Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Performance in Multiple Domains of Executive Functions in School-Aged Adolescents.

The objective of this study was to investigate the association between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and performance in multiple domains of executive functions in school-aged adolescents. A sample of 132 adolescents (43% girls) aged 11-16 years were included in this cross-sectional study. Each participant completed a progressive aerobic cardiovascular endurance running (PACER) test, computerized cognitive tasks (Attentional Network, Berg's Card Sorting, Go/No-Go oddball, Sternberg's Working Memory, and Tower of London) and questionnaire for daytime sleepiness, as well as other factors that might influence cognitive performance (age, sex, school year, pubertal stage, and body mass index - BMI). Generalized linear model was used to calculate the coefficient estimates (ß) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) for the cognitive tasks using PACER laps as a predictor, controlling for potential confounding variables. There was a negatively association of PACER laps with planning (ß = -17.1, 95% CI -31.9, -2.3) and solution (ß = -44.6, 95% CI -75.1, -14.2) time in performing the Tower of London task, as well as with perseverative errors in performing Berg's task (ß = -0.073, 95% CI -0.133, -0.013). Moderating effect of sex was found for the association of PACER laps with completed categories and perseverative errors in Berg's task (p < 0.05). Mediating effect of BMI was found for the association between PACER laps and NoGo task, revealing a full mediator accounted for 81% of the total effect mediated (standardized indirect effect, -0.069, 95% CI -0.140, -0.020; standardized direct effect, 0.011, 95% CI -0.149, 0.165). No association was found for Attentional or Sternberg's tasks. The findings suggest that school-aged adolescents with higher CRF level showed better planning and problem-solving abilities and cognitive flexibility. Additionally, the positive association of CRF with cognitive flexibility was sex-moderated and with inhibitory control was BMI-mediated.

O efeito antidepressivo do exercício físico em indivíduos com transtornos mentais / Antidepressant effect of exercise on individuals with mental disorders to estimate the performance kinematics parameters in speed races

Este artigo revisa estudos que investigaram a ação antidepressiva do exercício físico no tratamento terapêutico de transtornos mentais. O levantamento bibliográfico foi realizado na base de dados Medline, Embase, Sport Discus, PsycLit, PsicoInfo, WebSciense, usando os seguintes unitermos: physical exercise, physical activity, mental heath, mental disorder, depression. Foram consultados estudos publicados entre os anos 2000 e 2009 que descrevem a associação entre sintomas de depressão e o exercício físico. Adicionalmente, são descritos parâmetros para a prescrição e controle de programas de exercícios físicos voltados para indivíduos com transtornos mentais. Apesar dos problemas metodológicos apontados por alguns autores, uma ampla base de evidências teóricas ressaltando a ação antidepressiva do exercício físico aqui reunido indica que o desenvolvimento da aptidão física pode ser benéfico para o tratamento terapêutico de indivíduos com transtornos mentais.

This article reviews studies that investigated the antidepressant action of physical exercise in the therapeutic treatment of mental disorders. The review was conducted in the Medline, Embase, Sport Discus, Psyclit, PsychoInfo, WebSciense, using the following keywords: physical exercise, physical activity, mental heath, mental disorder, depression. Published reviews, between the years of 2000 and 2009, that described the association of depressive symptoms and physical exercise, were consulted. Additionally, parameters are described for prescription control and physical exercise programs aimed at individuals with mental disorders. Despite the methodological problems pointed out by some authors, a broad base of theoretical evidence, gathered here, highlights the effect that physical activities has on antidepressant action, indicating that the development of physical fitness may be beneficial for the therapeutic treatment of individuals with mental disorder.

Percepçao subjetiva do esforço em individuaos hipertensos e normotensos durante a execuçao do teste ergometrico / Subjective perception of the effort in hypertensive and normotensive individuals during ergometric test

Analisar a percepçao subjetiva do esforço em individuos hipertensos e normotensos do Distrito Federal, diante de estresse fisico, teste de esforço em esteira ergometrica(Protocolo de Bruce), utilizando a escala de Borg como medida quantitativa. Delineamento da investigaçao: estudo analitico transversal. Local de realizaçao: Setor de Hemodinamica do Hospital Anchieta, Taguatinga-DF. Amostra: 55 individuos comidade entre 42 e 60 anos do setor de Hemodinamica, foram divididos em dois grupos, hipertensos e normotensos, segundo criterio dod valores da pressao arterial sistolica e diastolica(PAS e PAD)em repouso e da indicaçao medica para o teste de esforço.Resultado: Analisando as pórcentagens de frequencia cardiaca maxima de reserva durante o teste ergometrico nao foram observadas diferenças estatisticamente significativas da percepçao entre os grupos (p>0,05) nos estagios, anterior e posterior á exaustao fisica e a variaçao da PA apresentou correlaçao alta entre os grupos,(r=0,99) para PAS e PAD nos estagios repouso, esforço fisico maximo, anterior e posterior á exaustao fisica. Conclusoes: A hipertensao arterial nao é um fator gerador de alteraçoes que possam distorcer a percepçao do esforço.