ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Limb loss affects quality of life, well-being, and autonomy. The World Health Organization has launched a global action plan to reduce physical inactivity and presented recommendations of physical activity for people living with disability. Knowledge of the characteristics of people with lower limb amputation regarding physical activity is important. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify the quantity and type of physical activity done by people with lower limb amputation. METHODS: The sample (N = 149) included adults aged 53.08 (17.24) years old with lower limb loss. Data collection was performed through the application of a sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical data sheet and the Brazilian version of the Physical Activity Scale for Individuals with Physical Disabilities. RESULTS: The total Physical Activity Scale for Individuals with Physical Disabilities score was between 0 and 65.79 metabolic equivalents of task per hour per day, which suggests low practice of physical activities. The most frequently practiced activities (79.9%) were those that involved stationary behavior. Women carried out more domestic activities, and subjects who used lower limb prosthesis and those with traumatic amputation reported higher practice of physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: People living with lower limb amputation, from different regions of Brazil, have low levels of physical activity and mainly carry out activities of stationary behavior.
Subject(s)
Artificial Limbs , Quality of Life , Adolescent , Adult , Amputation, Surgical , Brazil , Exercise , Female , Humans , Lower Extremity/surgeryABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Elastic Resistance Exercise (ERE) has already demonstrated its effectiveness in older adults and, when combined with the resistance generated by fixed loads, in adults. This review summarizes the effectiveness of ERE performed as isolated method on muscle strength and functional performance in healthy adults. METHODS: A database search was performed (MEDLine, Cochrane Library, PEDro and Web of Knowledge) to identify controlled clinical trials in English language. The mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and overall effect size were calculated for all comparisons. The PEDro scale was used assess the methodological quality. RESULTS: From the 93 articles identified by the search strategy, 5 met the inclusion criteria, in which 3 presented high quality (PEDro > 6). Meta-analyses demonstrated that the effects of ERE were superior when compared with passive control on functional performance and muscle strength. When compared with active controls, the effect of ERE was inferior on function performance and with similar effect on muscle strength. CONCLUSIONS: ERE are effective to improve functional performance and muscle strength when compared with no intervention, in healthy adults. ERE are not superior to other methods of resistance training to improve functional performance and muscle strength in health adults.
Subject(s)
Muscle Strength/physiology , Resistance Training/methods , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young AdultABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The 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. METHODS: The 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. RESULTS: The 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. CONCLUSIONS: These 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.
