Adriana Coutinho de Azevedo Guimarães

Influence of habitual physical activity on the symptoms of climacterium/menopause and the quality of life of middle-aged women

Aim: To analyze the influence of the duration of habitual physical activity (PA) on the symptoms of climacterium/menopause and on several domains of the health-related quality of life (QOL) in middle-aged women. Methods: One hundred and four 45- to 59-year-old women were placed into three groups: group A, subjects who maintained PA less than 30 minutes/day; group B, subjects who maintained or began to perform PA 30–60 minutes/day; and group C, subjects who maintained or increased PA to more than 60 minutes/day. Symptoms of menopause, QOL (physical, psychological, and social), and PA were assessed through the Kupperman Menopausal Index, World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version questionnaire, and International Physical Activity Questionnaire, respectively. Results: The analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) results, adjusted for age, initial body mass index, schooling years, hormonal replacement therapy, and the number of diseases, indicated that the women who maintained or increased their total habitual PA to more than 60 minutes/day had reduced symptoms of climacterium/menopause (–5.4 ± 0.5; P = 0.001) and improved QOL in the psychological (4.4% ± 0.8%; P = 0.001) and social domains (2.0% ± 0.9%; P = 0.035). ANCOVA revealed a further improvement of approximately 5% in the psychological domain of QOL in group C, who also experienced decreased menopause symptoms (P = 0.001) and lost weight (P = 0.009). Conclusion: The habitual practice of at least moderate-intensity PA for 60 minutes/day has a favorable effect on climacterium/menopause symptoms and on QOL, particularly on its psychological and social domains. The influence of habitual PA at the psychological level seems to be at least partially associated with a decrease in menopause symptoms and/or weight loss.

Excesso de peso e obesidade em escolares: associação com fatores biopsicológicos, socioeconômicos e comportamentais

OBJECTIVE To verify the association between the behavioral, biopsychological, and socioeconomic factors in overweight and obese students. SUBJECTS AND METHODS The sample involved 393 students from state and private schools in Florianópolis/SC, mean age of 9.9 ± 1.7, with 41% male subjects. A questionnaire adapted from Oliveira e cols. was applied in the interview; anthropometric information (body mass and height) was used to calculate the BMI, and individuals were classified in overweight and obese according to Conde and Monteiro. RESULTS As for the distribution of obesity and overweight by gender, girls showed a similar degree, while among boys, overweight individuals represented 77% of the sample. There were associations between female gender, economic status, ethnicity, school, and type of food with p ranging from < 0.001 to 0.003. CONCLUSION It was found that the behavioral, biopsychological, and socioeconomic factors seem to interfere with overweight and obesity in students of Florianópolis.

Validação da versão em português do Inventário de Depressão Maior

OBJETIVO: Validar, adaptar e aferir a fidedignidade do Inventario de Depressao Maior (Major Depression Inventory - MDI) para a lingua portuguesa. METODOS: O questionario passou pelo processo de adaptacao transcultural. Foi realizado um pre-teste para avaliar sua aplicabilidade. Para avaliacao de reprodutibilidade, utilizou-se medida repetida com intervalo de 1 a 2 semanas e coeficiente de correlacao intraclasse. O MDI e a escala de Hamilton foram aplicados em 30 pacientes com diagnostico de depressao, que foram pareados com 90 controles aos quais foi aplicado o MDI. A curva ROC foi realizada com 120 pacientes e escore final do MDI. Para analise da validade interna, utilizou-se o alfa de Cronbach. RESULTADOS: Sensibilidade e especificidade foram 0,86 e 0,75, respectivamente, com escores 16/17. O alfa de Cronbach para a escala total foi 0,91. O coeficiente de Pearson entre o total do MDI e o total da escala de depressao de Hamilton foi 0,56. A analise fatorial revelou dois fatores: o primeiro explicava 53,9% da variacao enquanto o segundo explicava somente 13,6%. A confiabilidade teste-reteste foi excelente (com coeficiente de correlacao intraclasse variando de 0,50 e 0,93 para itens individuais e 0,90 para o escore total). CONCLUSAO: As propriedades psicometricas do MDI se mostraram adequadas para aplicacao na populacao brasileira, entretanto outros estudos se fazem necessarios.

