Impact Of Static And Dynamic Sports On Abnormal Blood Pressure Prevalence In Adolescent Athletes

Hypertension (HTN) is a significant public health issue, affecting nearly half of U.S. adults and 4.2% of U.S. adolescents. Physical activity is usually seen as protective against HTN, with endurance sports such as running associated with increased cardiovascular health. However, high-intensity, static-demand sports like weightlifting and rugby which require substantial intra-abdominal pressure, may elevate blood pressure. Studies suggest that adult athletes in such sports experience increased intimal thickness and concentric heart hypertrophy in response to high blood pressure. Conversely, dynamic sports, characterized by repetitive muscle movement with lower intramuscular force, such as distance running, significantly improve cardiovascular health, including decreased peripheral resistance and diastolic pressure. PURPOSE: To examine the correlation between elevated blood pressure and the type of sports adolescent athletes participate in, categorized by static and dynamic physical demands. METHODS: In this study, a binomial logistic regression model was used to assess the effects of static and dynamic demand on blood pressure screening outcomes among adolescent athletes. RESULTS: 7,127 athletes underwent blood pressure screening as part of pre-participation evaluation. If the athlete screened high initially, the blood pressure was repeated up to three times and a determination of elevated blood pressure made if the final reading remained elevated. The regression model including static and dynamic sport demand was statistically significant (X2 = 144.54, p < .0001) and explained 3.2% of the variance in blood pressure (Nagelkerke R2). High static demand athletes had 1.6 times higher odds ratio to have an abnormal blood pressure screening, concerning for HTN. Conversely, high dynamic demand sports were associated with a lower likelihood of abnormal blood pressure (odds ratio = 0.75). CONCLUSION: These results show the need for targeted cardiovascular screening in adolescent athletes, particularly those in high static-demand sports. Since adolescent athletes are generally considered low-risk, HTN is often unnoticed. Recognizing the specific cardiovascular demands of different sports can help athletes make informed exercise decisions supporting their long-term health.