Paulo José Barbosa Gutierres Filho

Physical activity and quality of life of amputees in southern Brazil

Background: Physical activity is a positive component of human health. Its effects are associated with improvement in physical, psychological and social aspects of quality of life. Physical activity is therefore an important factor in the rehabilitation of amputees. Objective: To analyse the relationship between physical activity and quality of life for amputees in southern Brazil. Study Design: Descriptive, cross-sectional design with nonrandomized sample. Methods: A total of 40 questionnaire instruments were distributed to subjects who met the inclusion criteria, with a response rate of 55% (22 individuals, n = 15 males, n = 7 females). Outcome measurements were obtained through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and World Health Organization Quality of Life–Bref. Results: The sample was characterized by physically active adult male prosthetic users with positive quality of life, and amputation below the right knee caused by mechanical trauma related to traffic accidents with motorcycles. Significant correlations were identified between all domains of quality of life and between level of physical activity and psychological quality of life. No correlation was identified between gender and quality of life variables or physical activity levels. Conclusions: This study showed that in very active amputees of both genders, level of physical activity is not associated with quality of life except for the psychological domain.

Effects of Physical-Exercise-Based Rehabilitation Programs on the Quality of Life of Patients With Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

This study aimed to determine the effects of physical-exercise-based rehabilitation programs on quality of life of patients with Parkinsons disease through a systematic review of randomized clinical trials. For this purpose the following electronic databases were selected: Medline by PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, and PEDro. The search strategy included the proposed descriptors in the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), associated with a sensitive list of terms to search for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), without year and language restrictions. Fourteen studies were potentially relevant, and these studies were included. Physical-exercise-based rehabilitation programs realized 2-4 times a week, 60 min each session, for 6-12 weeks, and follow-up of 3 months promotes significant positive effects on quality of life in Parkinsons disease patients at mild to moderate stages and disease duration around 6 years.

Brazilian physical education teachers’ attitudes toward inclusion before and after participation in a professional development workshop

The purpose of this study was to analyze the attitudes of physical education teachers about inclusion and teaching students with disabilities in Brazil before and after they participated in a professional development workshop focused on inclusive ideology and strategies. The participants were Brazilian physical education teachers (pretest sample, n = 90, and posttest sample, n = 90, respectively) sampled randomly from a two-day workshop held in Brasília, Brazil. The research method was pretest–posttest group design. The primary data source was the Physical Educators’ Judgments about Inclusion survey, a three-dimensional attitude survey scale with an accompanying demographic questionnaire. Data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Results indicate the Brazilian physical education teachers: (a) were undecided about inclusion; (b) were accepting of students with disabilities in their classes; and (c) perceived a need for additional professional development training to effectively teach children with disabilities.

Health-related quality of life and related factors of military police officers

PurposeThe present study aimed to determine the effect of demographic characteristics, occupation, anthropometric indices, and leisure-time physical activity levels on coronary risk and health-related quality of life among military police officers from the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil.MethodsThe sample included 165 military police officers who fulfilled the study’s inclusion criteria. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Short Form Health Survey were used, in addition to a spreadsheet of socio-demographic, occupational and anthropometric data. Statistical analyses were performed using descriptive analysis followed by Spearman Correlation and multiple linear regression analysis using the backward method.ResultsThe waist-to-height ratio was identified as a risk factor low health-related quality of life. In addition, the conicity index, fat percentage, years of service in the military police, minutes of work per day and leisure-time physical activity levels were identified as risk factors for coronary disease among police officers.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that the Military Police Department should adopt an institutional policy that allows police officers to practice regular physical activity in order to maintain and improve their physical fitness, health, job performance, and quality of life.ResumoObjetivoO presente estudo teve como objetivo determinar o efeito das características demográficas, ocupacionais, antropométricas e dos níveis de atividade física no lazer sobre o risco coronariano e qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde de policiais militares do Estado de Santa Catarina, Brasil.MétodosA amostra foi composta por 165 policiais militares que preencheram os critérios de inclusão do estudo. Foram aplicados os questionários International Physical Activity Questionnaire, Form Health Survey-36 e Inventário de Risco Coronariano, além de uma planilha de dados sócio-demográficos, ocupacionais e antropométricos. As análises estatísticas consistiram em análise descritiva seguida de correlação de Spearman e análise de regressão linear múltipla utilizando o método backward.ResultadosA relação cintura estatura foi identificada como fator de risco para uma baixa qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde. Além disso, o índice de conicidade, percentual de gordura, tempo de serviço na Polícia Militar, minutos de trabalhos por dia e níveis de atividade física no lazer foram identificados como fatores de risco para doença coronariana entre os policiais.ConclusõesEstes resultados sugerem que os Departamentos de Polícia Militar devem adotar uma política institucional que viabilize a prática da atividade física regular, com o objetivo de manter e aperfeiçoar as aptidões físicas, com vistas à melhoria de sua saúde e, por conseguinte para o seu aprimoramento técnico profissional e sua qualidade de vida.

