Andreia Noites

Effects of Aerobic Exercise Associated with Abdominal Microcurrent: A Preliminary Study

OBJECTIVE To analyze the short- and long-term effects of microcurrent used with aerobic exercise on abdominal fat (visceral and subcutaneous). METHODS Forty-two female students from a university population were randomly assigned into five group: intervention group (IG) 1 (n=9), IG2 (n=9), IG3 (n=7), IG4 (n=8), and placebo group (PG) (n=9). An intervention program of 10 sessions encompassing microcurrent and aerobic exercise (performed with a cycloergometer) was applied in all groups, with slightly differences between them. In IG1 and IG2, microcurrent with transcutaneous electrodes was applied, with different frequency values; 30-minute exercise on the cycloergometer was subsequently performed. IG3 used the same protocol as IG1 but with different electrodes (percutaneous), while in IG4 the microcurrent was applied simultaneously with the cycloergometer exercise. Finally, the PG used the IG1 protocol but with the microcurrent device switched off. All groups were evaluated through ultrasound and abdominal perimeter measurement for visceral and subcutaneous abdominal fat assessment; through calipers for skinfolds measurement; through bioimpedance to evaluate weight, fat mass percentage, and muscular mass; and through blood analyses to measure cholesterol, triglyceride, and glucose levels. RESULTS After intervention sessions, visceral fat decreased significantly in IG1 compared with the PG. Subcutaneous fat was reduced significantly in all groups compared with the PG. After 4 weeks, almost all results were maintained. CONCLUSION The addition of microcurrent to aerobic exercise may reduce fat more than does aerobic exercise alone.

Effects of a Phase IV Home-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation Program on Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Physical Activity.

BACKGROUND Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally and sedentary lifestyle is one of the main risk factors. Home-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs appear to be effective to improve exercise tolerance. The aim of the study, therefore, was to evaluate the effects of a phase IV (maintenance) home-based CR program on cardiorespiratory fitness and daily physical activity of patients recovering from an acute myocardial infarction. METHODS This pilot study, with a sub-group randomised controlled trial, included 32 individuals recovering from a myocardial infarction, randomly divided into the experimental group (EG, n=16) and the control group (CG, n=16). The EG performed an exercise program, three times per week, at home during eight weeks. The two groups received health education sessions. Baseline and final assessments included cardiorespiratory fitness, resting and peak heart rate, blood pressure and rate pressure, heart rate recovery and daily physical activity. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01887080). RESULTS At baseline no significant differences were observed between groups. After eight weeks of exercise, the EG significantly increased peak oxygen uptake (p=0.02), test duration (p=0.019), peak rate pressure (p=0.003), peak heart rate (p=0.003) and heart rate recovery (0.025) when compared to the CG. No changes were observed on daily physical activity in both groups. CONCLUSION This specific phase IV home-based exercise program seems to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, haemodynamics at peak exercise and heart rate recovery, an indicator of cardiac autonomic function.

Efeitos da dieta mediterrânica e exercício físico em indivíduos com doença arterial coronária

INTRODUCTION The association of the Mediterranean diet and exercise appears to have a protective role, reducing cardiovascular risk. This study investigated the effects of education sessions on the Mediterranean diet and an exercise program in modifying eating behaviors, body composition and abdominal fat. METHODS An experimental study was performed on 20 subjects with known coronary heart disease randomly assigned to experimental (n=10) and control (n=10) groups. Both groups received education sessions on the Mediterranean diet, but the experimental group also followed an eight-week program of specific exercises. A semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire was administered to analyze food intake, bioimpedance was used to measure weight, fat mass and lean mass, and waist circumference was measured to calculate waist-to-height ratio. RESULTS After eight weeks, protein (p<0.05) and cholesterol (p<0.05) intake in the experimental group had decreased significantly compared with the control group. Between the beginning and end of the study, there were significant decreases in the control group in carbohydrate (p<0.05) and saturated fat intake (p<0.05). In both groups the percentage of total fat (p<0.05) and fat mass (p<0.05) was significantly decreased. In the experimental group the waist-to-height ratio was significantly reduced (p<0.05). CONCLUSION The Mediterranean diet reduced carbohydrate and saturated fat intake, reflected in reduced fat mass. The association of the exercise program showed additional benefits in reduction of protein and cholesterol intake and abdominal fat.

Effects of radiofrequency on adipose tissue: A systematic review with meta-analysis

Equipment that acts in the reduction in adipose tissue are becoming widely investigated. One of the resources that begin to gain recognition is radiofrequency.

Effects of a Prolonged Exercise Program on Exercise Tolerance in Individuals with History of Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Retrospective Study

Objective : To verify the influence of a prolonged physical exercise program on physical fitness and cardiovascular parameters, as evaluated by exercise stress test (EST), in subjects with newly diagnosed acute coronary syndrome. Methods : The sample included 50 subjects distributed by an experimental group (EG; n = 25) and a control group (CG; n = 25). The EG was subject to a program of regular exercise during 52 weeks. All subjects performed two ESTs: one at the beginning and one at the end of the experimental protocol. The first test was performed 2-3 months after the cardiac event. During the EST fitness parameters (speed and incline of the treadmill and test time), cardiovascular parameters (maximum and resting heart rate, maximum and resting blood pressure, and maximum and resting double product), and metabolic equivalents were recorded. Results : Compared with the first test, in the second EST showed a significant increase (p <0.05) of the absolute values of metabolic equivalents and physical fitness indicators (testing time and maximum speed and incline of the treadmill) in the EG, with a percentage of variation of these parameters significantly higher than in CG. Despite the better physical performance demonstrated by the EG, there were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to cardiovascular parameters. Conclusion : In this study, the physical training program improved exercise tolerance in individuals with a history of acute coronary events, without an apparent increased cardiac work.