The effect of muscle actions on the level of connective tissue damage.

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of concentric with eccentric muscle actions on the resulting level of damage to connective tissues by urinary concentration of hydroxyproline. Twenty-one male volunteers were divided into control group (CG), experimental concentric group (ECG), and experimental eccentric group (EEG). The measures of hydroxyproline were performed at three times: pretest, fourth week, and posttest. Biceps curl and chest press exercises also were performed with three sets of 10 repetitions two times per week for both experimental groups. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a significant difference between pretest of the CG and pretest of the ECG (p = 0.002), and between pretest and posttest for the EEG (p = 0.029). Therefore, this study concluded that the level of damage to the connective tissue is greater when exercises involving eccentric muscle actions are performed. The continuity of training, however might reduce this damage.

A influência do ciclo menstrual na flexibilidade em praticantes de ginástica de academia / The influence of the menstrual cycle on the flexibility in practitioners of gymnastics at fitness centers

Este estudo teve por objetivo investigar se existem diferenças no grau de flexibilidade nas fases do ciclo menstrual de mulheres adultas jovens praticantes de ginástica de academia. A amostra intencional foi composta de 20 mulheres, com idade de 18 a 35 anos (25,8 ± 6,06), com o ciclo menstrual regular (28 até 32 dias) e que não faziam uso de anticoncepcional oral. Dados referentes ao ciclo menstrual e atividade física habitual foram obtidos através da aplicação de um questionário. A flexibilidade foi aferida através da goniometria, utilizando-se oito movimentos, em três fases do ciclo menstrual. Os sujeitos foram submetidos a um teste hormonal, em que foram verificadas as taxas de estrona, estradiol e progesterona. O tratamento estatístico foi feito através de análise descritiva e inferencial (teste de Kolmogorov-Smirnov e ANOVA). Os resultados encontrados demonstraram que não houve diferença significativa (p < 0,05) no grau de flexibilidade do grupo estudado, durante as fases folicular, ovulatória e lútea do ciclo menstrual.

This study aims to verify if there are differences in the degree of flexibility in the phases of the menstrual cycle of adult young women who practice gymnastics at fitness centers. A sample of 20 adult women aged between 18 and 35 years (25.8 ± 6.06) was studied; they had regular menstrual cycle (28 up to 32 days) and were not taking oral contraceptives. Information concerning the menstrual cycle and routine physical activity was obtained through a questionnaire. The flexibility was evaluated through the goniometry, using eight movements, in three phases of the menstrual cycle. The subjects were submitted to a hormonal test, where the estrone, estradiol and progesterone levels were verified. The statistics treatment was conducted through descriptive and inferential analysis; Kolmogorov-Smirnov's test and ANOVA were used to verify hypothesis. The results demonstrated that no significant differences (p < 0.05) in the flexibility degree were observed during the follicular, ovulatory and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle.

Este estudio ha tenido por objetivo investigar si existen diferencias en el grado de flexibilidad en las fases del ciclo menstrual de mujeres adultas jóvenes practicantes de gimnasia de academia. La muestra intencional fue compuesta de 20 mujeres, con edades entre 18 a 35 años (25,8 ± 6,06), con ciclo menstrual regular (28 a 32 días) y que no hacían uso de anticonceptivo oral. Datos referentes al ciclo menstrual y actividad física habitual fueron obtenidos a través de una encuesta. La flexibilidad fue medida a través de la goniometría, utilizándose ocho movimientos, en tres fases del ciclo menstrual. Los individuos fueron sometidos a un test hormonal, en donde se verificaron la tasa de estrona, estradiol y progesterona. El tratamiento estadístico fue hecho a través del análisis descriptivo y de inferencia (test de Kolmogorov-Smirnov y ANOVA). Los resultados encontrados mostraron que no hubo diferencia significativa (p < 0,05) en el grado de flexibilidad del grupo estudiado, durante las fases folicular, ovular y final del ciclo menstrual.