Brazilian Physical Education Teachers’ Beliefs About Teaching Students With Disabilities

Abstract The purpose of this study was to analyse Brazilian physical education teachers’ beliefs about their experiences teaching students with disabilities. Participants were six physical education teachers from schools located in the city of Brasília, Brazil. The research paradigm was descriptive-qualitative situated in the theory of planned behaviour. The primary data source was a focus group interview. Interview data were analysed with constant comparative method and uncovered four major recurrent themes. The first major theme exposes the teachers’ beliefs that their class arrangements were typically integrative, not inclusive. Second, the teachers’ practices were distressed with problems and concerns beyond those of a typical physical education programme. Third, the teachers’ self-efficacy in teaching students with disabilities depended largely on several salient variables. Lastly, the teachers were mostly intrinsically motivated in teaching students with disabilities. School districts should engage teachers in professional development focused on teaching students with disabilities in physical education.

Programas de exercício na prevenção de lesões em jogadores de futebol: uma revisão sistemática

Hamstrings injuries are one of the most frequent injuries in football players. Exercise programs leading to lower levels of injury, diminishing their recurrence and severity are extremely important for coaches, physical therapist and players. To recognize the scientific evidence of the effectiveness of exercise intervention programs in the prevention of hamstring injuries, in male football players. Different studies were selected for revision from several databases. To evaluate the methodological quality of these studies we used the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) and determined the strength of the evidence using the best evidence synthesis grading system. The used exercise programs where based in concentric and eccentric strength, the eccentric strength exercise Nordic Hamstrings, The FIFA 11+, and flexibility exercises. The variables studied were: the incidence, the incidence of new injuries, recurrence of injuries, the severity, and the risk of injuries. The concentric and eccentric strength program and the Nordic Hamstrings program seem to be the most effective in reducing the incidence of injuries and the incidence of new injuries, respectively (limited evidence). The Nordic Hamstrings program does not reduce the risk of injuries (limited evidence) and does not improve the level of severity of the injuries (moderate evidence). The FIFA 11+program does not reduce the incidence of injuries (limited evidence). There are contradictory evidences on the other variables.Dentre as lesoes ocorridas em jogadores de futebol, as lesoes dos isquiotibiais sao as mais frequentes. Programas de exercicio que previnam o seu aparecimento e diminuam a sua recorrencia e severidade sao de extrema importância para os fisioterapeutas, treinadores e jogadores. Conhecer as evidencias cientificas sobre a eficacia de programas de exercicio na prevencao de lesoes dos isquiotibiais, em jogadores de futebol masculino. Os estudos foram selecionados para revisao em diferentes bases de dados. Para avaliar a qualidade metodologica dos estudos e a forca de evidencia dos resultados utilizou-se a escala da Base de dados de Evidencia em Fisioterapia (PEDro) e o sistema de classificacao Melhor Sintese de Evidencia, respectivamente. Os programas de exercicio utilizados foram: forca concentrica e excentrica; forca excentrica Nordic Hamstrings; The FIFA 11+; e elasticidade. As variaveis estudadas foram a incidencia de lesoes, a incidencia de novas lesoes, a recorrencia de lesoes, a severidade das lesoes e o risco de lesao. O programa de forca concentrica e excentrica e o programa de forca excentrica Nordic Hamstrings parecem ser os mais eficazes na reducao da incidencia das lesoes e da incidencia de novas lesoes dos isquiotibiais, respetivamente (evidencias limitadas). O programa de exercicio de forca excentrica Nordic Hamstring nao e eficaz na diminuicao do risco de lesao (evidencias limitada) e na melhoria da severidade das lesoes (evidencia moderada). O programa The FIFA 11+ nao e eficaz na reducao da incidencia das lesoes (evidencia limitada). Ha evidencias contraditorias nas variaveis restantes.