Qualidade de vida e estresse ocupacional em estudantes de medicina

The medical internship can lead to occupational stress, which affects the physical and mental health of students and may affect their quality of life. The cross-sectional study aimed to analyze the quality of life and occupational stress in medicine students enrolled in the final year of medical internship. The convenience sample consisted of 302 students with a mean age of 25.3 ± 2.4 years from public and private universities of Santa Catarina, which responded to a self-administered questionnaire. Through descriptive and inferential statistics, it was found that the average score for quality of life of those students was much higher than the average score of occupational stress, and 80% of women had high scores (80.7%) in the social domain of quality of life. In the analysis of occupational stress, the stress level was higher in men (43.7%), concerning the control demand (authority over decisions) with 6.1%, with no significant difference in scores for quality of life and occupational stress among the sexes. In conclusion, the students achieved a very high score for quality of life, although they are subjected to high levels of stress.

The effect of Pilates method on elderly flexibility

Introduction Pilates as physical exercise practice brings countless benefits, such as improvement of motor aptitudes and skills.Objective To look into the effect of the Pilates method on the hip and shoulder girdle flexibility levels in the elderly.Methods Experimental study composed of 30 elderly subjects of the control group and 30 of the Pilates group within a 12 week training time. A form was used to characterize the sample and to assess hip flexibility and shoulder girdle. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used, under a significance level of p < 0.05.Results On hip flexibility, the 30 elderly individuals from the control group remained under normal and inferior classification, not presenting any differences between the variables (p = 0.180) from the pretest to the retest. In the intervention group, 60% of the elderly subjects were assessed as normal. In the retest, such percentage increased to 66.7%. In the pretest, 10% of the elderly subjects were given the superior classification, and in the retest, it increased to 33%, not presenting significance between the variables (p = 0.180). On shoulder flexibility in the intervention group, 63% of the elderly subjects were graded as normal, and 17% as superior. In the shoulder retest the number of elderly individuals decreased to 47% in the normal classification, and increased to 33% in the superior classification, presenting a significant difference (p = 0.001).Conclusion The elderly subjects who did not take part into the Pilates method presented a lower flexibility degree, considering that, the latter reduces in aging. As a preventive way of improving such limitation, the practice of the Pilates method is suggested.

Atividade física habitual e qualidade de vida de mulheres na meia-idade

OBJECTIVE: To assess associations between of regular physical activity (PA) and quality of life (QL) in middle age women. METHODS: 1011 female subjects, aged 45-59, took part in the research, considering 370 peri-menopausal and 641 post-menopausal, within the body mass index (BMI) 25±4 kg/m2 and schooling average 1-13 years. The QL was evaluated by the WHOQOL, and the PA through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. RESULTS: After dividing the sample into three groups according to the practice of total PA (A: 60 min/day), analysis of variance adjusted for BMI and menopausal status (peri vs. postmenopause) showed differences in QL between groups A, B and group C in the physical domain and between group A and group B, C in psychological, social and environmental domains (p≤0.001). CONCLUSION: The accumulation of 30 min/day of total PA seems to be associated with more favorable effects on the psychological, social and environmental domains; however, it seems that at least 60 min/day are necessary to act on the physical domain. Nevertheless, such associations may reflect the impact of QL in the total amount of PA. Thus, the PA practice 30 min/day may be more conditioned by the psychological, social and environmental domains while the practice of 60 min/day by the physical domain.

