Isokinetic analysis of the elbow joint in children with cerebral palsy

The joint torque is an important variable related to children with cerebral palsy. The present study analyzed kinetic parameters during elbow flexion and extension movements in healthy and cerebral palsy children. Ten healthy and 10 cerebral palsy children participated of the study. An isokinetic dynamometer was used to measure the elbow mean peak torque, mean angle peak torque, coefficient of variation and acceleration during flexion and extension movements at different angular speeds. The mean peak torque on extension movement in healthy children group was significant higher compared to the cerebral palsy group. The coefficient of variation on both flexion and extension movements was significantly higher in cerebral palsy group. However there were significantly difference on both groups compared the lowest and highest velocities. Although the results showed no difference in flexor peak torque, the acceleration is significantly lower in lowest and highest angular velocity.

Efeitos da informação comportamental na dinâmica intrínseca do controle postural

Esse estudo teve como objetivo examinar possíveis alterações na dinâmica intrínseca de crianças e adultos decorrentes de informações externas na realização de uma tarefa de manutenção da postura ereta. Participaram do estudo dez crianças de 8 anos de idade e dez adultos jovens de ambos os gêneros. Eles permaneceram na posição ereta dentro de uma sala móvel que foi movimentada continuamente para frente e para trás. Os participantes recebiam informação sobre o movimento da sala e eram solicitados a não oscilar ou a oscilar junto com o movimento da mesma. Os resultados mostraram que a manipulação da informação visual induziu oscilação corporal correspondente (dinâmica intrínseca) em crianças e adultos. Informação sobre o movimento da sala e solicitação de uma ação (informação comportamental) alteraram o relacionamento entre informação visual e oscilação corporal. Crianças apresentaram mais dificuldades em alterar a dinâmica intrínseca do que adultos, indicando que elas são mais dependentes da dinâmica intrínseca do que adultos. Esses resultados trazem implicações importantes para a situação de ensino-aprendizagem, pois indica que aprendizagem envolvendo crianças deve ser estruturada propiciando condições mais favoráveis para alterações na dinâmica intrínseca para que os objetivos da mesma sejam alcançados.

Efeito agudo dos exercícios de flexibilidade no desempenho de força máxima e resistência de força de membros inferiores e superiores

This study investigated the acute effect of static stretching exercises (SSE) on maximum strength (MS) and strength endurance (SE) performance in lower and upper limbs. Thirteen volunteers participated in the study and were submitted to MS and SE (70% 1RM) tests in the bench press and squat exercises with or without SSE. The paired T test showed that the SSE decreased MS in the squat (141.2 +/- 34.2 vs 132 +/- 34.9kg, p=0.007) and in the BP (77.5 +/- 21.7 vs 71.7 +/- 17.7kg p=0.04). Squat SE was not affected by SSE (16.2 +/- 5.7 vs 16.3 +/- 6.8 repetitions p=0.48). On the other hand, bench press SE decreased significantly after SSE (11.7 +/- 4.8 vs 9.9 +/- 5.1 repetitions p=0.008). Therefore, SSE impaired MS performance on upper and lower limbs but SE was affected only on upper limbs. This difference in SE may be related to the stretching exercises volume applied to the size of each muscle group.

The education of the body for an "integral soldier", "physically strong, intelligent and soul superior"

This study examines the paramilitary training carried out by the Integralist Militia (Militia Integralista), unit of the Brazilian Integralist Action (Acao Integralista Brasileira, AIB) of the extreme right wing political party in Brazil in the 1930s. The training was aimed to create the "integral soldier", a "physically strong, intelligent and soul superior" one. The study analyzes issues of the newspaper "Monitor Integralista", a prescriptive and dogmatic journal of the movement, found in the Public and History Archives of the city of Rio Claro, State of Sao Paulo, and in the "A Offensiva" newspaper, microfilmed an archived at the National Library of Rio de Janeiro. It concludes that Plinio Salgado's goal, the National Head of the AIB, was to train, by using verbal persuasion, speeches, word of mouth and by vote, by force and physical combat, the integralists to defend the causes of the movement.

Development and validation of an instrument to assess movement quality of the basketball free throw shooting

When a physical activity professional is teaching a motor skill, he evaluates the movement's learner and considers which interventions could be done at the moment. However, many times the instructor does not have such resources which could help him/her to evaluate the learner movement. The skill acquisition process could be facilitated if instructors could have an instrument that identifies errors, prioritizing information to be given to the learner. Considering that the specialized literature presents a lack of information about such tool, the purpose of this study was to develop, and to determine the objectivity and reliability of an instrument to assess the movement quality of the basketball free throw shooting. The checklist was developed and evaluated by basketball experts. Additionally, the checklist was used to assess 10 trials (edited video) from four individuals in different learning stages. Data were organized by the critical error and the error sum appointed by the experts in two different occasions (one week interval). Contrasting both evaluations, and also, contrasting different experts assessments, in sum and critical error, it was observed an average error of 16.9%. It was concluded that the checklist to assess the basketball free throw is reliable, and could help instructors to make a qualitative analysis. Moreover, the checklist may allow instructors to make assumptions on the motor learning process.

