Exercise-Based Mechanotherapy: From Biomechanical Principles and Mechanotransduction to Precision Regenerative Rehabilitation

TL;DR

Exercise can be used as a precise therapy to regenerate musculoskeletal tissues by leveraging biomechanical and molecular mechanisms.

Contribution

The paper integrates biomechanical principles and mechanotransduction pathways to advance precision mechanotherapy for regenerative rehabilitation.

Findings

Mechanical loading influences musculoskeletal development and tissue remodeling through biomechanical and molecular mechanisms.

Advances in mechanoresponsive biomaterials and wearable systems enable standardized, individualized mechanotherapy.

Mechanotransduction pathways like integrin–FAK–RhoA/ROCK and Piezo channels regulate ECM remodeling and regeneration.

Abstract

Mechanical loading generated during physical activity and exercise is a fundamental determinant of musculoskeletal development, adaptation, and regeneration. Exercise-based mechanotherapy, encompassing structured movement, resistance training, stretching, and device-assisted loading, has evolved from empirical rehabilitation toward mechanism-driven and precision-oriented therapeutic strategies. At the macroscopic level, biomechanical principles governing load distribution, stress–strain relationships, and tissue-specific adaptation provide the physiological basis for exercise-induced tissue remodeling. At the molecular level, mechanical cues are transduced into biochemical signals through conserved mechanotransduction pathways, including integrin–FAK–RhoA/ROCK signaling, mechanosensitive ion channels such as Piezo, YAP/TAZ-mediated transcriptional regulation, and cytoskeleton–nucleoskeleton coupling. These mechanisms orchestrate extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, cellular metabolism, and regenerative responses across bone, cartilage, muscle, and tendon. Recent advances in mechanotherapy leverage these biological insights to promote musculoskeletal tissue repair and regeneration, while emerging engineering innovations, including mechanoresponsive biomaterials, 4D-printed dynamic scaffolds, and artificial intelligence-enabled wearable systems, enable mechanical loading to be quantified, programmable, and increasingly standardized for individualized application. Together, these developments position exercise-informed precision mechanotherapy as a central strategy for prescription-based regenerative rehabilitation and long-term musculoskeletal health.

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