Ansiedade e parâmetros funcionais respiratórios de idosos praticantes de dança

INTRODUCTION: Anxiety is a common diagnosis found in elderly and is commonly associated with breathing abnormalities. Associated with aging, it is also found a sedentary lifestyle, which is an important risk factor for diseases. The practice of regular physical activities improves anxiety and cardiorespiratory condition. Between the types of physical activities, dance stands out as a good option for elderly. OBJECTIVE: To describe the influence of regular dance on anxiety and respiratory parameters of elderly dancers when compared with sedentary elders. METHODOLOGY: Were evaluated 18 elders, divided into two groups: dancers (G1 group) and sedentary (G2 group). In G1 and G2 groups it was applied the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, cirtometry, spirometry and manovacuometry, in addition of the questionnaire of Baecke modified to elders, only for the group G2, in order to ensure the sedentary lifestyle of the participants. Descriptive statistics were used to synthesize the data. RESULTS: The participants in group G1 had higher values in relation of state-anxiety and maximal expiratory pressure. Cirtometry at basal level was higher in participants of group G1, while the xiphoid level was greater in group G2. All participants had spirometry values within the normal ranges, with no differences between groups. CONCLUSION: We observed on elders who practice dance regularly lower level of trait-anxiety, appropriate values of maximal expiratory pressure and higher values on cirtometry at basal level.

Effects of a new walking and cycling route on leisure-time physical activity of Brazilian adults: A longitudinal quasi-experiment

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a new walking and cycling route on leisure-time physical activity (PA) (walking and moderate-to-vigorous PA) of adults. Furthermore, we also investigated the use, intention to use and barriers to use the new route for leisure-time PA. A longitudinal quasi-experiment was carried out. Three exposure groups were defined, based on the distance from home to the new route: 0-500m, 501-1000m and 1001-1500m. Telephone-based interviews were carried out in 2009 and 2012. Those living around the new walking and cycling route increased their leisure-time walking by 15min/week on average. Those residing up to 500m from the route increased leisure-time walking by 30min/week and walking plus moderate-to-vigorous PA by 50min/week. The proportion of people who started walking or practicing moderate-to-vigorous PA during leisure time and who reported intention to use the new route was higher among those living closer to it. Perceived distance was the most prevalent barrier to use the new route.

Percepção da qualidade de vida e da finitude de adultos de meia idade e idoso praticantes e não praticantes de atividade física

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the influence of physical activity on perceived quality of life (QOL) and finitude of individuals practicing and non-practicing physical activity and dance in the dance halls of Florianopolis city, state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. METHODS: Participants were 195 individuals for convenience with a mean age of 63.7 ± 9.6 years, 119 of the dance halls, 50 physically active (AF), and 26 who did not perform AF. We opted for a self-administered questionnaire composed of previously validated instruments (abbreviated Whoqol and Finitude by Sheppard). The analysis was descriptive and inferential through Chi square test and ANOVA. RESULTS: The quality of life can be considered positive with scores ranging from 70.3 to 58.9% between their domains, having a positive perception of finitude, in which the group performs dance (79.8%) stood out in relation to the others (p = 0.035). CONCLUSION: According to the results, it is understood that the practice of dance as AF can contribute to the positive perception of QOL and finitude.

Qualidade de vida relacionada à prática de atividade física de surfistas

The present study aimed at investigating the quality of life (QL) of surfers in regards to their engagement with regular physical activity. The convenience sample was composed of 202 surfers, with mean age of 25,9±7,5 years. The survey method chosen for this research was a self-completion questionnaire. The majority of surfers from our sample are single (82%), have completed secondary school (64%), are economically situated in „B‟ class (61%), are engaged in physical activities regularly and are considered very physically active (83.2%). The QL was considered good to very good, varying from 59.8% to 77%. The social domain received the highest score and the physical the lowest. There was a weak association between the QL domains and the physical activity components (r=-0,105 - r=0,114), with no significance found between the two. This result indicated that the QL, in the present study, was not influenced by the practice of physical activities. Possibly, for the sampled surfers, other habits contribute more significantly to their QL.