Cardiovascular risk and quality of life in supermarket cashiers: The role of physical activity.

BACKGROUND: Occupations might influence the employees' psychophysical conditions and an important issue is the human activity mechanization, which favors a hypokinetic work status and leads to several chronic diseases. One of the most hypokinetic occupations is the supermarket cashier, in which the individual may spend many hours a day in the same body position. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to evaluate the association between cardiovascular risk, quality of life and physical activity level in supermarket cashiers. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study which included 200 supermarket cashiers aged 20 to 41 years from São Paulo, Brazil. The following cardiovascular risk factors were evaluated: overweight, obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and tobacco smoking. Physical activity level and quality of life were assessed with the short-form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAq) and World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL), respectively. Student t test and Chi-square were carried out to evaluate mean gender comparations and frequency, respectively. Logistic regression models were applied to determine the association between cardiovascular risk factors and physical activity level. RESULTS: The prevalence for all cardiovascular risk factors was significantly high in the cashiers with a low physical activity level. However, there was a significant reduction in several risk factors in the groups with moderate and high physical activity levels. The odds ratio values were significantly reduced for the association between the cardiovascular risk factors and the moderate and high physical activity levels. The cashiers with moderate and high physical activity levels showed significantly higher quality of life scores for the social and environmental domain. CONCLUSIONS: A high physical activity level is positively related to quality of life in supermarket cashiers.

Sodium bicarbonate supplementation improves performance in isometric fatigue protocol / A suplementação de bicarbonato de sódio melhora o desempenho em protocolo de fadiga isométrico / La suplementación de bicarbonato de sodio mejora el desempeño en protocolo de fatiga isométrico

ABSTRACT Introduction: Although sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) supplementation has been shown to decrease fatigue and improve high-intensity exercise performance, the effects on maintenance of isometric contractions are not clear. Objective: To investigate the effect of NaHCO3 on the performance of individuals subjected to a fatigue protocol in an isometric exercise on the isokinetic dynamometer. Methods: Participants were 12 men in a randomized, double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled trial. Sixteen minutes after the intake of 0.3 g/kg of body mass of NaHCO3 or placebo, the participants performed an isometric fatigue protocol of right knee extension exercises during eight minutes at 70% of maximum voluntary isometric contraction. The fatigue indicator was the time point at which torque was reduced to 50% of the initial value. The length of resistance was assessed by maintaining the task over 50% of the initial torque. Lactate/blood pH concentrations and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) and pain (RPP) indexes were analyzed. The RPE of the session was evaluated 30 minutes after the test. Results: Blood pH was higher in pre-protocol and in the fatigue indicator after NaHCO3 intake, as were the blood lactate concentrations in the fatigue indicator and at the end of the protocol (p<0.001). NaHCO3 supplementation increased the time to fatigue and lessened the rate of decline of isometric peak torque at the end of the protocol (p<0.001). RPE and RPP were smaller at the end of the protocol in the NaHCO3 condition, and the RPE of the session was diminished (p<0.001). Conclusion: NaHCO3 supplementation enhances steady isometric contraction performance and reduces the internal load. Level of Evidence II; Diagnostic studies - Investigation of an examination for diagnosis.

