Perceived Exertion and Affect From Tai Chi, Yoga, and Stretching Classes for Elderly Women.

Tai Chi, yoga, and stretching regimens are gaining popularity as alternatives to more traditional exercise, but there is scant research regarding participants' perceived exertion and affective responses to these practices. We compared experienced states of perceived exertion, feelings of pleasure/displeasure, and arousal in 70 elderly women enrolled in groups of Tai Chi ( n = 26), yoga ( n = 25), or stretching ( n = 19) classes. Mean rates of perceived exertion, feelings of pleasure, and arousal responses were significantly higher over the time course of all three groups, while the overall mean perceived exertion ( Somewhat Hard on the Borg CR-10 scale) and pleasure responses (∼ Very Good on the Feeling Scale) were similar between them. The circumplex model of affect showed that changes occurred in the high-activation pleasure quadrant (energy on the Felt Arousal Scale). From a practical perspective, the exercise intensity and affective responses elicited during these classes made participants feel good and infused with energy, likely creating a positive memory and reinforcing continued physical activity participation.

Association of fitness and waist circumference with hypertension in Brazilian elderly women.

BACKGROUND: The protective effect of cardiorespiratory fitness, regardless of obesity, has been recognized in adults. However, this association is still not clear in elderly individuals. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between hypertension and cardiorespiratory fitness in 1,064 elderly Brazilian women. METHODS: Central obesity was estimated by waist circumference and cardiorespiratory fitness by the 6-minutes walk test. ANOVA one way, chi-square and logistic regression were used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of hypertension was 53.9%. The central obesity group had higher odds for hypertension when compared with the non-central-obesity group, in the same cardiorespiratory fitness group. Furthermore, both the central obesity and non-central obesity groups had a progressive increase in the odds ratio for hypertension, from the highest to lowest fitness groups, indicating an inverse relation between fitness and central adiposity. The non-central obesity group had the lowest odds ratios (OR), 1.49 (95%IC 0.97-2.28) and 1.54 (95%IC 0.94-2.51); whereas the central obesity group had an OR of 2.08 (95%IC 1.47-2.93), 2.79 (95%IC 1.79-4.33) and 3.09 (95%IC 1.86-5.12). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicated that the waist circumference measurement is a strong predictor of hypertension and suggested that the protective effect of cardiorespiratory fitness can be extended to elderly women, even to those with central obesity.

Respostas fisiológicas e perceptuais obtidas durante a caminhada em ritmo autosselecionado por mulheres com diferentes índices de massa corporal / Physiological and perceived responses obtained during gait in self-selected rhythm by women with different body mass indices

As respostas fisiológicas e perceptuais verificadas durante a caminhada vêm sendo amplamente pesquisadas; contudo, poucas investigações buscaram comparar essas respostas em grupos de diferentes índices de massa corporal durante caminhada em ritmo autosselecionado. O objetivo do presente estudo foi comparar as respostas fisiológicas e perceptuais entre mulheres com peso normal (PN), sobrepeso (SP) e obesas (OB) durante a caminhada em ritmo autosselecionado. Participaram 66 mulheres sedentárias, com idade entre 20 e 45 anos, designadas em três grupos de acordo com o seu índice de massa corporal: (i) PN (18,5 - 24,9kg·m-2, n = 22); (ii) SP (25,0 - 29,9kg·m-2, n = 22); e (iii) OB (> 30,0kg·m-2, n = 22). Cada participante realizou uma sessão de familiarização e duas sessões experimentais (teste incremental máximo e teste de 20 minutos de caminhada em ritmo autosselecionado), a fim de determinar as respostas fisiológicas (frequência cardíaca, FC; e consumo de oxigênio, VO2) e perceptuais (percepção subjetiva de esforço, PSE) de cada sessão. A ANOVA one-way foi empregada para comparar as respostas fisiológicas e perceptuais obtidas durante a caminhada em ritmo autosselecionado entre os três protocolos experimentais, empregando-se o teste post hoc de Tukey com p < 0,05. Embora os sujeitos com obesidade tenham registrado menor velocidade de caminhada (1,30 ± 0,13m·s-1) comparativamente aos com peso normal e sobrepeso (1,69 ± 0,11 e 1,58 ± 0,22m·s-1, respectivamente) (p < 0,05), eles apresentaram similar resposta fisiológica (58,7 ± 8,6; 63,1 ± 12,6; 64,8 ± 11,1 por centoVO2 e 75,1 ± 7,8; 78,8 ± 8,5; 78,7 ± 7,2 por centoFCmax, para os grupos normal, sobrepeso e obeso, respectivamente). Além disso, as respostas perceptuais também não diferiram entre os grupos experimentais (11,6 ± 1,6; 11,7 ± 1,6; 12,2 ± 1,8, respectivamente). Desse modo, pode-se concluir que, independente do IMC, mulheres adultas apresentam respostas fisiológicas e perceptuais ...

