Scientists from The Stem Cell & Regenerative Biology Unit at Liverpool John Moores University have found that physical activity could waken dormant stem cells in the heart and encourage new heart muscle and blood vessel cells to form, suggesting that vigorous daily exercise could repair heart damage.

The researchers looked at healthy rats, and saw, as expected, that regular exercise increased the size of the heart.   Excitingly they also found it appeared to stimulate the formation of new heart muscle cells and blood vessel cells.

Dr Georgina Ellison, who led the research, said -

"The exercise is increasing the growth factors which are activating the stem cells to go on and repair the heart, and this is the first time that this potential has been shown.
We hope it might be even more effective in damaged hearts because you have got more reason to replace the large amount of cells that are lost.
In a normal cardiac rehabilitation programme patients do undertake exercise, but what we are saying is maybe to be more effective it needs to be carried out at a higher intensity, in order to activate the resident stem cells,"

Source:    European Heart Journal     ;    The Telegraph