Abstract Aim: Cardiovascular physiology learned by exercise science students is often quickly forgotten. We tested whether a state rotation model would help students to recall key principles of Cardiovascular Physiology (CV). Methods: Seventy-one undergraduate students enrolled in the Exercise Physiology Course at the School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, participated in the study. The students were randomly assigned into one of 4 stations, dedicated to recalling the concepts of the heart as a pump (e.g. preload, post-load, and contractility; station 1) and hemodynamics (e.g. serial and parallel conductance; station 2) by using the educational tool. Heart rate (HR) control by sympathetic nervous system activation (station 3) and HR control by vagal activation (station 4) were assessed by quantifying HR response to the Stroop color and word test and during face immersion in cold water, respectively. To evaluate the efficacy of the intervention, we used a Socrative app to launch eight multiple-choice questions before (PRE) and after (POST) the student's station rotation. The questions were related to the basic principles of exercise physiology and its consequences on the cardiovascular system. Results: The 4-station average score (% of corrected answers) achieved after the station rotation was higher than the score achieved before (71.21%, SD 14.50 vs. 31.07%, SD 18.04; for POST and PRE, respectively p < 0.005). Considering specific stations, the lowest score of corrected answers before the rotation was observed at station 2- hemodynamics when compared with station 1-heart as a pump and station 3/4 - autonomic control (18.9%, SD 0.9 vs. 46.5, SD 24.1 and 34.8, SD 2.1 for hemodynamics, heart as a pump and autonomic control, respectively). Interestingly, after the rotation, there was a significant increase in corrected scores for all stations (33.9, SD 9.8; 80.5, SD 4.6 and 90.2, SD 2.3, for hemodynamics, heart as a pump, and autonomic control, respectively). Conclusion: Our results suggest that the use of the educational tool was effective to recall CV principles that are essential to a better understanding of the CV responses to exercise and applying the concepts in exercise testing and prescription for different populations.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar, numa situação real de atuação prática, o efeito da prescrição individualizada de caminhada sem supervisão da prática sobre o risco cardiovascular e a aptidão física de usuários de um parque público. MÉTODOS: 186 sujeitos (62 ± 10 anos) foram orientados a caminhar pelo menos 3x/sem, por 30 min, com intensidade de 50 a 80% da frequência cardíaca de reserva e a fazer alongamentos antes e após a caminhada. A aptidão física e os fatores de risco cardiovascular foram avaliados pré e pós-intervenção. A análise dos dados foi dividida em duas fases: 1) análise na amostra total; 2) análise nos indivíduos com fatores de risco alterados. Os dados foram comparados pelo teste t pareado. RESULTADOS: Na amostra total, a aptidão física melhorou nos testes de marcha estacionária (+8,1 ± 14,5 passos, p < 0,05), impulsão vertical (+0,5 ± 2,7 cm, p < 0,05), flexibilidade lombar (+1,1 ± 4,7 cm, p < 0,05) e flexibilidade de ombro (+1,2 ± 2,1 cm, p < 0,05). Não ocorreram alterações nos fatores de risco cardiovascular, com exceção da redução da pressão arterial diastólica (-0,9 ± 6,0 mmHg, p < 0,05). Entretanto, nos subgrupos com fatores alterados, observou-se reduções significantes das pressões arteriais sistólica e diastólica (-13,3 ± 16,9 e -5,8 ± 8,3 mmHg, p < 0,05, respectivamente) nos hipertensos, da colesterolemia total (-19,5 ± 33,5 mg/dl, p < 0,05) nos hipercolesterolêmicos e da circunferência da cintura (-1,0 ± 4,7 cm, p < 0,05) e do índice cintura-quadril (-0,01 ± 0,04, p < 0,05) nos com obesidade central. CONCLUSÃO: Numa situação real de atuação, a prescrição de caminhada sem supervisão da prática foi efetiva em melhorar a aptidão física da amostra geral e em diminuir o risco cardiovascular específico dos indivíduos com fatores de risco.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate, at a real practical condition, the effects of individualized prescription of walking without supervision of practice on cardiovascular risk and fitness in users of a public park. METHODS: One hundred, eighty six subjects (62 ± 10 years) were instructed to walk at least 3 times/week, during 30min, at an intensity of 50-80% of heart rate reserve and encouraged to realize stretching exercises before and after walking. Physical fitness and cardiovascular risk factors were evaluated pre and post-intervention. Data analyze was divided in 2 phases: 1) role sample analysis; and 2) analysis on subjects with altered cardiovascular risk factors. Data were compared by paired t test. RESULTS: Considering the whole sample, physical fitness improved in the following tests: stationary gate (8.1 ± 14.5 paces, p < 0.05), vertical jump (0.5 ± 2.7 cm, p < 0.05), lumbar flexibility (1.1 ± 4.7 cm, p < 0.05) and shoulder flexibility (1.2 ± 2.1 cm, p < 0.05). No significant change was observed in cardiovascular risk factors, excepted by a reduction on diastolic blood pressure (-0.9 ± 6.0 mmHg, p < 0.05). On the other hand, considering the subjects with altered cardiovascular risk factors, a significant reduction was observed on systolic and diastolic blood pressures (-13.3 ± 16.9 and -5.8 ± 8.3 mmHg, p < 0.05, respectively) in hypertensive subjects, on total cholesterol (-19.5 ± 33.5 mg/dl, p < 0.05) in hypercholesterolemic subjects, and on waist circumference (-1.0 ± 4.7 cm, p < 0.05) and waist-hip index (0.01 ± 0.04, p < 0.05) in subjects with central obesity. CONCLUSION: Under real practical circumstances, the prescription of unsupervised walking was effective in improving physical fitness in general sample and in reducing the specific cardiovascular risk in subjects who have altered cardiovascular risk factors.