Carlos Soares Pernambuco

Effects of muscle strength and aerobic training on basal serum levels of IGF-1 and cortisol in elderly women

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of muscle strength and aerobic training on the basal serum levels of IGF-1 and cortisol in elderly women. The subjects were divided in three groups as follows. 1. Strength training group (SG) submitted to the weight training called 1-repetition maximum test (1-RM, 75-85%). This group contained 12 subjects of mean age=66.08+/-3.37 years; and body mass index (BMI)=26.0+/-3.72kg/m(2). (2) Aerobic training group (AG) submitted to aquatic exercise; they were 13 subjects of the mean age=68.69+/-4.70 years; and BMI=29.19+/-2.96kg/m(2). (3) A control group (CG) of 10 subjects, of mean age=68.80+/-5.41 years; BMI=29.70+/-2.82kg/m2. The training periods were 12 weeks, Fasting blood was analyzed to measure IGF-1 and basal cortisol levels (by chemiluminescence method), both at the beginning and the end of the intervention. Students t-test revealed increased IGF-1 in the SG (p<0.05) compared to the other two groups. Repeated-measure ANOVA showed also elevated IGF-1 (p<0.05) in the SG compared to the other groups (AG and CG). There were no differences in cortisol levels. In conclusion, high-intensity training caused changes in IGF-1. This suggests that strength training may provoke anabolic effects in elderly individuals.

Functional autonomy, bone mineral density (BMD) and serum osteocalcin levels in older female participants of an aquatic exercise program (AAG)

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of an AAG on BMD, osteocalcin and functional autonomy in older women. The sample consisted of eighty-two post-menopausal women with low BMD, randomly divided into two groups: the Aquatic Aerobics Group [AAG; n=42; age: 66.8±4.2years], submitted to two weekly sessions over eight months, and the Control Group (GC; n=42; age: 66.9±3.2years), which did not participate in regular exercise. BMD was measured by Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry [DXA] of the lumbar and femur, and serum osteocalcin was measured using electrochemiluminescence. A functional autonomy assessment protocol (GDLAM, 2004) was also applied. Statistical analyses used were repeated measures ANOVA and Tukeys post hoc tests. The results showed a significant improvement in tests following the GDLAM protocol: 10 meters walk (10mw) -p=0.003; rising from a ventral decubitus position (RVDP) - Δ%=0.78, p<0.001; rising from a chair and moving around the house (RCMH) -p<0.001 and autonomy index (AI) -p=0.007, with more favorable results observed in the AAG when compared to the CG. The AAG achieved the best results for BMD; however, no inter or intragroup statistical differences were recorded for total femur -p=0.975 and lumbar L(2)-L(4)p=0.597. For serum osteocalcin, intra and intergroup statistical differences of p=0.042 and p=0.027 were observed in the AAG, respectively. This demonstrates that an eight-month aquatic aerobic exercise program can improve functional autonomy and osteocalcin levels, although training did not improve lumbar and total femur BMD in the older women.

Prevalence of lower back pain and physical inactivity: the impact of psychosocial factors in pregnant women served by the Family Health Strategy.

OBJECTIVE This study analyzed the impact of psychosocial factors on pregnant women with lower back pain and an associated lack of physical activity prior to pregnancy. METHODS The sample included 66 pregnant women who were randomly selected from a total of 84 patients in the waiting rooms of the Family Health Units in Cuitegí, Paraíba, from September to November 2009. An epidemiological questionnaire adapted from the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale was used for data collection. The questions about back pain, physical activity, and psychosocial factors were emphasized. SPSS 16.0 was used for the data analysis. The prevalence of lower back pain and its relationship to gestational age, habitual physical activity, and psychosocial factors were studied using the descriptive statistics and relative percentages in the SPSS Crosstabs procedure. The odds ratio and 95% confidence interval for lower back pain were calculated. RESULTS The prevalence of lower back pain was 75%, which suggests that psychosocial factors were related to the presence of pain. Anxiety was reported in 42.8% of the women with lower back pain, and 38.7% of the women with lower back pain experienced physical fatigue at the end of the day. A higher percentage of pain (53%) was noted in the women who did not exercise prior to pregnancy. CONCLUSION Lower back pain prior to pregnancy is associated with lack of physical activity and with psychosocial factors in the Family Health Strategy patients of Cuitegí county.

