RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of aerobic fitness on physiological stress responses experienced by teachers during working hours. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-six healthy female and male teachers aged 33-62 years participated in the study. The ratings of perceived stress visual analogue scale (VAS), and the measurement of physiological responses (norepinephrine, epinephrine, cortisol, diastolic and systolic blood pressure, heart rate (HR), and trapezius muscle activity by electromyography (EMG), were determined. Predicted maximal oxygen uptake (VO(2)max) was measured using the submaximal bicycle ergometer test. The predicted VO(2)max was standardized for age using residuals of linear regression analyses. RESULTS: Static EMG activity, HR and VAS were associated with aerobic fitness in teachers. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that a higher level of aerobic fitness may reduce muscle tension, HR and perceived work stress in teachers.
Assuntos
Doenças Profissionais/fisiopatologia , Aptidão Física/fisiologia , Estresse Fisiológico/fisiopatologia , Adulto , Análise de Variância , Pressão Sanguínea/fisiologia , Catecolaminas/urina , Eletromiografia , Teste de Esforço , Feminino , Finlândia/epidemiologia , Frequência Cardíaca/fisiologia , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Doenças Profissionais/epidemiologia , Estresse Fisiológico/epidemiologia , Inquéritos e Questionários , EnsinoRESUMO
The aim of this study was to examine the response of the autonomic nervous system in younger (mean age 31 yrs, n=14) and older (mean age 54 yrs, n=14) healthy female teachers during work periods of perceived high and low stress. In the younger participants, heart rate, cortisol excretion rate and psychosomatic symptoms were significantly higher during the high work stress period. The older participants experienced no decrease in their heart rate and cortisol excretion during the low stress period and they exhibited no significant decrease in blood pressure after the work in the evening during both periods. It may be concluded that the recovery from the stress in the older teachers was insufficient particularly in view of their elevated diastolic blood pressure during the low work stress period. Ergonomic and individually tailored measures in terms of work time control, specific relaxation techniques, and a part-time retirement may improve the stress management of older teachers.