Obesity is associated with reduced postural control in community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review

Abstract Purpose: To summarise evidence from observational studies that examined the impact of obesity on Centre of Pressure (CoP) sway during quiet standing in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: An electronic data search (last searched April 2017) was performed on six databases (MEDLine, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus and LILACS). Details of the study design, participants’ characteristics, obesity classification criteria, postural control conditions, CoP sway parameters and risk of bias were extracted by two independent reviewers. Results: Of 265 studies reviewed, four met the inclusion criteria and were appraised. Common to all the included studies was a negative effect of obesity on CoP sway parameters, especially at anteroposterior and mediolateral ranges. Of note, these findings were observed in a wide variety of quiet stance conditions, with significance more evident when vision was restricted. The risk of bias revealed that most studies’ samples were not representative of the entire population. Conclusions: The present systematic review suggests that obesity is associated with reduced static postural control in community-dwelling older adults. However, due to the risk of bias and the large variability of protocols used to measure CoP sway, the evidence remains inconclusive. Future longitudinal studies are needed to confirm the findings.

Efeitos da natação e caminhada nos aspectos relacionados à saúde de policiais

The present study aimed to compare the effects of swimming and walking after 24 weeks of training on anthropometric indicators of obesity, physical activity, coronary risk and health-related quality of life among military police officers of the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. The sample included 51 military police officers (male) whose ages ranged from 22 to 49 years, with a mean age of 35.53 ± 7.63 years, and who fulfilled the inclusion criteria of the study, which was conducted between the months of June and December 2012. The subjects were interviewed to collect demographic and occupational data as well as anthropometry, physical activity level and health. The volunteers were divided into the following three groups according to their preference: swimming experimental group (n = 24), walking experimental group (n = 24), and control group (n = 24). Statistical analyses were performed using descriptive analysis, oneway and two-way ANOVAs followed by Bonferroni’s post hoc test, Student’s t-test, the Kruskal-Wallis test and the Mann-Whitney U test followed by Bonferroni’s correction, the Wilcoxon test and Cohen’s d test. After 24 weeks of training, the waist circumference, conicity index, waist-to-height ratio, physical activity at work, vigorous activities and coronary risk were significantly different in the swimming group, and the percentages of fat, lean mass and fat mass were significantly different in the walking group. The swimming exercise program contributed to significant reductions in waist circumference, conicity index, the waist-to-height ratio and coronary risk and to increased levels of physical activity at work and vigorous activities. In addition, the walking exercise program contributed to significant reductions in relative body fat and fat mass and increased lean mass among military police officers.

Effects of physical exercise programs on cognitive function in Parkinson’s disease patients: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials of the last 10 years

Background Given the relative importance of cognitive impairment, there was considerable interest in identifying the cognitive profile of PD patients, in order to ensure specific and appropriate therapeutic interventions. Purpose To determine the effects of physical exercise programs on cognitive function in PD patients, compared with the control group. Data sources Medline, Cochrane, Scopus, PEDro and Web of Science (last searched in September 2016). Study selection Randomized clinical trials examining the effects of physical exercise programs and cognitive function in PD patients. Nine studies fulfilled the selection criteria and were included in this review. Data extraction Characteristics of the publication, characteristics of the participants, test used for cognitive screening, cognitive domain assessed, tools used to assess cognitive function, characteristics of the experimental intervention, characteristics of the control group, mean results and standard deviation of function cognitive. The PEDro score was used to evaluate methodological quality. Data synthesis Most eligible studies showed good methodological quality based on the PEDro scale. Studies have shown that adapted tango for PD patients, cognitive training combined with motor training, and treadmill training promote the preservation or improvement of cognitive function in PD patients. Limitations The diversity of cognitive tests used to assess cognitive function and the high heterogeneity identified between the physical exercise programs. Conclusions Physical exercise programs promote positive and significant effects on global cognitive function, processing speed, sustained attention and mental flexibility in PD patients, at a mild to moderate stage for patients with a 6-year clinical diagnosis of PD. However, treadmill training performed 3 times a week for about 60 minutes and for a period of 24 weeks produced larger improvements in cognition.