Ruth Ferreira Santos

Depression, anxiety and quality of life scores in seniors after an endurance exercise program

OBJECTIVE Mood disorders are a frequent problem in old age, and their symptoms constitute an important public health issue. These alterations affect the quality of life mainly by restricting social life. The participation in a regular exercise program is an effective way of reducing or preventing the functional decline associated with aging. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of fitness-endurance activity (at the intensity of Ventilatory Threshold 1 (VT-1)) in depression, anxiety and quality of life scores in seniors. METHODS The study involved 46 sedentary seniors aged 60-75 (66.97 +/- 4.80) who were randomly allocated to two groups: 1) Control group, which was neither asked to vary their everyday activities nor to join a regular physical fitness program; and 2) Experimental group, whose members took part in an aerobic fitness program consisting of ergometer cycle sessions 3 times a week on alternate days for six months working at a heart rate corresponding to ventilatory threshold (VT-1) intensity. Subjects were submitted to a basal evaluation using the geriatric depression screening scale--GDS, STAI trait/state (anxiety scale) and SF-36 (quality of life scale). RESULTS Comparing the groups after the study period, we found a significant decrease in depressive and anxiety scores and an improvement in the quality of life in the experimental group, but no significant changes in the control group. CONCLUSION The data suggest that an aerobic exercise program at VT-1 intensity suffices to promote favorable modifications in depressive and anxiety scores to improve the quality of life in seniors.

Exercício físico e função cognitiva: uma revisão

RESUMO O exercicio e o treinamento fisico sao conhecidos por promover diversas alteracoes, incluindo beneficios cardiorrespiratorios, aumento da densidade mineral ossea e diminuicao do risco de doencas cronico-degenerativas. Recentemente outro aspecto tem ganhando notoriedade: trata-se da melhoria na funcao cognitiva. Embora haja grande controversia, diversos estudos tem demonstrado que o exercicio fisico melhora e protege a funcao cerebral, sugerindo que pessoas fisicamente ativas apresentam menor risco de serem acometidas por desordens mentais em relacao as sedentarias. Isso mostra que a participacao em programas de exercicios fisicos exercem beneficios nas esferas fisica e psicologica e que, provavelmente, individuos fisicamente ativos possuem um processamento cognitivo mais rapido. Embora os beneficios cognitivos do estilo de vida fisicamente ativo parecam estar relacionados ao nivel de atividade fisica regular, ou seja, exercicio realizado durante toda a vida, sugerindo uma “reserva cognitiva”, nunca e tarde para se iniciar um programa de exercicios fisicos. Dessa forma, o uso do exercicio fisico como alternativa para melhorar a funcao cognitiva parece ser um objetivo a ser alcancado, principalmente em virtude da sua aplicabilidade, pois se trata de um metodo relativamente barato, que pode ser direcionado a grande parte da populacao. Assim, o objetivo da presente revisao e o de discutir os aspectos associativos entre exercicio fisico e funcao cognitiva, permitindo uma ponderacao entre o seu uso enquanto alternativa e elemento coadjuvante.

Evaluation of Siddha Samadhi Yoga for Anxiety and Depression Symptoms: A Preliminary Study:

Siddha Samadhi Yoga is a program in which meditation is associated with pranayama (breathing exercises). 22 volunteers with anxiety complaints (M age = 42.8 yr., SD = 10.3) were assigned to two groups: 14 attended the yoga group, and 8 attended a waiting-list or control group. They were evaluated before the intervention and 1 month after it on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory, Tension Feelings Self-evaluation Scales, and the Well-being Self-evaluation Scales. A significant reduction in scores on anxiety, depression, and tension was found in yoga group, as well as an increase in well-being in comparison with the control group.

Sonolência excessiva Excessive daytime sleepiness

Sleepiness is a physiological function, and can be defined as increased propension to fall asleep. However, excessive sleepiness (ES) or hypersomnia refer to an abnormal increase in the probability to fall asleep, to take involuntary naps, or to have sleep atacks, when sleep is not desired. The main causes of excessive sleepiness is chronic sleep deprivation, sleep apnea syndrome, narcolepsy, movement disorders during sleep, circadian sleep disorders, use of drugs and medications, or idiopathic hypersomnia. Social, familial, work, and cognitive impairment are among the consequences of hypersomnia. Moreover, it has also been reported increased risk of accidents. The treatment of excessive sleepiness includes treating the primary cause, whenever identified. Sleep hygiene for sleep deprivation, positive pressure (CPAP) for sleep apnea, dopaminergic agents and exercises for sleep-related movement disorders, phototherapy and/or melatonin for circadian disorders, and use of stimulants are the treatment modalities of first choice.

