Qualidade de vida, vitalidade e força de preensão manual em idosos praticantes de exercício físico / Calidad de vida, vitalidad y fuerza de prensión manual en personas mayores que hacen ejercicio / Quality of life, vitality and handgrip strength in elderly practitioners of physical exercise

O envelhecimento está associado a patologias crónicas, que podem ser prevenidas ou retardadas através do envolvimento em comportamentos saudáveis, como a prática regular de Exercício Físico (EF). O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar a qualidade de vida, vitalidade e força de preensão manual de idosos participantes em programas comunitários de EF, bem como analisar a relação da prática de EF com estas variáveis. Recorreu-se a uma amostra composta por 81 indivíduos, 49 do sexo feminino e 32 do sexo masculino, com idades compreendidas entre os 65 e os 85 anos (72.33±5.02). Os resultados indicam-nos que os elementos do género masculino apresentavam valores superiores nas variáveis força de preensão manual (p<0.001; η2=0.510), vitalidade subjetiva (p=0.05; η2=0.005) e no domínio “intimidade” da qualidade de vida (p=0.01; η2=0.005). Relativamente à análise das relações entre as variáveis, no género feminino a força de preensão manual está relacionada com a frequência semanal (r=0.42; p=0.003), com o número de horas de prática (r=0.49; p<0.001), e com a qualidade de vida geral (r=0.35; p=0.015). Ainda no género feminino, verificamos a existência de uma regressão linear significativa da frequência de prática semanal (R2 ajustado=0.23; p<0.001) e do número de horas semanal (R2 ajustado=0.30; p<0.001), com a força de preensão manual. Já no género masculino, a força de preensão manual correlaciona-se com o número de horas de prática semanal (r=0.38; p=0.033). Já a vitalidade está relacionada com a força de preensão manual (r=0.49; p=0.004) e com a qualidade de vida geral (r=0.61; p<0.001). Parece assim evidente o papel do EF por parte desta população, bem como a inclusão do treino de força uma vez que esta variável parece estar associada a uma melhor perceção de qualidade de vida e de vitalidade pelo idoso. (AU)

El envejecimiento se asocia con patologías crónicas, que pueden prevenirse o retrasarse al participar en comportamientos saludables, como el ejercicio físico regular (EF). Así, el objetivo de este estudio fue caracterizar la calidad de vida, vitalidad y fuerza de la empuñadura de los participantes de edad avanzada en programas comunitarios de EF, así como analizar la relación de la práctica con estas variables. Se utilizó una muestra de 81 individuos, 49 mujeres y 32 hombres, de entre 65 y 85 años (72.33±5.02). Los resultados indican que los elementos masculinos presentaron valores más altos en las variables fuerza de prensión manual (p<0.001; η2 =0.510), vitalidad subjetiva (p=0.05; η2=0.005) y en el dominio "η2=0.005). En cuanto al análisis de las relaciones, en las mujeres la fuerza de prensión manual está asociada con la frecuencia semanal (r=0.42; p=0.003), con el número de horas de práctica por semana (r=0.49; p<0.001), y con la calidad de vida general (r=0.35; p=0.015). También en las mujeres, verificamos una regresión lineal significativa de la frecuencia semanal (R2 ajustado =0.23; p<0.001) y el número de horas de práctica por semana (R2 ajustado= 0.30; p <0.001), con fuerza de prensión manual. En los hombres, verificamos que la fuerza de presión manual está relacionada con el número de horas de práctica semanal (r=0.38; p=0.033). La vitalidad está relacionada con la fuerza de prensión manual (r=0.49; p=0.004), y la calidad de vida general (r=0.61; p<0.001). Así, parece evidente el papel del EF por parte de esta población, así como la inclusión del entrenamiento de fuerza, ya que esta variable parece estar asociada a una mejor percepción de la calidad de vida y vitalidad por parte de los ancianos. (AU)

