Influence of creatine supplementation on indicators of glucose metabolism in skeletal muscle of exercised rats

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Concordance between Stages of Behavior Change Questionnaire and IPAQ

A low rate of physical activity (PA) participation is observed worldwide. The identification of feasible and reliable instruments able to accurately measuring PA and help in the development of interventions to promote PA are necessary. This study aimed to analyze the concordance between the Stages of Behavior Change Questionnaire (SBCQ) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ long-version) in assessing adult leisure-time physical activity (LTPA). A total of 1.588 adults completed the IPAQ to assess LTPA and the participants who performed more than 10 min/week were classified in active individuals. Using the SBCQ, active individuals were those classified in the action or maintenance stage and inactive individuals were those classified in the precontemplation, contemplation or preparation stage. The concordance between SBCQ and IPAQ was found to be 0.80. Separated by gender, it was observed a concordance between the two instruments of 0.82 for women, and 0.77 for men. Regarding age group, it was found to be 0.81 for young and middle-aged adults, and 0.77 for older people. The SBCQ presented a very good concordance with IPAQ to assess LTPA.

Integrated analysis environment for the Movement Assessment Battery for Children

Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), a chronic and usually permanent condition found in children, is characterized by motor impairment that interferes with a child's activities of daily living and with academic achievement. One of the most popular tests for the quantitative diagnosis of DCD is the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC). Based on the Battery's standardized scores, it is possible to identify children with typical development, children at risk of developing DCD, and children with DCD. This article describes a computational system we developed to assist with the analysis of results obtained in the MABC test. The tool was developed for the web environment and its database provides integration of MABC data. Thus, researchers around the world can share data and develop collaborative work in the DCD field. In order to help analysis processes, our system provides services for filtering data to show more specific sets of information and present the results in textual, table, and graphic formats, allowing easier and more comprehensive evaluation of the results.

Ensuring quality in qualitative inquiry: Using key concepts as guidelines

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effect of different exercise programs on the psychological and cognitive functions of people with Parkinson's disease

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of different exercise programs on the psychological and cognitive functions in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Forty-five patients with PD participated in the study. The participants were randomized in three intervention programs: Group-1 (n=15, cognitive-activities), Group-2 (n=15, multimodal exercise) and Group-3 (n=15, exercises for posture and gait). The clinical, psychological and cognitive functions were assessed before and after 4 months of intervention. Univariate analysis did not reveal significant interactions between groups and time (p>0.05). However, univariate analysis for time revealed differences in stress level and memory. Participants showed less physical stress (p<0.01) and overall stress (p < 0.04) and higher performance in episodic declarative memory (p < 0.001) after exercise. These findings suggest that group work with motor or non-motor activities can improve cognitive and psychological functions of patients with PD.

Parkinson's disease severity and motor subtype influence physical capacity components

The severity of Parkinson's disease (PD) and PD's motor subtypes influence the components of physical capacity. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of both PD severity and motor subtype in the performance of these components. Thirty-six PD patients were assigned into four groups: Tremor (TD) initial and TD mild, akinetic-rigid (AR) initial, and AR mild. Patients' strength, balance, coordination, mobility and aerobic capacity were evaluated and groups were compared using a two-way ANOVA (severity and subtype as factors). AR presents a poorer performance than TD in almost all tests. Also this performance was worsened with the advance of the disease in AR, contrary to TD. We conclude that AR and TD subgroups are different about their performance on physical capacity components, moreover, this performance worsens with the advance of the disease of the AR group, but not for TD.

Effects of saccadic eye movements on postural control stabilization

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Lower limb muscle coactivation levels in healthy younger and older adults during functional dual-task gait

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of daily cognitive task on stiffness of old and young female adults during the gait. The study included 17 physically active younger and 18 older women, with low risk of falls. The volunteers were asked to walk on the treadmill at two different gait conditions: normal gait and functional dual-task gait. The electromyographic signals were collected of the lower limb muscles. The percentage of coactivation for the tibialis anterior/gastrocnemius lateralis and tibialis anterior/soleus were significantly higher in elderly than in younger in the normal gait and dual-task gait. Our results suggest that the elderly have a greater stiffness in the ankle joint during gait normal and daily dual task gait. Thus, we conclude that challenging cognitively situations during the gait may increase the risk of falls in this population.

