Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Measuring Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System ANS Activity in Children
09:45

Measuring Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System ANS Activity in Children

Published on: April 29, 2013

20.9K

A 5-Week Guided Active Play Program Modulates Skin Microvascular Reactivity in Healthy Children

Asal Moghaddaszadeh1, Emilie Roudier2,3, Heather Edgell2,3

  • 1Pediatric Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, ON,Canada.

Pediatric Exercise Science
|April 29, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Guided activity play (GAP) improved children's vascular function. This 5-week program enhanced cutaneous microvascular reactivity, a key indicator of cardiovascular health in youth.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Exercise Science

Background:

  • Childhood physical inactivity and early vascular aging are significant global health concerns.
  • Guided Activity Play (GAP) programs show promise in improving cardiovascular risk factors and fitness in children.
  • Understanding the impact of GAP on microvascular function is crucial for preventative health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if a 5-week Guided Activity Play (GAP) program enhances cutaneous microvascular reactivity in children.
  • To assess the effects of GAP on children's health-related fitness parameters.
  • To investigate the relationship between physical activity levels during GAP and microvascular responses.

Main Methods:

  • Eighteen children (mean age 9.8 years) participated in a 5-week GAP program (4 days/week, 1 hour/day).
  • Physical activity was measured using accelerometry.
  • Pre- and post-assessments included anthropometrics, fitness tests, blood pressure, aerobic power, and cutaneous microvascular reactivity using sodium nitroprusside iontophoresis.

Main Results:

  • Physical activity averaged 556 kcal/week, with 34.7% of time at moderate to vigorous intensity.
  • Resting heart rate and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly.
  • Cutaneous microvascular reactivity to sodium nitroprusside increased significantly in perfusion, vascular conductance, and response speed.
  • Higher physical activity levels were associated with enhanced microvascular perfusion.

Conclusions:

  • A 5-week Guided Activity Play (GAP) program effectively improved cutaneous microvascular reactivity in children.
  • No significant changes were observed in body mass, musculoskeletal fitness, or estimated aerobic power.
  • GAP represents a viable strategy for improving vascular health markers in pediatric populations.
Abstract

Keywords:
cooperative gamesendothelial functionendothelial-independent functionmicrovascular perfusionphysical activity

More Related Videos

Measuring Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System ANS Activity in Toddlers - Resting and Developmental Challenges08:22

Measuring Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System ANS Activity in Toddlers - Resting and Developmental Challenges

Published on: February 25, 2016

15.5K
Calculating Heart Rate Variability from ECG Data from Youth with Cerebral Palsy During Active Video Game Sessions08:12

Calculating Heart Rate Variability from ECG Data from Youth with Cerebral Palsy During Active Video Game Sessions

Published on: June 5, 2019

19.9K

Related Concept Videos

Renewal of Skin Epidermal Stem Cells01:12

Renewal of Skin Epidermal Stem Cells

The skin is divided into epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis, the skin's outermost, middle, and inner layers. The human epidermal layer regularly undergoes renewal, where old, dead cells are replaced by new cells. Epidermal stem cells or EpiSCs divide and differentiate to restore the lost cells. For the renewal process, some EpiSCs continuously self-renew. In contrast, few others differentiate into transit-amplifying cells, which later form prickle or spinous cells, followed by granular cells,...
Clinical Applications of Epidermal Stem Cells01:19

Clinical Applications of Epidermal Stem Cells

Epidermal stem cells (EpiSCs) are mainly located at the basal layer of the epidermis. These cells repair minor injuries of the skin and replace dead skin cells. However, EpiSCs’ cannot heal severe wounds such as major burns or those from diabetes or hereditary disorders. In such cases, culturing the epidermal stem cells from the patient is possible and has yielded successful treatment options, such as laboratory-grown skin grafts. These grafts are synthesized using a patient’s own EpiSCs...
Assessment of Airway, Skin Color, and Use of Accessory Muscles01:30

Assessment of Airway, Skin Color, and Use of Accessory Muscles

A thorough assessment of respiratory health is paramount in clinical settings to identify and manage respiratory distress and ensure adequate oxygenation. This article elaborates on the critical aspects of respiratory evaluation, including airway assessment, skin color examination, and the observation of accessory muscle use, which are integral to effectively diagnosing and managing patients with respiratory conditions.
Introduction
The initial evaluation of a patient's respiratory system...
Sensory Functions of the Skin01:16

Sensory Functions of the Skin

The skin is the largest organ of the human body and plays a crucial role in our sensory perception. It contains a vast network of sensory receptors that contribute to the skin's protective function by perceiving physical, biological, and environmental cues and generating relevant responses.
There are two main categories of receptors on the skin: capsulated and non-capsulated. The non-capsulated ones are mainly the pain receptors. The capsulated ones can be further categorized based on the...
Role of Skin in Vitamin D Synthesis01:23

Role of Skin in Vitamin D Synthesis

The skin plays a crucial role in the synthesis of vitamin D, a vital nutrient for various physiological processes in the body. Vitamin D is unique because it can be synthesized in the skin through a series of chemical reactions triggered by exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation from sunlight.
The solar UV B rays (290-315 nm) are absorbed by the skin, and 7-dehydrocholesterol (provitamin D3) photolyzes it to previtamin D3, which undergoes a rapid transformation to vitamin D3(cholecalciferol).
Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives01:14

Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives

The first thing a clinician sees is the skin, so the examination of the skin should be part of any thorough physical examination. Most skin disorders are relatively benign, but a few, including melanomas, can be fatal if untreated. A couple of the more noticeable disorders, albinism and vitiligo, affect the appearance of the skin and its accessory organs.
Albinism
Albinism is a genetic disorder that affects (completely or partially) the coloring of skin, hair, and eyes. The defect is primarily...