Do children with motor difficulties show low levels of physical fitness?

The aim of the present study was to examine whether children with motor difficulties would show levels of health-related components of physical fitness lower than children without such difficulties. Sixteen children with motor difficulties with approximately 8 years of age were age-and gender-matched with other 16 children without motor difficulties. Participants completed the test batteries for physical fitness (seat and reach, standing long jump, sit-up, modified pull-up and 9-minute run) and for motor coordination (MABC-2). The results indicated significant differences in standing long jump, sit-up, modified pull-up tests, but not for the seat and reach and the 9-minute run tests. Overall, the results are similar to those published in the international literature, with the exception of cardiorespiratory fitness. The idea that at to some degree coordination is required to perform physical fitness tasks and might impact on physical fitness performance is further discussed in the present work.

Instrução verbal: solicitar foco de atenção não garante sua adoção e melhor desempenho

The purposes of this study were to investigate a) the effect of redundant and non-redundant instruction on external focus of attention adoption, b) the effect of adopting an external focus of attention on performance in a front crawl swimming task, and c) the effect of redundancy in the wording of a verbal instruction on the above variables. 43 college students (m/f) aged 17 to 46 swam 25 m crawl at maximum speed, once under each of three conditions: without focus instruction (SF), following a focus instruction (CF) and a redundant focus instruction (CFR), in counterbalanced order. For focus adoption control, after completing the task participants were asked about what they had focused on while swimming. As a measure of performance, time and number of strokes were taken and the stroke index was calculated. The results showed that under redundant focus instruction (CFR) condition, 42 % failed to adopt the attentional focus as asked, and following focus (CF) instruction, 23 %. Under CF condition, the frequency of participants that adopted the focus was higher than of those who did not. Performance did not differ significantly among the three conditions (p>0,05). These findings stress the need of manipulation checks in attentional focus research, regarding both performance and motor learning efficiency, as well as the need for further investigation into the relation between instruction extension and performance.

Processo de formação de tenistas talentosos

O objetivo do presente estudo foi obter informações a respeito do processo de formação de tenistas talentosos e os consequentes fatores que contribuíram para o alcance do profissionalismo. Para tanto, se utilizou uma amostra de cinco tenistas brasileiros profissionais, caracterizados por terem pontos na ATP (Associação dos Tenistas Profissionais). A pesquisa foi constituída através de um delineamento qualitativo, que utilizou como instrumento uma entrevista composta por três perguntas abertas, elaboradas para explorar o contexto de formação do talento. Para a análise dos resultados foi utilizado o “Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo”. De acordo com os resultados, pode-se observar a importância que os professores tiveram no desenvolvimento destes tenistas talentosos, tanto na iniciação como no treinamento. No que se diz respeito ao planejamento dos treinos, o presente estudo demonstra a falta de profissionalismo nas fases iniciais do processo de formação, e a posterior preocupação apenas quando este atleta demonstra possuir algum potencial para seguir carreira profissional.

Influence of obesity and handgrip strength in the static postural balance of active older women

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of the obesity and handgrip strength on the static balance of active older women in the opened and closed eyes conditions. Thirty one women aged from 65 to 75 years (16 eutrophic and 15 obese) were evaluated. Mean age and BMI of the eutrophic women were, respectively, 68.3 +/- 2.7 years and 23.4 +/- 1.6kg/m(2), and of the obese women were 69.1 +/- 2.7 years and 33.5 +/- 3kg/m(2). Handgrip strength was evaluated using a dynamometer (JAMAR). A tridimensional sensors system was used to evaluate the static postural balance. The tests were performed for 90 seconds, with eyes opened and closed. The mean handgrip strength of the eutrophic women was 25.1 +/- 4.6kgf and of the obese women was 24.8 +/- 5.2kgf, (p>0,05). Significant differences between groups were only observed in the maximum displacement with opened eyes (p=0,04) and closed eyes(p<0,01). There was no correlation between the maximum displacement neither with the BMI or the handgrip strength. The present study showed smaller a-p displacement in obese than in eutrophic women, with major statistic difference in the eyes closed condition. In the present study, the handgrip strength did not influence the static balance, however the obesity was a determinant factor for the smaller a-p displacement of the active older women.