Monitoring muscle damage markers during a four-week downhill walking exercise program

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Cinética do VO2 durante o exercício realizado na potência crítica em ciclistas e indivíduos não-treinados no ciclismo

The objective was to analyze the oxygen uptake (VO2) kinetics during exercise performed at critical power (CP) in subjects with different aerobic status in cycling. Six trained cyclists (GT) and seven non-trained subjects (GNT) underwent to the following protocols in cyclergometer: (a) incremental to exhaustion to determine VO2max and its respective workload (IVO(2)max); b) three square-wave tests to exhaustion at 95-110% IVO2max to determine CP, and; (c) one square-wave test to exhaustion at 100% CP. During the exercise at CP the slow component expressed as absolute value (GT: 342.4 +/- 165.8 ml.min(-1) vs. GNT: 571.3 +/- 170.1 ml.min(-1)) and as the relative contribution to the increase of VO2 during exercise (GT: 10.0 +/- 4.6% vs. GNT: 26.6 +/- 7.3%) were lower for trained subjects. The VO2 at the end of the exercise at PC (GT: 89.8 +/- 8.4% VO(2)max vs. GNT: 97.4 +/- 2.8% VO(2)max) was significantly lower in GT (rho = 0.045), and similar to VO(2)max in GNT. Therefore, the aerobic level might influence the VO2 responses to exercise at PC

Atividades de aventura e educação ambiental como foco nos periódicos da área de Educação Física

This qualitative study aimed at analyzing the articles that deal with different approaches and methodological strategies linking the themes of adventure activities and environmental education in journals of Physical Education area. An exploratory research was conducted in journals with A concept in 2011 WebQualis CAPES platform. The results show that this relationship is few explored in the area and the studies emphasize only some aspects, requiring therefore new approaches.

Efeito das cargas de treinamento sobre parâmetros fisiológicos de futebolistas

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of three weeks of training with intensity monitored on the aerobic capacity of professional soccer players. Fourteen players, members of a first division Brazilian Championship team in 2010, aged 22.78 +/- 3.06 years were evaluated pre and post three weeks of training. The anaerobic threshold intensity LAn was determined by bi-segmented method, for this four submaximal efforts of 800 meters with intensities 10, 12, 14 and 16 km/h were applied. Thirty three training sessions were quantified in zones according to heart rate related to the LAn (FCLAn): Z1 - 10% below, Z2 - 90-100% and Z3 - above the FCLAn. During training participants remained 31.17 +/- 14.86%, 42.96% and 25.87 +/- 14.90 +/- 16.67% in Z1, Z2, and Z3 respectively. There were no significant differences in the LAn (pre = 13,29 +/- 0,71 km.h(-1); post = 12,85 +/- 0,90 km.h(-1)), perceived exertion (pre = 11,53 +/- 1,45 u.a; post = 11,23 +/- 1,53 u.a) and FCLAn (pre = 166,64 +/- 10,69 bpm; post = 174,50 +/- 10,89 bpm) between conditions before and after training, indicating that three weeks of training are insufficient to generate positive changes in soccer players LAn.

Concurrent training effect on muscle fibers in Wistar rats

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Correlações entre parâmetros aeróbios e desempenho em esforços intermitentes de alta intensidade

The purpose of the study was to examine the relationships between intermittent high-intensity efforts (RAST) parameters and variables related to aerobic metabolism (anaerobic threshold; LAN, maximal oxygen uptake; VO2MAX and velocity correspondent to VO2MAX; iVO(2MAX)). Eight under-17 (U17) soccer players (16 +/- 1 years) participated in the study. The participants were submitted to a graded exercise test and six maximal sprints of 35m with 10 seconds of passive recovery between each effort (RAST). The RAST parameters were not significant correlated with VO2MAX and LAN. However absolute and relative mean power were significantly correlated with iVO(2MAX) (r=0.79 e r=0.85, respectively). Furthermore, the fatigue index and the relative peak power were significantly correlated with the iVO(2MAX) (r=-0,57 e r=0,73, respectively). In conclusion, the only aerobic variable correlated with performance in consecutive efforts with brief recovery periods, such as RAST, is iVO(2MAX).

Cogeração de energia com motores de combustão interna

The tertiary sector is largely responsible for the growth of electricity consumption in Brazil. The large commercial and public buildings, hypermarkets and shopping centers stand out as major consumers of electricity for lighting, power and thermal energy. Brazil presents significant potential for the deployment of small cogeneration plants, especially in the tertiary sector. Allied to this, the possibility of natural gas supply and the growing demands in favor of maintaining and preserving the environment favor the implementation of cogeneration plants. In this context, this paper presents a technical and economic analysis of installing a cogeneration plant using internal combustion engine with natural gas in a mall