ABSTRACT Volleyball performance depends partially on lower limb strength. The phase angle (PhA) is a marker of functional muscle mass and a surrogate measure of athletic muscle performance. This study aimed to verify the correlation between PhA (bioimpedance) and lower limb muscle strength in young volleyball athletes. The sample included 38 young male volleyball athletes (Age: 16.7± 1.3 years; Weight: 73.7± 9.7 kg; Height: 179.3± 6.9 cm). We performed a cross-sectional observational study and evaluated the volleyball athletes for vertical jump tests (Counter-Movement Jump: CMJ and Squat Jump: SJ) and whole-body bioimpedance. The Pearson test showed positive and moderate significant correlations between the PhA, CMJ, and SJ (r= 0.550 and r= 0.559, respectively). Our findings demonstrated that assessing the PhA through bioimpedance provides relevant measures of muscle strength and power in young volleyball athletes.

ABSTRACT The Bioimpedance provides phase angle data, and it is used to monitor athletes. Muscle strength and power are important physiological/motor characteristics in sports that involve intense movement. The aim of this study was to verify the relationships between body composition, phase angle and upper/lower limb strength in adolescent athletes from different sports. The sample consisted of 473 athletes (Male: 285 and Female: 188), with a mean age of 16.4+ 1.2 years. The adopted statistic was Principal Component Analysis, with analysis groups formed as General, Male and Female. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin and Bartlett's (p< .01) tests showed good results to follow Principal Component Analysis. The total variance showed that the formation of components was three for General, four for Male and five for Female, where the variance explained by the Principal Component Analysis in each group was 73.9, 78.7 and 83.1%, respectively. The phase angle is a relatively new variable when evaluating in the sports context, it proved to be important in monitoring the physical condition of adolescent athletes, where in activities that are requested, a more advantageous muscle condition is presented when muscle mass is increased, where in addition to having a good relationship with strength, and it is also related to the variables of body composition and Bioimpedance.

RESUMO A bioimpedância fornece dados do ângulo de fase, sendo utilizado para monitorar atletas. A força e a potência musculares são características fisiológicas/motoras importantes nos esportes que envolvem movimentos intensos. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar relações entre a composição corporal, o ângulo de fase e a força de membros superiores/inferiores em atletas adolescentes de diferentes esportes. A amostra foi constituída por 473 atletas (Masculino: 285 e Feminino: 188), com idade média de 16.4+ 1.2 anos. A estatística adotada foi Análise das Componentes Principais, com grupos de análise formados como Geral, Masculino e Feminino. Os testes de Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin e Bartlett´s (p< 0,01) apresentaram-se como bons resultados para seguir com a Análise das Componentes Principais. O total de variância mostrou que a formação das componentes foi de três componentes para Geral, quatro para Masculino e cinco para Feminino, onde, a variância explicada pelas Análise das Componentes Principais em cada grupo foi de 73.9, 78.7 e 83.1% respectivamente. O ângulo de fase é uma variável relativamente nova ao avaliar o contexto desportivo, mostrando-se importante no monitoramento da condição física de atletas adolescentes, onde nas atividades que são solicitadas uma condição muscular mais vantajosa faz-se presente quando se aumenta a massa muscular, onde além de possuir boa relação com a força, também se relaciona com as variáveis de composição corporal e da bioimpedância.

Abstract Aim: This study analyzed the influences of ACE and ACTN3 gene variants in sprinters, jumpers, and endurance young athletes of track and field. Methods: 36 school-level competitors of both sex (15 girls and 21 boys; aged 16.4 ± 1.2 years; training experience 4 ± 1.2 years) practitioners of different sport disciplines (i.e., sprint, jump, and endurance athletes) participated in the study. The deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted from peripheral blood using a standard protocol. Anthropometric measurements, 30 m sprint, squat jump (SJ), and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) tests were measured. Results: Genotype distribution of the ACE and ACTN3 genes did not differ between groups. In ACE DD and ACTN3 RX genotypes, the SJ test was bigger in sprinters and jumpers than in the endurance runners. In contrast, when analyzing the ACE ID genotype, sprinters had higher SJ than endurance athletes. Moreover, in the ACE DD genotype, the sprinters and jumpers’ athletes had lower time in 30 m tests compared to endurance runners. However, the ACE ID and ACTN3 RX genotypes was greater aerobic fitness in endurance runners than in jumpers’ athletes. Conclusion: Although the genetic profile is not a unique factor for determining athletic performance, the ACE DD and ACTN3 RX genotypes seem to favor athletic performance in power and sprint versus endurance sports. Thus, this study evidenced that assessing genetic variants could be used as an auxiliary way to predict a favorable profile for the identification of young talents of track and field.

