Effect of Physical Training on Hemodynamic Response during Submaximal and Maximal Exercise in 11–13-Year Old Boys

Nine healthy boys, mean age 11.7 years (11.0–13.0), height 150.4 cm and weight 45.1 kg, were examined with determinations of maximal oxygen uptake (1.85 1×min^-1), heart volume (499 ml) and total hemoglobin (391 g). Cardiac output was determined at rest and during exercise, including maximal exercise, using the dye-dilution technique and i.a. pressures were recorded. Cardiac output was approximately 2 1×min^-1 lower and the systemic a-v oxygen difference (AVD) was correspondingly higher than for young adult men at the same sub-maximal oxygen uptake. At maximal exercise cardiac output was 12.5 1×min^-1, stroke volume 67 ml, AVD 14.2 ml × 100 ml^-1, systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure 160, 71 and 105 mm Hg respectively and total peripheral resistance 8.6 mm Hg×1–¹×min. After a training period of 4 months a normal increase in height was found in all boys, but body weight was unchanged. Maximal oxygen uptake increased to 2.21 1×min^-1 (p < 0.01), almost entirely due to increased stroke volume (80 ml), resulting in a maximal cardiac output of 14.6 1×min^-1. No significant increase in AVD was found. Mean blood pressure at maximal exercise increased significantly, total peripheral resistance was unchanged. Both heart volume and total hemoglobin showed minor increases, but the changes found were not significantly larger than expected from body growth. The hemoglobin concentration was normal (13 g%) for the age and unaffected by training.