RESUMO Introdução: A suplementação de bicarbonato de sódio (NaHCO3) tem demonstrado atenuar a fadiga e melhorar o desempenho do exercício de alta intensidade, mas os efeitos sobre a manutenção de contrações isométricas são pouco claros. Objetivo: Investigar o efeito do NaHCO3 no desempenho de indivíduos submetidos ao protocolo de fadiga em exercício isométrico no dinamômetro isocinético. Métodos: Doze homens participaram do estudo randomizado, duplo-cego, cruzado e controlado por placebo. Sessenta minutos após ingestão de 0,3 g/kg de massa corporal de NaHCO3 ou placebo, os participantes realizaram protocolo isométrico de fadiga dos extensores do joelho direito, com duração de oito minutos, a 70% da contração isométrica voluntária máxima. Foi considerado indicador de fadiga o momento em que o torque aplicado diminuiu para 50% do valor inicial. A duração da resistência foi avaliada com a manutenção da tarefa acima de 50% do torque inicial. As concentrações de lactato e pH do sangue, assim como os índices de percepção subjetiva de esforço (PSE) e dor (PSD) foram analisados. A PSE da sessão foi avaliada 30 minutos após o teste. Resultados: O pH sanguíneo foi maior pré-protocolo e no indicador de fadiga após ingestão de NaHCO3, assim como as concentrações de lactato sanguíneo no indicador da fadiga e ao final do protocolo (p < 0,001). A suplementação de NaHCO3 aumentou o tempo para atingir a fadiga e atenuou o declínio do pico de torque isométrico no final do protocolo (p < 0,001). A PSE e PSD foram menores ao final do protocolo com NaHCO3 e a PSE da sessão foi atenuada (p < 0,001). Conclusão: A suplementação de NaHCO3 melhora o desempenho de contrações isométricas sustentadas e atenua a carga interna. Nível de Evidência II; Estudos diagnósticos - Investigação de um exame para diagnóstico.

RESUMEN Introducción: La suplementación de bicarbonato de sodio (NaHCO3) ha demostrado atenuar la fatiga y mejorar el desempeño del ejercicio de alta intensidad, pero los efectos sobre el mantenimiento de contracciones isométricas son poco claros. Objetivo: Investigar el efecto de NaHCO3 en el desempeño de individuos sometidos al protocolo de fatiga en ejercicio isométrico en el dinamómetro isocinético. Métodos: Doce hombres participaron del estudio aleatorizado, doble ciego, cruzado y controlado por placebo. Sesenta minutos después de la ingestión de 0,3 g/kg de masa corporal de NaHCO3 o placebo, los participantes realizaron protocolo isométrico de fatiga de los extensores de la rodilla derecha con duración de ocho minutos a 70% de la contracción isométrica voluntaria máxima. Se consideró indicador de fatiga el momento en que el torque aplicado disminuyó para 50% del valor inicial. La duración de la resistencia fue evaluada con el mantenimiento de la tarea por encima del 50% del torque inicial. Fueron analizadas las concentraciones de lactato y pH sanguíneos, así como los índices de percepción subjetiva de esfuerzo (PSE) y dolor (PSD). La PSE de la sesión fue evaluada 30 minutos después del test. Resultados: El pH sanguíneo fue mayor pre-protocolo y en el indicador de fatiga después de la ingestión de NaHCO3, así como las concentraciones de lactato sanguíneo en el indicador de la fatiga y al final del protocolo (p<0,001). La suplementación de NaHCO3 aumentó el tiempo para alcanzar la fatiga y atenuó el declive del pico de torque isométrico al final del protocolo (p<0,001). La PSE y PSD fueron menores al final del protocolo con NaHCO3 y la PSE de la sesión fue atenuada (p<0,001). Conclusión: La suplementación de NaHCO3 mejora el rendimiento de las contracciones isométricas sostenidas y atenúa la carga interna. Nivel de Evidencia II; Estudios diagnósticos - Investigación de un examen para diagnóstico.

Does Stroke Volume Increase During an Incremental Exercise? A Systematic Review.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiac output increases during incremental-load exercise to meet metabolic skeletal muscle demand. This response requires a fast adjustment in heart rate and stroke volume. The heart rate is well known to increase linearly with exercise load; however, data for stroke volume during incremental-load exercise are unclear. Our objectives were to (a) review studies that have investigated stroke volume on incremental load exercise and (b) summarize the findings for stroke volume, primarily at maximal-exercise load. METHODS: A comprehensive review of the Cochrane Library's, Embase, Medline, SportDiscus, PubMed, and Web of Sci-ence databases was carried out for the years 1985 to the present. The search was performed between February and June 2014 to find studies evaluating changes in stroke volume during incremental-load exercise. Controlled and uncontrolled trials were evaluated for a quality score. RESULTS: The stroke volume data in maximal-exercise load are inconsistent. There is evidence to hypothesis that stroke volume increases during maximal-exercise load, but other lines of evidence indicate that stroke volume reaches a plateau under these circumstances, or even decreases. CONCLUSION: The stroke volume are unclear, include contradictory evidence. Additional studies with standardized reporting for subjects (e.g., age, gender, physical fitness, and body position), exercise test protocols, and left ventricular function are required to clarify the characteristics of stroke volume during incremental maximal-exercise load.