Physiological and perceived responses verified during gait have been widely studied; however, few investigations have tried to compare these responses in groups of different body mass indices during gait in self-selected rhythm. The aim of the present study was to compare the physiological and perceived responses among normative (N), overweighed (OW) and obese (OB) women during gait in self-selected rhythm. Sixty-six sedentary women, aged between 20 and 45 years and divided in three groups according to their body mass indices participated in the study: (i) N (18.5 - 24.9kg·m-2, n = 22); (ii) OW (25.0 - 29.9kg·m-2, n = 22) and (iii) OB (> 30.0kg·m-2, n = 22). Each participant performed a familiarization session and two experimental sessions (maximal incremental test and 20m-walking test in self-selected rhythm) to determine the physiological (heart rate - HR and oxygen consumption - O2) and perceived responses (perceived exertion - PE) of each session. One-way ANOVA was applied to compare the physiological and perceived responses obtained during gait in self-selected rhythm among the three experimental protocols, applying the Tukey's post hoc test with p < 0.05. Although the obese subjects have registered lower walking velocity (1.30 ± 0.13m·s-1) compared with the normative and overweighed ones (1.69 ± 0.11 and 1.58 ± 0.22m·s-1, respectively) (p < 0.05), they presented similar physiological response ((58.7 ± 8.6; 63.1 ± 12.6; 64.8 ± 11.1 percentO2 and 75.1 ± 7.8; 78.8 ± 8.5; 78.7 ± 7.2 percentHRmax, for the normative, overweighed and obese groups, respectively). Moreover, the perceived responses did not differ between experimental groups (11.6 ± 1.6; 11.7 ± 1.6; 12.2 ± 1.8, respectively). Therefore, it can be concluded that regardless of the BMI, adult women present similar physiological and perceived responses during gait in self-selected rhythm even when walking in different velocities.

Associação de aptidão cardiorrespiratória e circunferência abdominal com hipertensão em mulheres idosas brasileiras / Asociación de aptitud cardiorrespiratoria y circunferencia abdominal con hipertensión en mujeres adultas mayores brasileñas / Association of fitness and waist circumference with hypertension in Brazilian elderly women

FUNDAMENTO: O efeito protetor da aptidão cardiorrespiratória tem sido reconhecido nos adultos. Entretanto, essa relação ainda não se mostra esclarecida nos idosos. OBJETIVO: Analisar a associação entre hipertensão e aptidão cardiorrespiratória (ACR) em 1.064 mulheres idosas Brasileiras. MÉTODO: A obesidade central foi estimada pela circunferência abdominal (CA) e a ACR pelo teste de caminhada de 6 minutos. Os testes de ANOVA one-way, Qui-quadrado e regressão logística foram usados para a análise estatística. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de hipertensão foi de 53,9 por cento. O grupo obesidade central apresentou maior risco para hipertensão quando comparado ao grupo não-obesidade central, mesmo pertencendo ao mesmo nível de ACR. Além disso, ambos os grupos mostraram um aumento progressivo do risco para hipertensão do maior para o menor grupo de ACR, indicando uma relação inversa entre ACR e obesidade central. O grupo não-obesidade central obteve o menor odds ratio (OR) de 1,49 (95 por centoIC 0,97-2,28) e 1,54 (95 por centoIC 0,94-2,51); enquanto que no grupo obesidade central, o OR foi 2,08 (95 por centoIC 1,47-2,93), 2,79 (95 por centoIC 1,79-4,33) e 3,09 (95 por centoIC 1,86-5,12). CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados encontrados indicaram que a CC é um forte preditor de hipertensão, e que o efeito protetor da ACR pode ser estendido às mulheres idosas, mesmo àquelas com obesidade central.

