Exercise Shown To Generate Healing Cells

It doesn’t take much. In fact, a single session of exercise has been shown to produce a type of stem cell that facilitates healing and tissue regeneration. OK, the experiment was with mice, not humans, but scientists believe it works for us too. A University of Illinois news release reports that researchers at the school’s Beckman Institute have shown for that just one exercise session in mice leads to an accumulation of muscle-derived mesenchymal stem cells (or mMSCs), cells that do not directly contribute to muscle growth, but do secrete a variety of factors that positively impact muscle growth. Researcher Marni Boppart says the cells usually respond to injury. “But in the case of exercise,” she says, “we think they secrete the factors specifically in response to mechanical strain.” Writing in the journal PlosOne, the researchers suggest that “Engagement in physical activity or rehabilitation therapy can preserve muscle mass and function.” OK, you knew that. But now we know why. Read more from the University of Illinois.