Effects of exercise training and photobiomodulation therapy (EXTRAPHOTO) on pain in women with fibromyalgia and temporomandibular disorder: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a syndrome most prevalent in women, in whom it is characterized mainly by chronic pain. An important issue is that many patients with FM are reported to have temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD), and the coexistence of these pathologies generates a clinical outcome of high complexity. The literature is unclear regarding an effective therapy for reducing pain in patients with both comorbidities. Exercise training and phototherapy (low-level laser therapy with light-emitting diode) are two of the approaches used to treat pain. Thus, the aim of this study is to assess the potential role of exercise training plus phototherapy in reducing chronic pain in women with FM and TMD. A further aim is to determine whether the interventions can improve quality of life and modulate endogenous serotonin. METHODS/DESIGN: A randomized controlled clinical trial will be conducted. It will involve 60 women ≥ 35 years of age with a diagnosis of FM and TMD. After recruitment, patients will be randomly allocated to one of four groups: a control group (no intervention), a group that will receive a phototherapy intervention (PHO), a group that will be prescribed muscle-stretching, aerobic, and facial exercises (EXT), or a group that will receive phototherapy plus exercise interventions (PHO + EXT). The trial will last 10 weeks, and the following outcomes will be evaluated on two separate occasions (baseline and within 24 h after the last day of the protocol). Pain intensity will be analyzed using a visual analogue scale and the McGill Pain Questionnaire, and pain thresholds will be punctuated using a digital algometer. FM symptoms will be assessed using the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, and quality of life will be determined with the 36-item Short Form Health Survey. Serotonin levels will be evaluated in salivary samples using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. DISCUSSION: This is the first randomized controlled trial in which the role of phototherapy, exercise training, and a combination of these interventions will be evaluated for chronic pain in patients with FM and TMD. The results will offer valuable clinical evidence for objective assessment of the potential benefits and risks of procedures. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02279225. Registered 27 October 2014.

Correlation of six-minute walking performance with quality of life is domain- and gender-specific in healthy older adults.

We analyzed the relationship between performance on the 6-min walk test (6MWT) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in older subjects. Our secondary aim was to determine the distance to be completed on the 6MWT for the subject to achieve a score of 50 on the Short Form (36) Health Survey (SF-36). Associations were tested using linear correlation and multivariate linear regression. Participants were 130 healthy older individuals. The predictive performance of the 6MWT based on an SF-36 score of 50 was assessed using a receiver operating characteristic curve and its area under curve (AUC). Associations were observed between physical functioning, role-emotional, social functioning, vitality, general health score, and 6MWT performance in women, after adjusting for confounding variables (coefficients: 0.57, 0.38, 0.40, and 0.46, respectively; p < 0.05). No association was found for men. The distance for the 6MWT to predict an SF-36 score of 50 was 481 m for men in the physical functioning (AUC: 0.79) and role-physical (AUC: 0.84) domains, and 420 m for women in role-emotional (AUC: 0.75), role-physical (AUC: 0.80), and general health (AUC: 0.80) domains. Our results indicate that superior 6MWT performance may be associated with better HRQoL in several domains in only healthy older women. No association between 6MWT performance and role-emotional, mental health, or vitality domains was found. We suggest that a score of 50 is represented by a 6MWT distance of 481 m for men and 420 m for women, at least in the role-physical domain.

