While regular exercise has been linked to better immune systems to brain function, now scientists believe it is connected to how quickly skin heals. Research conducted at the University of Illinois indicates that that inflamed skin heals better when the patient engages in moderate regular exercise.
"The key point of the study is that moderate exercise sped up how fast wounds heal in old mice," said researcher K. Todd Keylock, he also speculated that the reaction "may be the result of an exercise-induced anti-inflammatory response in the wound."
While other research has indicated that healing times were decreased for people who regularly excercised, Keylock was able to determine that the response was due to lower levels of inflammation.
"One of the proposed mechanisms whereby aging adds to delayed healing is that the aged have hyper-inflammatory response to wounding," said Jeffrey A. Woods, who worked with Kelock during the study. "The thought is that the exaggerated inflammatory response slows the healing process. So, in essence, what happened here is that the exercise reduced the exaggerated inflammatory response."
Keylock speculates that exercise might be reducing inflammation in several different ways. "Increasing blood flow during the time of exercise is one (possibility)," Keylock stated. "We've shown in the past that has an effect on how certain immune cells - such as macrophages, function. "And if exercise can help decrease the amount of inflammatory cytokines put out by macrophages, maybe that would help decrease the inflammation, and therefore, speed healing."
Macrophages are immune system cells that are directed to the site of an injury. They are directed by cytokines, which signal that they require the immune system intervention. Macrophages help fight infection and repair the wound according to Keylock.
Woods notes that the macrophages are drawn to damaged tissue and hypoxic tissue. It could be possible, he hypotheses, that the amount hypoxic tissue, which is tissue with low oxygen content, is lowered by engaging in exercise.
"The key point of the study is that moderate exercise sped up how fast wounds heal in old mice," said researcher K. Todd Keylock, he also speculated that the reaction "may be the result of an exercise-induced anti-inflammatory response in the wound."
While other research has indicated that healing times were decreased for people who regularly excercised, Keylock was able to determine that the response was due to lower levels of inflammation.
"One of the proposed mechanisms whereby aging adds to delayed healing is that the aged have hyper-inflammatory response to wounding," said Jeffrey A. Woods, who worked with Kelock during the study. "The thought is that the exaggerated inflammatory response slows the healing process. So, in essence, what happened here is that the exercise reduced the exaggerated inflammatory response."
Keylock speculates that exercise might be reducing inflammation in several different ways. "Increasing blood flow during the time of exercise is one (possibility)," Keylock stated. "We've shown in the past that has an effect on how certain immune cells - such as macrophages, function. "And if exercise can help decrease the amount of inflammatory cytokines put out by macrophages, maybe that would help decrease the inflammation, and therefore, speed healing."
Macrophages are immune system cells that are directed to the site of an injury. They are directed by cytokines, which signal that they require the immune system intervention. Macrophages help fight infection and repair the wound according to Keylock.
Woods notes that the macrophages are drawn to damaged tissue and hypoxic tissue. It could be possible, he hypotheses, that the amount hypoxic tissue, which is tissue with low oxygen content, is lowered by engaging in exercise.
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