Regular Dynamic Exercise Has a Beneficial Effect on Arterial Stiffness Already in Childhood and Adolescence

Abstract

This study aims to assess the parameters of arterial stiffness in active children and adolescents according to the type of sport they practice and compare them with those who do not participate in sport. There were 238 subjects, 80 practiced predominantly dynamic sports, 58 predominantly static sports, and 100 children and adolescents were not regularly included in sports. The control group was volunteers of similar age recruited from elementary schools. The control group had statistically significantly higher values of aortic pulse wave velocity (PWVao) in rest compared with the group of children and adolescent athletes (P < .001, median PWVao 6.28 [5.70-7.00] vs 5.74 [5.10-6.23] m/s). This group had a significantly higher body mass index than children and adolescent athletes (P = .046). Children and adolescents who practiced sports with a high level of dynamic load after 2 years showed significantly lower values of PWVao compared with those who practiced sports with a high level of static load (P = .040, PWVao median 5.64 (5.10-6.10) vs 5,95 (5.50-6.50) m/s). Based on our findings, continuous and regular physical activity, especially dynamic, benefits arterial stiffness and arterial blood pressure, the major predictors of cardiovascular risk.