Aestivating frogs are able to withstand long periods of immobilisation whilst appearing to maintain their muscle mass and contractile performance. The functional capacity of critical muscles is also not compromised upon emergence from aestivation. Years of starvation and immobilisation endured by aestivating anurans has no deleterious effect on their muscles, bones, water content, or stomach and liver integrity, which suggests there is some sort of time dilation at work in aestivating frogs that makes months or years inside their aestivation cocoon pass as days or weeks would when active normally.