Rudy José Nodari Júnior

Efeitos crônicos do flexionamento estático sobre parâmetros neuromusculares em adultos jovens

INTRODUCTION: Training includes, among other physical qualities, flexibility and strength. Thus, knowing the mutual inter-relationships between these physical qualities would increase the effectiveness of training. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to verify changes in neuromuscular parameters in a static flexibilizing program, after 12 weeks of intervention. METHODS: 70 cadets, mean age of 17.03 ± 1.14 years, participated in the present survey, were randomly selected and equally divided into two groups: experimental group (EG, n = 35) and control group (CG, n = 35). Strength levels were assessed by 1RM static contraction in horizontal shoulder flexion and extension (HSF/ HSE) and lumbar spine extension (LSE). Flexibility was assessed by the goniometry LABIFIE protocol in shoulder horizontal flexion and extension (SHF /SHE) and lumbar spine flexion (LSF). The urinary hydroxyproline concentration collected by the Nordin method was performed through HPROLI 2h protocol. RESULTS: ANOVA for repeated measures evidenced significant increase for SHF (Δ% = 3.9%, p = 0.001), SHE (Δ% = 21.1%, p = 0.001), LSF (Δ% = 73.8%, p = 0.001), SHF (Δ% = 20.4%, p = 0.001) and FELS (Δ% = 4.0%, p = 0.008) from pre to post-test. The hydroxyproline levels did not change significantly. Concerning intergroup comparisons, significant differences were found for SHF (p = 0.016), SHE (p = 0.005), LSF (p = 0.004), SHF (p = 0.001) and FELS (p = 0.007). The power of the experiment observed was of 86% for an estimated beta of 0.14. CONCLUSION: The static flexibilizing was able to improve both flexibility and strength.

Static balance of elderly women submitted to a physical activity program

Objective : The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a physical activity program on static balance in elderly women. Method : The sample was randomly subdivided into an experimental group (EG; n=28; 65.64±2.36 years; BMI= 27.52±3.13) and a control group (CG; n=21; 66.84±2.31 years; BMI= 27.67±2.78). The EG participated in twice-weekly 60-minute sessions of physical activity for 12 weeks, with a perceived intensity level between 3 and 5 (CR10 scale). Static balance was evaluated using a baropodometric platform. Mean postural amplitude oscillations were measured in displacement from the center of pressure (COP), left lateral (LLD), right lateral (RLD), anterior (AD) posterior (PD) and elliptical (EA) area. Results : Repeated-measures analysis of variance showed a significant decrease in EG pre and post-test oscillations (p<0.05) in the COP, AD (∆=0.59;p=0.021), PD (∆=-0.91; p=0.001) and EA (∆=1.56; p=0.044) displacement. When comparing the groups, post-test amplitude oscillations in the COP, RLD (∆%=-7.40;p=0.006), AD (∆%=-30.63; p=0.007), PD (∆%=-42.96; p<0.001) and EA (∆%=-34.41;p=0.017) of the EG were significantly lower (p<0.05) than those of the CG. There were no significant LLD alterations. Conclusion : The results confirm that static balance improved with physical exercise in EG subjects.1 Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Laboratório de Biociências da Motricidade Humana. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil. 2 Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Centro de Educação e Humanidades, Instituto de Educação Física e Desportos, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências do Exercício e do Esporte. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil. 3 Universidade do Oeste de Santa Catarina, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biociências e Saúde. Joaçaba, SC, Brasil.

Dermatoglyphic profile of physical strength in Brazilian Paralympic power lifters

The objective of this study was to identify dermatoglyphic characteristics and the quality of the physical strength in high-performance para-athletes in the supine power lifting category. This study included ten male athletes aged between 18 and 40 years who had qualified for the Brazilian Regional Championships. The athletes were randomly distributed into the following three groups: group 1 (n = 4) comprising athletes with the best results for relative strength, group 2 (n = 4) comprising athletes with intermediate results for relative strength, and group 3 (n = 2) comprising athletes with the lowest results for relative strength. To determine the strength potential of the athletes, the one repetition maximum test was chosen, and to identify their genetic profile their fingerprints were analyzed by the method of Cummins and Midlo using paper and ink. The data showed no homogeneity between the groups. Group 1 showed a higher genetic predisposition and better results for the quality of their physical strength. These results indicate that dermatoglyphics may be an important tool to identify and guide athletes according to their genetic potential.