Effects of type of physical exercise and leisure activities on the depression scores of obese Brazilian adolescent girls

Several studies have indicated that depressive states may lead to hypokinesia with diminished metabolic rate and energy use. Hypokinesia associated with certain eating behaviors may lead to an unfavorable energy balance that can contribute to the emergence and prevalence of obesity among children and adults. The purpose of the present study was to examine the possibility of reducing depression inventory scores in female adolescents with third-degree obesity while testing the effectiveness of different exercise programs in reducing anxiety and depression scores. The sample consisted of 40 female subjects (mean age 16 +/- 1.56 years) divided into 4 groups (aerobic training, anaerobic training, leisure activities, and control). Subjects had a body mass index of 95% or more in relation to the 50th percentile. The aerobic program consisted of three ergometric bicycle sessions per week over a 3-month period (12 weeks) and the activities were prescribed after determining the anaerobic ventilatory threshold (VO2 threshold). Anaerobic training was based on the Wingate anaerobic power test. The leisure program consisted of a varied range of activities (games, exercises, etc.). A nutritionist interviewed the members of these two groups and the control group every week in order to adapt them to the nutritional guidelines proposed for the study. The study showed that all three programs (aerobic exercise, anaerobic exercise and leisure activities) were effective in reducing body mass. However, we found a significant reduction when analyzing the depression scores only for aerobic exercise (18.9 +/- 9.33 to 10.6 +/- 9.56 or 43.9%) but no significant alterations for anaerobic exercise (11.36 +/- 5.23 to 9.63 +/- 4.78 or 15.22%) and leisure (17.28 +/- 7.55 to 15.07 +/- 7.54 or 12.78%), thus indicating that in principle this type of activity could be included to improve emotional well-being of obese adolescent girls.

Sleep Complaints and Polysomnographic Findings: A Study of Nuclear Power Plant Shift Workers

The literature widely recognizes that shift workers have more health complaints than the general population. The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence of sleep complaints and verify the polysomnographic (PSG) variables of shift workers in two Brazilian nuclear power plants. We carried out a subjective evaluation with a sleep questionnaire. Based on these results, the interviewees that reported sleep‐related complaints were referred for polysomnographic evaluation. Of the 327 volunteers initially evaluated by the sleep questionnaire, 113 (35%) reported sleep complaints; they were significantly older, had higher body mass index (BMI), and worked more years on shifts than those without sleep complaints. Of these 113, 90 met criteria for various sleep disorders: 30 (9%) showed obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), 18 (5.5%) showed limb movement, and 42 (13%) evidenced both sleep problems and had a significantly higher proportion of sleep stage 1 and arousals compared with the 23 shift workers that had no indices of sleep problems. The present study found that 90 (27.5%) of the evaluated participants met the PSG criteria of some type of clinical sleep disorder. This high proportion should be investigated for associations with other aspects of work, such as working hours, working schedule, years performing shift work, and access to health services. Due to the strong association between sleep disorders and the incidence of fatigue and sleepiness, the evaluation of the sleep patterns and complaints of shift workers is essential and should be considered to be one of the basic strategies of industry to prevent accidents.

Sleep, ageing and night work

Studies have shown that the frequency or worsening of sleep disorders tends to increase with age and that the ability to perform circadian adjustments tends to decrease in individuals who work the night shift. This condition can cause consequences such as excessive sleepiness, which are often a factor in accidents that occur at work. The present study investigated the effects of age on the daytime and nighttime sleep patterns using polysomnography (PSG) of long-haul bus drivers working fixed night or day shifts. A total of 124 drivers, free of sleep disorders and grouped according to age (<45 years, N = 85, and > or =45 years, N = 39) and PSG timing (daytime (D) PSG, N = 60; nighttime (N) PSG, N = 64) participated in the study. We observed a significant effect of bedtime (D vs N) and found that the length of daytime sleep was shorter [D: <45 years (336.10 +/- 73.75 min) vs N: <45 years (398 +/- 78.79 min) and D: > or =45 years (346.57 +/- 43.17 min) vs N: > or =45 years (386.44 +/- 52.92 min); P < or = 0.05]. Daytime sleep was less efficient compared to nighttime sleep [D: <45 years (78.86 +/- 13.30%) vs N: <45 years (86.45 +/- 9.77%) and D: > or =45 years (79.89 +/- 9.45%) and N: > or =45 years (83.13 +/- 9.13%); P < or = 0.05]. An effect of age was observed for rapid eye movement sleep [D: <45 years (18.05 +/- 6.12%) vs D: > or =45 years (15.48 +/- 7.11%) and N: <45 years (23.88 +/- 6.75%) vs N: > or =45 years (20.77 +/- 5.64%); P < or = 0.05], which was greater in younger drivers. These findings are inconsistent with the notion that older night workers are more adversely affected than younger night workers by the challenge of attempting to rest during the day.

