Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 2, 2025

Author Spotlight: Exploring the Impact of Reduced Resistance Exercise Volume on Metabolic Health
06:13

Author Spotlight: Exploring the Impact of Reduced Resistance Exercise Volume on Metabolic Health

Published on: December 1, 2023

1.3K

Effects of a cluster-randomized exercise intervention on cardiovascular health in preschoolers

Alice Minghetti1, Oliver Faude1, Lars Donath2

  • 1Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Switzerland.

Journal of Child Health Care : for Professionals Working with Children in the Hospital and Community
|March 1, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Gross motor skill interventions in preschoolers improve movement abilities. While effects on vascular health were minimal, these programs offer a valuable way to integrate physical activity and enhance motor skills in early childhood education.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Exercise Science
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Preventive Cardiology

Background:

  • Limited data exists on cardiovascular health and exercise response in healthy children.
  • Primary health prevention in at-risk children is gaining attention, highlighting a research gap in healthy populations.
  • Understanding the impact of physical activity interventions on preschoolers' vascular health is crucial for long-term well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of a gross motor skill-based exercise intervention on micro- and macro-vascular health in preschoolers.
  • To assess changes in cardiovascular parameters following a structured physical activity program.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of motor skill interventions for primordial prevention in healthy young children.

Main Methods:

  • A sub-study of a clinical trial involving 68 preschoolers across intervention (INT) and control (CON) groups.
  • Intervention group received weekly exercise sessions for 25 weeks; control group received no intervention.
  • Evaluated gross motor skills (TGMD-2), retinal vessel analysis, and central hemodynamics pre- and post-intervention, with statistical analysis correcting for covariates.

Main Results:

  • Significant improvements in gross motor skills (TGMD-2) were observed in the intervention group compared to controls (Cohen's d = 0.52).
  • Retinal vessel diameters showed trivial between-group differences (0.08 < d ≤ 0.29).
  • Arterial stiffness parameters exhibited trivial to moderate between-group differences (-0.55 < d ≤ 0.31).

Conclusions:

  • Motor-skill based interventions are effective in enhancing gross motor proficiency in preschoolers.
  • These programs represent a practical approach to incorporating physical activity into early childhood settings.
  • Further research is warranted to explore the long-term potential of motor skill interventions as a primordial prevention strategy in healthy preschoolers.

Keywords:
children, preventionmotor skillsretinal vascular imaging

More Related Videos

A Novel Digital Platform for a Monitored Home-based Cardiac Rehabilitation Program04:24

A Novel Digital Platform for a Monitored Home-based Cardiac Rehabilitation Program

Published on: April 19, 2019

11.7K
Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity05:59

Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity

Published on: March 7, 2019

6.8K

Related Concept Videos

Exercise and Cardiovascular Response01:20

Exercise and Cardiovascular Response

Exercise significantly impacts cardiovascular response, which is crucial for understanding patient health and designing effective treatment plans.
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
1.2K
Exercise and Cardiac Output01:17

Exercise and Cardiac Output

Regular physical activity is essential for maintaining cardiovascular health, with aerobic exercises being particularly effective. According to the American Heart Association, 150 minutes of moderate to intense aerobic exercise per week is recommended for a healthy heart. Aerobic activities may include brisk walking, running, bicycling, cross-country skiing, and swimming, ideally performed three to five times per week.
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be...
1.4K
Randomized Experiments01:13

Randomized Experiments

The randomization process involves assigning study participants randomly to experimental or control groups based on their probability of being equally assigned. Randomization is meant to eliminate selection bias and balance known and unknown confounding factors so that the control group is similar to the treatment group as much as possible. A computer program and a random number generator can be used to assign participants to groups in a way that minimizes bias.
Simple randomization
Simple...
8.1K
Coronary Artery Disease IV: Preventive Measures01:26

Coronary Artery Disease IV: Preventive Measures

Effective preventive measures for coronary artery disease (CAD) focus on controlling modifiable risk factors, including cholesterol abnormalities and lifestyle changes.Cholesterol ManagementFirst, the Mediterranean diet and the American Heart Association advocate for maintaining low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels below 100 mg/dL, with a more stringent recommendation of below 70 mg/dL for individuals at high risk. LDL cholesterol, often termed "bad cholesterol," can lead to the...
127