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Updated: Apr 22, 2026
Simultaneous Electrical and Mechanical Stimulation to Enhance Cells' Cardiomyogenic Potential
Published on: January 18, 2019
Circulating progenitor cells during exercise, muscle electro-stimulation and intermittent hypobaric hypoxia in
Luisa Corral1, Laura Conde2, Elisabet Guillamó3
1Intensive Care Unit and Neuropsychology Department, Bellvitge University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain Department of Physiological Sciences II, Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics and Physiology and Immunology of University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Background:
Circulating progenitor cells (CPC) treatments may have great potential for the recovery of neurons and brain function.
Objective:
To increase and maintain CPC with a program of exercise, muscle electro-stimulation (ME) and/or intermittent-hypobaric-hypoxia (IHH), and also to study the possible improvement in physical or psychological functioning of participants with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
Methods:
Twenty-one participants. Four groups: exercise and ME group (EEG), cycling group (CyG), IHH and ME group (HEG) and control group (CG). Psychological and physical stress tests were carried out. CPC were measured in blood several times during the protocol.
Results:
Psychological tests did not change. In the physical stress tests the VO2 uptake increased in the EEG and the CyG, and the maximal tolerated workload increased in the HEG. CPC levels increased in the last three weeks in EEG, but not in CyG, CG and HEG.
Conclusions:
CPC levels increased in the last three weeks of the EEG program, but not in the other groups and we did not detect performed psychological test changes in any group. The detected aerobic capacity or workload improvement must be beneficial for the patients who have suffered TBI, but exercise type and the mechanisms involved are not clear.
