It is commonly believed that central hemodynamics is closely associated with the presence of cardiovascular events. However, controversial data exist on the acute response of competitive sports on central hemodynamics. Moreover, the central hemodynamic response to exercise is too transient to be investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the central hemodynamic response in young basketball athletes and controls after 1 h recovery after exercise.
Fifteen young basketball athletes and fifteen aged-matched controls were recruited to perform the Bruce test. Central hemodynamics were measured and calculated, including heart rate (HR), aortic systolic, diastolic, and pulse pressure (ASP, ADP, and APP), ejection duration (ED), sub-endocardial viability ratio (SEVR), central augmentation index (AIx), and AIx@HR75. Intra-group and inter-group differences were analyzed by two-way repeated measures ANOVA.
ASP significantly decreased at 10 min after exercise in athletes, while it markedly declined at 15 min after exercise in controls (
Sustained decrease of aortic BPs was sooner after the cessation of exercise in athletes than in controls, and changes of aortic stiffness were more evident in athletes than those in controls during the 1 h recovery period. Additionally, SEVR returned to the baseline sooner than ED and HR in athletes.