Effects of dance on the postural balance, cognition and functional autonomy of older adults

OBJECTIVE to evaluate the postural balance, cognition and functional autonomy of older adults with dementia, who are long-stay inpatients, subjected to ballroom dancing. METHOD simple randomized clinical study. Older adult sample: control group (30) and experimental group (30). The groups were subjected to the protocol of functional autonomy for activities of daily living; to the assessment of cognition (mini-mental state examination); and to the analysis of postural balance (stabilometric and postural platforms). The analysis of variance with repeated measures for group and time factors, and Scheffés post hoc test were used, with significance of p < 0.05. RESULTS For the mini-mental state examination, the control group presented a 24.27 mean, and the experimental 22.75. Functional autonomy for activities of daily living - experimental: 54.47 ± 7.24 (p < 0.0001) x control: 61.77 ± 8.47 (p = 0.011). Postural balance - experimental: X = 3.16 ± 3.44 (p = 0.02) x control = X = 6.30 ± 7.62 (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION Ballroom dancing can be recommended for older adults to provide improvement in their balance and motor performance of the activities of daily living.

Evaluation of strength, agility and aerobic capacity in Brazilian football players

Summary Study aim: To evaluate the levels of strength, agility and the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) between the offensive and defensive teams of football players. Material and methods: In the present cross-sectional study, 20 male Brazilian football players were divided into an offensive group (OG, n = 10, age: 25.50 ± 6.15 years) and a defensive group (DG, n = 10, age: 22.50 ± 5.48 years). We used the dynamometer for back and legs, the shuttle run test, and the Cooper test to evaluate strength, agility and VO2max, respectively. Results: The independent Student t-test showed that the OG was significantly more agile than the DG (p < 0.05). The other variables did not show any statistically significant differences. In the OG there was a strong correlation between agility and VO2max (r = - 0.834, p = 0.003, r2 = 0.70). However, in the DG there was a moderate correlation between the same variables (r = - 0.677, p = 0.031, r2 = 0.46). This shows that the greater the agility is, the higher is the VO2max. There was no correlation between the variables muscle strength and body fat percentage. Conclusions: The study showed that the OG has a better physical condition than the DG.

Original investigation effects of hydrogymnastics on igf-1 and functional autonomy in elderly women

Aging is a multidimensional phenomenon associated with the decline of organic form and function. The gradual and progressive physiological changes inherent to the aging process increase the prevalence of acute and chronic diseases.1,2 Among the alterations, there are deficits of balance, mobility, flexibility and muscular strength3 postural control instabilities that can lead to changes in walking and posture4 endocrine abnormalities such as the reduction of serum levels of anabolic hormones, as the insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1)5,6 and changes in body composition, including decreases in muscle and bone masses.7

How Can Acupuncture Promote Modifications on Metabolism

Volume 3 • Isse 3 • 1000154 To enforce this hypothesis, Zhang Li [17] found significant difference on bone mineral density and serum levels of insulin growth factor in osteoporotic rats submitted to electro acupuncture when compared with control group. Finally, as could be demonstrated based on papers presented that acupuncture can promote hormonal modifications on bone metabolism. The actual studies including acupuncture and similar method must try to explain the results on physiological basis, nowadays it not enough just to present effect and cause. It will give credibility to acupuncture and all associated systems. The autonomous nervous system controls the body’s visceral functions, such as blood pressure, gastrointestinal motility, secretion, urinary debt, body temperature and the cardiac muscle. In many aspects, the effects of stimulation on the parasympathetic nervous system are opposite to those of sympathetic response. The parasympathetic system, however, is not normally activated as a whole. Parasympathetic nerve stimulation may result in decreased heart rate, dilation of visceral blood vessels, and greater digestive tract activity.