Influence of exercise intervention on blood pressure, arterial stiffness and motor performance in 7-year old children

Objective: Since many years increasing sedentary and unhealthy lifestyle in children are discussed. It is known that lack of exercise impairs motor performance and increases the risk for future cardiovascular morbidity. On the other hand regular exercise proved to beneficially influence blood pressure (BP) and motor performance (MP). The present study evaluates the effect of an additional exercise program on top of normal physical education classes (PE) on BP, MP and, moreover, on pulse wave velocity (PWV) in elementary school children. Design and method: 26 students (aged 6.6 +/- 0.7 years, BMI 15.6 +/- 2.5) were assigned to intervention (IG) (N = 24) and control (CG) (N = 22) group. During a 9 month experimental period the IG received an additional exercise intervention (2x45 min per week) on top of the regular school PE (3x45 min per week). Peripheral and central BP and PWV were assessed non-invasively before and after the intervention period using Mobil-O-Graph (24 PWA monitor, IEM). Additionally the MP was measured using the Deutsche Motoriktest 6-18 (DMT). All measurements were performed before and after the observation period. Results: MP, comparable in both groups in the beginning, showed a significant (p < 0.001) improvement in IG when compared with CG after the intervention. Furthermore, there was a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the peripheral and central systolic BP and PWV (from 4,5 ms to 4,4 ms) in the IG, whereas in CG a mild increase in all hemodynamic parameters could be observed. Central (p < 0.05) and peripheral (p < 0.01) diastolic BP increased significantly in CG and was reduced in IG after intervention. Conclusions: In 7-year old children an additional nine months exercise intervention program had beneficial effects not only on MP but moreover on hemodynamic parameters as well. Children participating in the exercise intervention not only showed a reduced age-related increase in hemodynamic parameters, but rather a significant decrease in the assessed variables. Therefore it is mandatory to increase regular physical activity in early childhood to positively influence cardiovascular risk profile and motor skills.