###### Abstract  
This paper shows the results of a preliminary study on the performance of new methods based on ultrasonic images parametrization, to estimate the arterial wall movements used for the evaluation of arterial stiffness, considered to be a predictor of cardiovascular events. The well-known technique of motion tracking in ultrasound image sequences was applied on cine loops scanned from subjects with different risks of suffering from cardiovascular disease (CVD). The motion of arterial walls was traced using displacement signals: Diameter, intima-media thickness (IMT) and longitudinal intima-media (IM) complex movement. The new methods used for the parametrization of the displacement signals were the average value (AV), effective or root mean square (RMS) value, and peak-to-peak motion amplitude estimate. A total of 79 subjects were analyzed in the study with 30 considered at low risk and 49 included in a preventive program for monitoring high CVD risk subjects. The results show a statistically significant difference between healthy volunteers and at-risk patients according to the AV of IMT, RMS values of longitudinal and radial motions and peak-to-peak amplitude of radial motion. common carotid artery; arterial wall motion; intima-media complex longitudinal motion; quantitative parametrization 2019 9 465 [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [  
complications start: Thickening of the intima-media complex, narrowing of the arterial lumen or its thrombosis, and/or loss of elasticity [4]. There are many risk factors that assist in the development of CVDs, which can be classified into two groups: Non-modifiable risk factors and modifiable risk factors. The first group's factors cannot be changed, and they are age, gender, family history, and race. The second group of factors can be changed or treated, and they include smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, physical inactivity, overweight, high blood cholesterol, etc. [5]  
An independent predictor of cardiovascular events is arterial stiffness. This parameter is generally analyzed to assess cardiovascular risk [5; 6; 7]. In clinical practice, the most commonly used risk markers for arterial stiffness evaluation are IMT, pulse wave velocity (PWV), and cross-sectional distensibility (CSD) [8; 9; 10; 11]. Unfortunately, the clinical potential of these traditional risk markers as a screening test remains limited [12]. The risk of CVDs in patients under the age of 50 is difficult to evaluate, especially in the absence of specific individual CVDs risk factors or anamnesis. Therefore, it is difficult to assess the likelihood of developing a disease, and if so, to start drug treatment [5]. Nonetheless, it has been proven that significant anatomical changes (i.e., IMT) of the arterial wall appear much later than mechanical changes (i.e., longitudinal and radial motion of the arterial wall) [3]. Radial motion is a parameter describing the mechanical properties of the arterial walls, and it has been widely studied in recent years, becoming an informative non-invasive parameter that helps to investigate cardiovascular diseases and to determine the elasticity of arterial walls. Unlike the radial motion of the arterial wall, the longitudinal motion has not received such recognition. It was believed that the longitudinal motion during the heart cycle was negligible compared with the radial motion. However, using modern ultrasound scanners, it has been noticed that the innermost and middle layers of the large arteries (i.e., intima-media complex) during the heart cycle move not only in radial, but also in a longitudinal direction [13; 14]. It has also been observed that the longitudinal motion of the arterial wall has the same amplitude as the radial motion and reaches about one millimeter [15]. In addition, clinical studies demonstrated the correlation of common carotid artery (CCA) longitudinal motion with risk factors and CVDs [16; 17].