Exercise prior to, but not concomitant with, stress reverses stress‐induced delayed skin wound healing

Abstract

Stress-induced prolonged inflammation impairs cutaneous wound healing. Exercise may inhibit this effect via an anti-inflammatory mechanism. Our aim was to investigate the effect of moderate exercise on skin wound healing in chronically stressed mice. Mice were trained five times per week on a treadmill or received no training. Mice underwent daily rotational stress from the 6th week until euthanasia. During the 8th week, two wounds were created in the dorsum and collected 10 days later. A control group only received wounds. Exercise was performed prior to and simultaneous with stress for 2 weeks or only prior to stress. Stress increased normetanephrine levels 10 days after wounding, resulting in an increased amount of inflammatory cells and reduced expression of inflammatory cytokines as well as angiogenesis, myofibroblast differentiation and matrix deposition. Concomitant exercise and stress potentiated these effects, intensifying the delayed wound contraction. When exercise was performed only prior to stress, however, the mice showed reduced inflammatory cells in granulation tissue 10 days after wounding and improved wound healing compared with animals with exercise and concomitant stress. Moderate exercise in association with stress potentiates the stress effect; however, when exercise was performed prior to stress, wound healing was improved.

Possible involvement of CXC motif chemokine ligand 10 in exercise-induced collagen production of mouse dermal fibroblasts

“…One example is the relationship between exercise and cutaneous wound healing. It has been shown that forced treadmill running in rats or endurance training in mice significantly alters cutaneous wound healing processes [23,24]. A similar line of evidence was provided by studies using obesity models displaying delayed wound healing, skin thinning, and reduction of collagen synthesis [25], all of which were attenuated by physical exercise [25].…”

Comparing a non-removable total contact cast with a non-removable softcast in diabetic foot ulcers: A retrospective study of a prospective database

“…The difference between our control and intervention groups was not statistically significant (p = 0.052), yet showed a strong trend. Previous research suggests increased exercise to be associated with accelerated wound healing (27)(28)(29). Also, psychological distress and significant distensible properties of the TCS material increase tissue perfusion, impeding optimal wound healing (9,28).…”

Fit body, fit skin – the multifaceted effects of physical activity on the skin

“…Emerging evidence suggests that physical exercise may have a positive effect on skin wound healing. Notably, studies conducted on mice have demonstrated that endurance training and treadmill running significantly expedited the wound healing process, irrespective of age [10,21].…”