Effect of play-based summer break exercise on cardiovascular function in adolescents

Aim: To compare the effects of 4 and 8 weeks of play-based, supervised exercise during
summer break versus an unsupervised break on cardiovascular function in adolescent
children.
Methods: Twenty-two subjects were divided into a 4-week exercise group (age
10.1 ± 1.3 years), an 8-week exercise group (age 9.4 ± 1.7 years) or a control group (age
10.0 ± 1.3 years). The activity groups participated in a supervised summer camp for 6 h/
day, 5 days/week including a discontinuous play-based physical activity program and a
healthy lifestyle, while the control group were told to keep their regular summer break
routines. Anthropometrics, pulse wave velocity, augmentation index, blood pressure and
peak oxygen consumption were evaluated before and after the intervention.
Results: Normalized augmentation index (75 beats/min) significantly decreased after 4
and 8 weeks in the active groups (p = 0.04) while pulse wave velocity showed no
significant changes in all groups. Mean arterial pressure decreased (p = 0.003) and peak
oxygen consumption increased (p = 0.001) significantly in the 8 week group.
Conclusion: These data suggest that 8 weeks of supervised play-based activity yield
several cardio-beneficial results in adolescents, which may act as a clinical prophylaxis
throughout their lifetime.