Objective This study aimed to determine the eff ect of single-bout exercise on aortic stiff ness parameters in young basketball players.

Method and results A total of 108 young male subjects (mean age 14.2 ± 3.4 years) were enrolled into the study. Simultaneous measurement of aortic pulse wave velocity (PWVao) and augmentation index (AIxao) were performed with the oscillometric, occlusive device. Echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular systolic and diastolic function at rest were also measured in sportsmen. We did not fi nd signifi cant diff erences of restin PWVao in comparison with young sportsmen (S) and age-matched healthy volunteers (V): 5.82 ± 0.14 m/s vs 5.83 ± 0.12 m/s for S and V groups, respectively. The values of PWVao measured after dynamic exercise, isometric exercise, and rest were 8.0 ± 0.5 m/s, 5.86 ± 0.1 m/s and 5.82 ± 0.1 m/s, respectively. We confi rmed that values after dynamic exercise are signifi cantly diff erent from those after isometric exercise ( P <0.01) and those after rest ( P <0.01). The AIxao values exhibited a considerable, but statistically non-signifi cant, decrease during dynamic exercise in the three groups (11.7 ± 7% vs 3.8 ± 3% vs- 0.9 ± 0.9% for groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively)

Conclusion We applied a feasible, clinically useful method which allowed us to measure changes in aortic PWV and AIx during acute, single-bout exercise on the basketball court in young sportsmen.