Ageing is associated with chronic pathologies, which can be prevented or delayed through the involvement in healthy behaviours, such as regular physical exercise (PE). The aims of this study were to characterize the quality of life, vitality and handgrip strength of elderly people, participants in PE community programs, as well as to analyze the relationship of PE practice with these variables. A sample of 81 individuals, 49 females and 32 males, aged between 65 and 85 years (72.33 ± 5.02) were recruited. The results showed that men had higher values in the variables handgrip strength (p<0.001; 2 =0.510), subjective vitality (p=0.05; 2=0.005) and in the “intimacy” domain of quality of life (p=0.01; 2 =0.005). Regarding the analysis of the relationships, in females, handgrip strength is related with the weekly frequency (r=0.42; p=0.003), with the number of practice hours per week (r=0.49; p<0.001), and with general quality of life (r=0.35; p=0.015). Still in females, we verified the existence of a significant linear regression of the weekly frequency of practice (adjusted R2=0.23; p<0.001) and the number of weekly hours (adjusted R2=0.30; p<0.001), with handgrip strength. In males, we verified that handgrip strength is related with the number of hours of weekly practice (r=0.38; p=0.033). Finally, vitality is related with handgrip strength (r=0.49; p=0.004), and general quality of life (r=0.61; p<0.001). Thus, the role of PE practice in this population seems evident, not only for the associated physical, mental, and social benefits but also for the role it appears to play in the perception of quality of life and subjective vitality. Moreover, it still seems essential to include strength training, which appears to be associated with a better perception of quality of life and vitality by the elderly. (AU)

Choosing sheep (Ovis aries) as animal model for temporomandibular joint research: Morphological, histological and biomechanical characterization of the joint disc.

Preclinical trials are essential to the development of scientific technologies. Remarkable molecular and cellular research has been done using small animal models. However, significant differences exist regarding the articular behavior between these models and humans. Thus, large animal models may be more appropriate to perform trials involving the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The aim of this work was to make a morphological (anatomic dissection and white light 3D scanning system), histological (TMJ in bloc was removed for histologic analysis) and biomechanical characterization (tension and compression tests) of sheep TMJ comparing the obtained results with human data. Results showed that sheep processus condylaris and fossa mandibularis are anatomically similar to the same human structures. TMJ disc has an elliptical perimeter, thinner in the center than in periphery. Peripheral area acts as a ring structure supporting the central zone. The disc cells display both fibroblast and chondrocyte-like morphology. Marginal area is formed by loose connective tissue, with some chondrocyte-like cells and collagen fibers in diverse orientations. Discs obtained a tensile modulus of 3.97±0.73MPa and 9.39±1.67MPa, for anteroposterior and mediolateral assessment. The TMJ discs presented a compressive modulus (E) of 446.41±5.16MPa and their maximum stress value (σmax) was 18.87±1.33MPa. Obtained results suggest that these animals should be considered as a prime model for TMJ research and procedural training. Further investigations in the field of oromaxillofacial surgery involving TMJ should consider sheep as a good animal model due to its resemblance of the same joint in humans.

The interaction between intra-cyclic variation of the velocity and mean swimming velocity in young competitive swimmers.

The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the intra-cyclic variation of the horizontal velocity (dv) and the velocity of the 4 competitive swimming techniques in young swimmers. 45 young swimmers performed a set of maximal 4 × 25 m (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly stroke) swims with in water start. A speed-meter cable was attached to the swimmer's hip. The dv and the swimming velocity were analyzed. Within-subject tests presented significant variations in the dv based on the swimming technique. Post-hoc test revealed significant differences across all pair-wised swimming techniques (P<0.001), except for the comparison between freestyle and backstroke (P=0.98). The dv was higher in the breaststroke, followed by the butterfly, the backstroke and the freestyle. The quadratic models had the best goodness-of-fit and the lower error of estimation for the relationship between the dv and the swimming velocity in all swimming techniques (0.24 ≤ R(2) ≤ 0.51). As a conclusion, there is a non-linear relationship where the increase of swimming velocity leads to a decrease of dv in young competitive swimmers.