Avaliação da potência anaeróbia e sua aplicabilidade no treinamento de atletas de basquetebol / Assessment of power anaerobia and its application in the athletes training of basketball

O basquetebol se caracteriza pela alternância de períodos de atividades de curta duração e alta intensidade intercalada com momentos de recuperação. Quanto ao metabolismo parece que em desportos coletivos o anaeróbio é considerado predominante, porém seu grau de solicitação depende da distribuição das ações realizadas ao longo da partida. Nesse sentido, o objetivo da presente pesquisa foi avaliar a efetividade de um teste de potência anaeróbia em atletas de basquetebol. Para isso, foram avaliadas 10 atletas do sexo feminino (23±2,7 anos; 1,76±0,08 m; 72,3±11,8 kg), pelo protocolo de Forward-Backward. As seis repetições do teste apresentadas em tempo e potência, foram comparadas pelo AnovaOne Way seguido do post hoc de Tukey (p<0,05). As atletas apresentaram uma tendência de diminuição do desempenho ao longo das seis repetições, sendo a quinta e sexta repetições menores estatisticamente comparadas com a primeira e segunda, tanto em forma de tempo (segundos) quanto de potência (watts). Desta forma, conclui-se que o protocolo de avaliação utilizado expressa a atividade anaeróbia intermitente e atende as especificidades do jogo de basquetebol.

Basketball is characterized by alternating periods of activities of short duration and high intensity interspersed with moments of recovery. Regarding metabolism seems that the anaerobic incollective sports is considered predominant, but their degree of application depends on the distribution ofactions taken during the game. In this sense, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a test of anaerobic power in basketball players. Thus, we evaluated 10 female athletes (23 ± 2.7 years, 1.76 ± 0.08 m, 72.3 ± 11.8 kg), the protocol of Forward-Backward. The six repetitions of the test delivered on time and power, were compared by One Way Anova followed by post hoc Tukey (p <0.05). The athletes showed a trend of decreasing performance over the six replicates, and the fifth and sixth repetitionsstatistically lower compared with the first and second both in the form of time (seconds) and power (watts). Thus, we conclude that the evaluation protocol used to express intermittent anaerobic activity and meets the specifics of the game of basketball.

Comportamento muscular durante diferentes práticas odontológicas / Muscular behaviour during differents dental practices

As Lesões por Esforços Repetitivos (LER) e Distúrbios Osteomusculares Relacionados ao Trabalho (DORT), são a segunda causa de afastamento do trabalho no Brasil. Aproximadamente 60% dos cirurgiões-dentistas apresentam algum tipo de dor músculo-esquelética no ambiente de trabalho. O pescoço, costas, ombros e membros superiores se apresentam como os sítios de dor mais freqüentes, devido às exigências da alta precisão, posição estática e sustentada, limitado espaço de movimentação e pela contração isométrica criada pelo movimento executado. O presente estudo teve como objetivo investigar o comportamento eletromiográfico e o ponto de fadiga referida dos músculos deltóide (porção medial) e trapézio (porções descendente e transversa)bilateralmente. Foram avaliadas quarenta voluntárias, estudantes de Odontologia com média de idade de 21 anos, na posição de trabalho, divididas por especialidades clínicas em quatro grupos: 1 - periodontia, 2 - cirurgia, 3 - clínica geral e 4 - não cirurgiões-dentistas. Os músculos mais ativos foram as porções transversas dos trapézios, em seguida deltóides e porções descendentes dos trapézios e os mais fatigáveis foram os deltóides, em seqüência os trapézios, porções transversas e descendentes. Os músculos do antímero direito apresentaram-se mais ativos que os do esquerdo. O grupo 3 apresentou maior atividade eletromiográfica enquanto que o grupo 1 mostrou ser menos ativo. O grupo 4 apresentou ser mais vulnerável à fadiga muscular enquanto que o grupo 2 mostrou ser mais resistente. Concluímos que o trabalho odontológico executado por longos períodos diários leva os músculos da cintura escapular e cervicais à fadiga e dores musculares, independente da especialidade clínica realizada.