BACKGROUND: The protective effect of cardiorespiratory fitness, regardless of obesity, has been recognized in adults. However, this association is still not clear in elderly individuals. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between hypertension and cardiorespiratory fitness in 1,064 elderly Brazilian women. METHODS: Central obesity was estimated by waist circumference and cardiorespiratory fitness by the 6-minutes walk test. ANOVA one way, chi-square and logistic regression were used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of hypertension was 53.9 percent. The central obesity group had higher odds for hypertension when compared with the non-central-obesity group, in the same cardiorespiratory fitness group. Furthermore, both the central obesity and non-central obesity groups had a progressive increase in the odds ratio for hypertension, from the highest to lowest fitness groups, indicating an inverse relation between fitness and central adiposity. The non-central obesity group had the lowest odds ratios (OR), 1.49 (95 percentIC 0.97-2.28) and 1.54 (95 percentIC 0.94-2.51); whereas the central obesity group had an OR of 2.08 (95 percentIC 1.47-2.93), 2.79 (95 percentIC 1.79-4.33) and 3.09 (95 percentIC 1.86-5.12). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicated that the waist circumference measurement is a strong predictor of hypertension and suggested that the protective effect of cardiorespiratory fitness can be extended to elderly women, even to those with central obesity.

FUNDAMENTO: El efecto protector de la aptitud cardiorrespiratoria ha sido reconocido en los adultos. Sin embargo, esa relación todavía no está aclarada en las personas adultas mayores. OBJETIVO: Analizar la asociación entre hipertensión y aptitud cardiorrespiratoria (ACR) en 1.064 mujeres adultas mayores brasileñas. MÉTODOS: La obesidad central se estimó por la circunferencia abdominal (CA) y la ACR por el test de marcha de 6 minutos. Se emplearon las pruebas de ANOVA one-way, Chi-cuadrado y regresión logística para el análisis estadístico. RESULTADOS: La prevalencia de hipertensión fue de un 53,9 por ciento. El grupo obesidad central presentó mayor riesgo para hipertensión cuando comparado al grupo no-obesidad central, aun perteneciendo al mismo nivel de ACR. Además de ello, ambos grupos revelaron un aumento progresivo del riesgo para hipertensión del mayor para el menor grupo de ACR, indicando una relación inversa entre ACR y obesidad central. El grupo no-obesidad central obtuvo el menor odds ratio (OR) de 1,49 (95 por cientoIC 0,97-2,28) y 1,54 (95 por cientoIC 0,94-2,51); mientras que en el grupo obesidad central, el OR fue 2,08 (95 por cientoIC 1,47-2,93), 2,79 (95 por cientoIC 1,79-4,33) y 3,09 (95 por cientoIC 1,86-5,12). CONCLUSIÓN: Los resultados encontrados indicaron que la CC es un fuerte predictor de hipertensión, y que el efecto protector de la ACR puede extenderse a las mujeres adultas mayores, aun a las con obesidad central.

Analysis of the lipid profile of elderly women in Curitiba - Parana.

BACKGROUND: Dyslipidemia is considered one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is more frequent in older individuals. However, evidence suggests that a large number of elderly individuals is not aware of their lipid profile status; additionally, many of them do not have access to adequate treatment. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the lipid profile and the frequency of lipid-lowering therapy use in elderly women from the city of Curitiba, state of Parana, Brazil. METHODS: The sample consisted of 312 women (mean age = 68.8; SD = 6.0 years). The lipid profile was determined by plasma levels of total cholesterol (TC), high-density cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides (TG). The number of subjects that reported being on lipid-lowering therapy was self-reported; therefore, the groups were divided into two subgroups, satisfactory and unsatisfactory. RESULTS: A high prevalence of individuals with unsatisfactory levels of lipid profile components was observed in the group that self-reported not being on lipid-lowering therapy; of these, 74.2% of women with CVD presented levels above the LDL-C goal. On the other hand, 45.8 to 49.3% of the individuals from the group that self-reported being on lipid-lowering therapy had unsatisfactory values of TC, TG and LDL-C, and 25.4% had HDL-C levels lower than 40.0 mg/dl. CONCLUSION: The results of this investigation indicate a high prevalence of elderly women, regardless of self-reports of being on lipid-lowering therapy, with an unsatisfactory lipid profile, mainly related to LDL-C goal for those individuals with CVD.

Análise do perfil lipídico de mulheres idosas em Curitiba - Paraná / Analysis of the lipid profile of elderly woman in Curitiba - Parana