Efeitos do conhecimento de resultados autocontrolado na aprendizagem motora

O objetivo do presente estudo foi analisar três diferentes estratégias de fornecer conhecimento de resultados (CR): autocontrolado, yoked pareado por tentativa e yoked pareado pela frequência média total de CR, na prática aleatória. A amostra foi constituída por 45 voluntários universitários, distribuídos em três grupos (n= 15 sujeitos). A tarefa consistiu em pressionar as teclas 2, 4, 8 e 6 do teclado numérico de um computador, em três diferentes tempos alvo (700, 900 e 1100 ms), praticados aleatoriamente. O experimento constou de fase de aquisição e testes de retenção e transferência atrasados. A análise dos dados foi realizada por meio da ANOVA e não foi constatada diferença significativa entre os grupos. Os resultados demonstraram que não houve efeito das frequências autocontroladas para a aprendizagem motora quando se utiliza a prática aleatória. Além disso, uma nova possibilidade de parear o grupo autocontrolado foi apresentada.

Strength training with and without a vibration platform is capable to modulate heart rate variability?

The current research compared resting heart rate variability (VFC) before and after 10 weeks of strength training in groups that used and did not use a vibration platform. Seventeen healthy men were divided into conventional strength training (TF) or strength training using a vibration platform with a frequency of 30 Hz (TF+V30) training groups. One repetition maximum load (1-RM) on half squat exercise and VFC measurements were determined pre- and post-training program. Both groups had improved 1-RM load after the program (15.1% in TF group and 16.4% in TF+V30 group), although this increase was changed in the same extent for the two groups and there was no difference in 1-RM load between groups pre- and post-training program. No significant difference was observed in resting VFC measurements between groups pre and post-training program, however the magnitude of the effect size was moderated (ES = 0.50-0.80) for some variables (R-R interval, standard deviation of all R-R interval - SDNN, RMSSD, log-transformed of low frequency - InLF, and log-transformed of high frequency - InHF) in TF+V30 group. It was concluded that 10 weeks of strength training program with or without the vibration platform provided similar increase in 1-RM load in both groups, and although some evidences in this study indicate that vibration can increase vagal activity analyzed by ES, in neither groups the strength training was able to change VFC significantly.

Análise da reprodutibilidade de parâmetros no domínio da frequência do sinal EMG utilizados na caracterização da fadiga muscular localizada

O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a reprodutibilidade de parâmetros no domínio da frequência do sinal eletromiográfico (EMG) utilizados na caracterização da fadiga muscular localizada. Quinze sujeitos do sexo masculino foram submetidos a um teste de fadiga baseado na extensão isométrica de joelho, sendo realizados em três momentos distintos com intervalos de sete dias. Para avaliar a reprodutibilidade dos dados entres os testes calculou-se o coeficiente de correlação intraclasse (CCI) para a frequência mediana (Fmed) no tempo total de exercício (FmedT), para a Fmed obtida a cada 10% do tempo de exercício (Fmed10%) e para as potências das bandas de frequência, obtidas da divisão do espectro de potência a cada 20 Hz. Os resultados demonstraram: (1) boa reprodutibilidade para a FmedT; (2) boa reprodutibilidade para a Fmed10%; e (3) maior variação no sinal EMG nas bandas de 20 a 120 Hz, no qual se destacam as bandas de 20-40 Hz e de 40-60 Hz, demonstrando maior sensibilidade ao processo de fadiga muscular. Conclui-se que a Fmed é uma variável que apresenta boa reprodutibilidade e que a análise fragmentada do espectro de potência, por meio das bandas de frequência, demonstrou-se sensível as variações que ocorrem no sinal EMG durante a instalação do processo de fadiga, tendo potencial para se tornar um novo método para a caracterização da fadiga muscular localizada.

Centre of excellence for women artistic gymnastics: The Brazilian coaches' perspective

During the period of 2001 and 2008, the Brazilian Gymnastics Confederation implemented the gymnasts training boarding center system at the Curitiba Training Center (TC). Using the former Soviet Union model of sports boarding schools, the Brazilian gymnasts started to train together under the supervision of a technical team led by a renowned foreign coach. This article aims to discuss the context of the TC and the system of centralized preparation of the Brazilian women artistic gymnastics (WAG) showing the point of view of the coaches. We conducted a field survey and we interviewed 34 coaches of 29 sport institutions. Among the positive aspects, the coaches reported about the better infrastructure available to the gymnasts. The negative aspects refer to the problems regarding rigorous training, the polarization and the consequent monopolization of athletes showing lack of adaptation of the Soviet model to the WAG characteristics developed in Brazil.

Competitive artistic gymnastics and coaches' philosophy

The current study is a piece from the original project entitled "Diagnosis of the Artistic Gymnastics Development Program in Brazil". Among others issues, the coaching philosophy of coaches who are developing gymnasts that may be representative of the national team was a matter of analysis. We interviewed 46 coaches from 29 sports institutions in Brazil. As data collection we used a semi-structured interview and for data treatment we adopted the content analysis method of Bardin (2010). We have found out that there is an inconsistent philosophical basis, and in many institutions this has been mixed up with the objectives of the training program or just doesn't exist. This fact needs consideration and criticism, but we know that the coaching philosophy is not developed during the coaching education courses.