. In addition, nerves are colder. They do not conduct nerve impulses as fast. In effect, the muscles might not work as well as usual because the nerves are numb. Plus, the distribution of blood is different, which a lot blood vessels constricting, to preserve body heat (of course, how much depends on warm the body is, with a lot less vasoconstriction when the body is warm). This will also affect the way muscles work, especially with repeated activity, like writing the same thing over and over. Finally, all of these changes will decrease the amount of coordination that the person has. This is because the brain is used to having nerve impulses travel at certain speeds; the brain is also used to feedback arriving from muscles at certain intervals. So one might expect that the effects of decreasing temperature would decrease coordination. One must remember that the motion of writing is not just the activity of muscles. There is a large element of visual feedback in controlling activities like writing. Various types of sensory feedback, such as spindles in the muscles and receptors in the skin (for example, measuring the strength of the grip) also play a role. All of these things (except the visual feedback) will be affected by the changes in temperature, not jsut the strength of the muscles. www.madsci.org/posts/archives/jul2000/964664249.An.r.html

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Question by Robert Frazier
Submitted on 12/11/2003
Related FAQ: misc.fitness FAQ (part 3)
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How does Temperature affect muscles?

Answer by tee
Submitted on 4/8/2004
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i think affects the muscles because somestimes colder air causes you to run slower because your body kind of freezes up from the cold air and causes the force/pressure of your body temperature to rise which slows you down and when its hot you may run faster because its easier to move around because your not trying to fight the cold temperature .so i think its easier to run in the hot (but not to hot)

Answer by Banana
Submitted on 11/8/2004
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The reason why temperature effects muscles is because of the numerous atoms in the body that react to temperature. When the air, or body temperature is colder the atoms tend to stay closer together, causing less movement...when it is hot, the atoms (molecules) move around more, causing more range of motion. It also allows blood to flow more easily when it is warm than cold. This takes away pain in the area. That is why people lay on hot packs. Swelling is caused by increased blood flow,,, to much. That is why ice is used.

Answer by cody
Submitted on 1/9/2005
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Explain how temperature affects pressure?

Answer by nicko
Submitted on 1/16/2006
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learn how to talk, tee

Answer by losergeek
Submitted on 11/20/2006
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I think that when you get a hot pack treatment it relaxes it because you have a tight spot, or you get stiff because the cold stiffens the muscles.

Answer by Chelsey
Submitted on 12/12/2006
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Cold will shrink any swelling of muscles, while heat will make relax muscles. cold allows muscles to contract, while heat allow muscle to relax.

Answer by robert
Submitted on 12/12/2006
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yesbecuase i need one

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