FUNDAMENTO: A dislipidemia é considerada um dos principais fatores de risco para a doença cardiovascular, que, por sua vez, é mais freqüente em indivíduos de idade avançada. Contudo, evidências sugerem que uma parcela da população idosa desconhece a característica de seu perfil lipídico, assim como muitos não possuem acesso a um tratamento adequado. OBJETIVO: Analisar o perfil lipídico e a freqüência da utilização da terapia hipolipemiante de mulheres idosas em Curitiba - Paraná. MÉTODOS: A amostra foi composta por 312 mulheres (idade média 68,8; desvio padrão 6,0 anos). O perfil lipídico foi determinado por meio das dosagens de colesterol total (CT), colesterol de lipoproteína de alta densidade (HDL-C), colesterol de lipoproteína de baixa densidade (LDL-C) e triglicerídeos (TG). A utilização da terapia hipolipemiante foi verificada por meio de auto-relato, em seguida os grupos foram divididos em dois subgrupos, satisfatório e insatisfatório. RESULTADOS: Foi encontrada uma grande prevalência de indivíduos com valores insatisfatórios nos componentes do perfil lipídico, no grupo que relatou não estar sob terapia hipolipemiante: 74,2 por cento das mulheres portadoras de doenças cardiovasculares (DCV) apresentaram valores superiores à meta lipêmica para o LDL-C (<100,0 mg/dl). Por sua vez, 45,8 por cento a 49,3 por cento dos indivíduos do grupo que relatou utilizar medicamento hipolipemiante apresentaram valores insatisfatórios para CT, TG e LDL-C, e 25,4 por cento obtiveram valores de HDL-C inferiores a 40,0 mg/dl. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados desta investigação indicam uma alta prevalência de mulheres idosas, independentemente do auto-relato de utilizar terapia hipolipemiante, com o perfil lipídico desfavorável, principalmente em relação à meta lipêmica para o LDL-C nas mulheres idosas portadoras de DCV.

BACKGROUND: Dyslipidemia is considered one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is more frequent in older individuals. However, evidence suggests that a large number of elderly individuals is not aware of their lipid profile status; additionally, many of them do not have access to adequate treatment. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the lipid profile and the frequency of lipid-lowering therapy use in elderly women from the city of Curitiba, state of Parana, Brazil. METHODS: The sample consisted of 312 women (mean age = 68.8; SD = 6.0 years). The lipid profile was determined by plasma levels of total cholesterol (TC), high-density cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides (TG). The number of subjects that reported being on lipid-lowering therapy was self-reported; therefore, the groups were divided into two subgroups, satisfactory and unsatisfactory. RESULTS: A high prevalence of individuals with unsatisfactory levels of lipid profile components was observed in the group that self-reported not being on lipid-lowering therapy; of these, 74.2 percent of women with CVD presented levels above the LDL-C goal. On the other hand, 45.8 to 49.3 percent of the individuals from the group that self-reported being on lipid-lowering therapy had unsatisfactory values of TC, TG and LDL-C, and 25.4 percent had HDL-C levels lower than 40.0 mg/dl. CONCLUSION: The results of this investigation indicate a high prevalence of elderly women, regardless of self-reports of being on lipid-lowering therapy, with an unsatisfactory lipid profile, mainly related to LDL-C goal for those individuals with CVD.

Relationship between optimal lactate removal power output and Olympic triathlon performance.

To investigate the relationships between race performance and parameters at the optimal power output for lactate removal, 10 male triathletes were examined. Exercise intensities for lactate removal were defined by calculating 50% of difference (DeltaT) between running velocity (V(r)) at individual anaerobic threshold (IAT) and at individual ventilatory threshold (IVT), then choosing 3 V(r): at IVT plus 50% DeltaT (IVT(+50%DeltaT)), at IVT, and at IVT minus 50% DeltaT (IVT(-50%DeltaT)). After a 6-minute treadmill run at 75% of difference between IAT and V(.-)O2max, all triathletes performed a 30-minute active recovery run at IVT(+50%DeltaT), IVT, and IVT(-50%DeltaT). Capillary blood lactate was determined at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 20, 25, and 30 minutes of recovery. The IVT(-50%DeltaT) recovery was the most efficient V(r) for lactate removal. Running velocities at IVT and IVT(-50%DeltaT) were highly (p < 0.01) related to cycle, run, and overall race time. V(.-)O2max values at IAT, IVT(+50%DeltaT), and IVT were less (p < 0.05) related to split and overall race time. The variable most related to overall race time, as determined by stepwise multiple linear regression analysis, was the V(r) at IVT(-50%DeltaT) (r = 0.87, p = 0.001). The R(2) value of 0.76 indicated that V(r) at IVT(-50%DeltaT) could account for 76% of the variance in triathlon race time. This study shows that the race performances of triathletes are highly related to the V(r) at which the most efficient lactate removal (IVT(-50%DeltaT)) occurs. These findings suggest that the assessment of V(r) at IVT and IAT (from which V(r) at IVT(-50%DeltaT) are calculated) may be a useful method for monitoring training-induced adaptations and performance improvements in athletes who participate in Olympic triathlons.