Comparação de diferentes tipos de exercício na composição corporal e força em jovens desportistas do sexo feminino

O estudo pretende comparar o efeito de diferentes tipos de exercício físico na composição corporal e força em jovens desportistas do sexo feminino. A amostra foi constituída por vinte e seis desportistas femininas com idades compreendidas entre os 16 e 21 anos. Previamente ao início do estudo foram sujeitas ao 1º momento de avaliação, e após vinte e quatro semanas realizaram o segundo e ultimo momento de avaliação. Os parâmetros avaliados foram a composição corporal através da técnica de absorciometria radiológica de dupla energia; a força isocinética, nomeadamente os momentos de força (peak-torques) e rácios nos músculos extensores e flexores do joelho; a potência muscular nos membros inferiores através dos saltos verticais Squat jump e Countermovement jump. Posteriormente foram separadas em quatro grupos, grupo natação e exercício vibratório (NAT EV; n= 6), grupo natação (NAT; n=6), grupo futsal (FUTS; n= 6) e o grupo de controlo (CONT; n= 8). O grupo (NAT/EV), participou num programa de exercício vibratório (EV), três sessões por semana complementar ao treino de natação. O grupo de (NAT) cumpriu o plano de treino correspondente à disciplina, o grupo de (FUTS) cumpriu o treino referente à respetiva modalidade, o grupo controlo (CONT) realizou somente os exercícios físicos inerentes às aulas de educação física na escola. Resultados: Nas comparações inter grupos, verificou-se no grupo FUTS um aumento de 0,1 (g/m2) ± 0,0 nos valores da DMO-PE, quando comparado com o grupo de CONT, nas comparações intra grupo o grupo de NAT EV registou um acréscimo de 0,1 (g/m2) ± 0,1 nos valores da DMO-TC. Em conclusão, os resultados obtidos sugerem que a modalidade de FUTS promoveu mais alterações na composição corporal, nomeadamente na DMO-PE, no entanto dados conseguidos pelo grupo de NAT EV sugerem que o exercício vibratório poderá influenciar positivamente o incremento da DMO; ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to compare the effect of different types of exercise on body composition and strength in young female athletes. The sample consisted of twenty-six female athletes aged between 16 and 21. Before the study there was a 1st evaluation point, after twenty-four weeks there was the 2nd and final evaluation. We evaluated body composition through x-ray absorptiometry technique of dual energy, isokinetic strength, including the peak-torques and ratios in the extensor and flexor muscles of the knee; the muscle power in the lower limbs was evaluatated through the vertical jumps Squat jump and countermovement jump. During the study they were separated into four groups, swimming exercise group and vibration (NAT EV; n = 6), swimming group (NAT; n= 6), footsal group (FUTS; n= 6) and control group (CONT; n= 8). The NAT/EV group, participated in a vibrating exercise program (EV), complementary to swimming training, with three sessions per week. The NAT group fulfilled the corresponding swimming workout plan, FUTS group fulfilled the training related to futsal, the CONT group only performed the usual exercises in physical education classes at school. Results: In intergroup comparisons, there was an increase in FUTS group of 0.1 (g / m2) ± 0.0 in the values of MBD-PE, when compared with the CONT group comparisons in intra-group group NAT EV increased by 0.1 (g / m2) ± 0.1 in BMD-TC values. In conclusion, the results suggest that FUTS group promoted more changes in body composition, particularly in BMD-PE, but data obtained by NAT EV group suggest that vibration exercise can positively influence the increase in BMD.

Assessing the conservation status of Mediterranean temporary ponds using biodiversity: a new tool for practitioners

The assessment of the habitat condition is the first step of conservation actions and several tools are available to assess wetlands. However, only a few tools are adapted to the priority habitat Mediterranean temporary ponds. Thus, our objectives were (i) to identify biological indicators associated with the different conservation status of Mediterranean tem- porary ponds and (ii) to create an efficient evaluation tool for non-experts using indicators of conservation status. A total of 87 ponds were sampled in southwest Portugal to assess the presence of plants, large branchiopods, amphibians, threatened voles and bats. Ponds with favourable conservation status showed higher species richness of plants, large branchiopods and amphibians. We identified eighteen indicators for favourable ponds: 15 plants, one large branchiopod and two amphibian taxa. We propose a new tool to assess the conservation status of Mediterranean tem- porary ponds based on the presence of these indicators. This tool is an alternative to other common, but time- consuming, methods and can be readily used by trained practitioners. The replication and adaptation of this tool to other regions and habitats enables the collection of comparable data and the geographical scaling-up of the assessments.