Reviewing on physical exercise and the cognitive function

RESUMO O exercicio e o treinamento fisico sao conhecidos por promover diversas alteracoes, incluindo beneficios cardiorrespiratorios, aumento da densidade mineral ossea e diminuicao do risco de doencas cronico-degenerativas. Recentemente outro aspecto tem ganhando notoriedade: trata-se da melhoria na funcao cognitiva. Embora haja grande controversia, diversos estudos tem demonstrado que o exercicio fisico melhora e protege a funcao cerebral, sugerindo que pessoas fisicamente ativas apresentam menor risco de serem acometidas por desordens mentais em relacao as sedentarias. Isso mostra que a participacao em programas de exercicios fisicos exercem beneficios nas esferas fisica e psicologica e que, provavelmente, individuos fisicamente ativos possuem um processamento cognitivo mais rapido. Embora os beneficios cognitivos do estilo de vida fisicamente ativo parecam estar relacionados ao nivel de atividade fisica regular, ou seja, exercicio realizado durante toda a vida, sugerindo uma “reserva cognitiva”, nunca e tarde para se iniciar um programa de exercicios fisicos. Dessa forma, o uso do exercicio fisico como alternativa para melhorar a funcao cognitiva parece ser um objetivo a ser alcancado, principalmente em virtude da sua aplicabilidade, pois se trata de um metodo relativamente barato, que pode ser direcionado a grande parte da populacao. Assim, o objetivo da presente revisao e o de discutir os aspectos associativos entre exercicio fisico e funcao cognitiva, permitindo uma ponderacao entre o seu uso enquanto alternativa e elemento coadjuvante.

Comportamento e barreiras

This study analyzes the barriers perceived in relation to the practice of physical activity and stages of behavior changes in institutionalized and cognitively preserved elderly. Thirty volunteers answered to the Mini-Exam of Mental State, the Questionnaire on Stages of Behavior Changes, and the Questionnaire on Barriers to Physical Activity. The results showed that few institutionalized elderly present a high perception of disbelief on physical activity benefits. However, very few of them are engaged in it and the majority of them do not intend to include it in their lifestyle. The current stage of behavior can be mediated by the perception of barriers. It was concluded, according to the main reported barriers, that the promotion of physical activity to institutionalized elderly should emphasizes, as priorities, the awareness of the risks of a sedentary lifestyle and the benefits of physical activity even in the presence of diseases, in addition to the preparation of a safe environment and without individual costs.

Análise de taxa metabólica basal e composição corporal de idosos do sexo masculino antes e seis meses após exercícios de resistência

O objetivo deste trabalho foi o de comparar a taxa metabolica basal e a composicao corporal antes e apos um programa de exercicio de resistencia. Foram selecionados 46 voluntarios do sexo masculino com idade entre 60 e 75 (66,97 ± 4,80 anos), que foram distribuidos aleatoriamente em dois grupos: 1) grupo controle, que foi orientado a nao alterar seus habitos rotineiros e nao se engajar em nenhum programa de exercicio fisico; e 2) grupo experimental, que participou de um programa de exercicios em cicloergometro tres vezes por semana (60 minutos) em dias alternados por seis meses, com intensidade prescrita referente a frequencia cardiaca do limiar ventilatorio 1 (LV-1). Os voluntarios foram submetidos a avaliacao da composicao corporal (DEXA); calorimetria indireta, analise sanguinea e teste ergoespirometrico. Apos o periodo de estudo, foram observados decrescimo significativo nos hormonios tireoidianos e mudancas no metabolismo basal em ambos os grupos, mas nao foram constatadas alteracoes na composicao corporal. No entanto, o grupo experimental apresentou aumento significativo no consumo de oxigenio pico e na carga de trabalho referente a intensidade do LV-1. Os dados sugerem que um programa de exercicios aerobios na intensidade do LV-1 nao e suficiente para provocar alteracoes favoraveis no metabolismo basal e composicao corporal de idosos, embora promova beneficios cardiovasculares.El objetivo de este trabajo fue el de comparar la tasa metabolica basal y la composicion corporal antes y despues de un programa de ejercicio de endurance. Fueron seleccionados 46 voluntarios del sexo masculino con edad entre 60 y 75 (66.97± 4.80 anos) que fueron distribuidos aleatoriamente en 2 grupos: 1) grupo control, que fue orientado a no alterar sus habitos rutinarios y no se encajar en ningun programa de ejercicio fisico; y 2) grupo experimental, que participo de un programa de ejercicios en cicloergometro 3 veces por semana (60 minutos) en dias alternados por seis meses con intensidad prescrita referente a la frecuencia cardiaca del umbral ventilatorio I (VT-1). Los voluntarios fueron sometidos a una evaluacion de la composicion corporal (DEXA); calorimetria indirecta, analisis sanguineo y test ergoespirometrico. Despues del periodo de estudio, fue observado un decrecimiento significativo en las hormonas tiroideas y cambios en el metabolismo basal en ambos grupos, pero no fueron observadas alteraciones en la composicion corporal. En tanto, el grupo experimental presento un aumento significativo en el consumo de oxigeno pico y en la carga de trabajo referente a la intensidad del VT-1. Los datos sugieren que un programa de ejercicios aerobicos en la intensidad del VT-1 no es suficiente para provocar alteraciones favorables en el metabolismo basal y en la composicion corporal de anosos, asi mismo promueva beneficios cardiovasculares.