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo consistiu em comparar a frequência de datas de nascimento entre atletas de futebol e a população brasileira e verificar possíveis diferenças entre categorias. Participaram 868 atletas avaliados entre 2001 a 2009, pertencentes às categorias sub-15, sub-17, sub-20 e profissional. As datas de nascimento foram classificadas por trimestres. Usou-se o teste qui-quadrado para análise, adotou-se P < 0,05. Houve diferença significativa entre os quartos de ano, com tendência a nascimentos no primeiro semestre, similar à distribuição da população brasileira. Não foram identificadas diferenças significativas entre as categorias. Concluiu-se que há uma tendência de nascidos no início do ano que desfavorece possíveis talentos nascidos no fim do ano competitivo.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to compare the birth dates of soccer players and the Brazilian population as well as assess possible differences among categories. 868 players participated in this study, distributed according to the U-15, U-17, U-20 and professional categories. The birth dates were classified by quartiles. The chi-square test was used for the analyses, considering P < 0.05. Significant difference was identified among quartiles of births with a tendency to births in the first half, similar to the distribution of the Brazilian population. No differences were significant among categories. It was concluded that there is a tendency for births in the beginning of the year, discouraging potential talent ones who were born at the end of the competitive year.

Resumen El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar la frecuencia de las fechas de nacimiento entre jugadores de fútbol y la población brasileña, e investigar las posibles diferencias entre categorías. Participaron 868 jugadores nacidos entre 2001 y 2009, y pertenecientes a las categorías sub-15, sub-17, sub-20 y profesional. Las fechas de nacimiento se clasificaron por trimestres. Se utilizó la prueba de chi cuadrado y se utilizó el valor de P < 0,05. Hubo diferencias significativas entre los diferentes cuatrimestres, con tendencia al nacimiento en el primer semestre, de forma similar a la distribución de la población brasileña. No hubo diferencias significativas entre las categorías. Se concluye que existe una tendencia de nacimientos a principios de año, lo cual trae consigo una desventaja para aquellos posibles talentos que nacen a finales del año competitivo.

Resumo O objetivo do presente estudo foi o de verificar e analisar as adaptações nas variáveis físicas e fisiológicas de atletas de futsal durante as etapas pré-competitiva e competitiva de um macrociclo de treinamento. Participaram do estudo nove atletas de futsal da categoria sub-18, que realizaram os seguintes testes: saltos verticais, velocidade de 10 e 30 metros, resistência de velocidade, Yo-Yo intermitentt recovery test Level 1 (YYIR1) e consumo máximo de oxigênio (VO2máx). Baseado na análise qualitativa da magnitude da mudança, foi possível verificar as adaptações advindas do treinamento para os testes de saltos verticais (certamente positivo), velocidade de 10 metros (provável diminuição), velocidade de 30 metros (irrelevante), resistência de velocidade para o melhor sprint (irrelevante), média dos sprints (provável diminuição) e índice de fadiga (possível diminuição), YYIR1 (possível aumento), VO2máx (provável diminuição) e velocidade do VO2máx(provável aumento). Foi possível verificar que as adaptações causadas pelo treinamento realizado foram positivas, já que os atletas melhoraram o desempenho na maioria dos testes de controle das capacidades físicas solicitadas na modalidade (saltos verticais, velocidade de aceleração 10 m, resistência de velocidade nas variáveis média dos sprints e índice de fadiga e na resistência aeróbia específica). Desta forma, os dados demonstraram que os atletas melhoraram suas condições físicas, considerando as características do treinamento do futsal durante um macrociclo.

Abstract The aim of this study was to verify and to analyze adaptations on physical and physiological variables of futsal athletes during the pre-competitive and competitive phases of a training macrocycle. The sample was composed of nine Under-18 futsal athletes who performed the following tests: vertical jump, 10 and 30-meter linear sprint, repeated sprint ability test, Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 1 and VO2máx. Based on the qualitative analysis of the change magnitude, it was possible to verify adaptations from training for the vertical jump test (certainly positive), 10-meter linear sprint (likely decrease), 30-meter linear sprint (irrelevant), repeated sprint ability test for best sprint (irrelevant), mean of sprints (likely decrease), fatigue index (likely decrease), YYIRI (likely increase), VO2máx (likely decrease) and speed of VO2máx (likely increase). Thus, it was possible to verify that training-induced adaptations were positive since athletes improved their performance for the most control tests for each physical capacities of futsal (vertical jumps, 10-meter linear sprint, and repeated agility sprint test for the mean of sprints and fatigue index and aerobic resistance. Therefore, data have shown that athletes improved their physical performance considering the characteristics of futsal during training throughout a macrocycle.

O presente estudo teve por objetivo analisar, no período de 11 anos, as características antropométricas e morfológicas de atletas da seleção brasileira masculina de voleibol. A amostra foi composta por 92 atletas convocados entre os anos de 1995 a 2005. Foram coletadas medidas antropométricas e estimados valores de composição corporal e componentes do somatotipo. Para a análise dos dados, usou-se a estatística descritiva, a ANOVA one-way e Bonferroni, com significância de p < 0,05. Ao longo dos 11 anos, houve aumento significativo nos perímetros do braço contraído, no diâmetro do úmero e na massa livre de gordura. Além disso, a espessura de pregas cutâneas e o percentual de gordura tenderam a diminuir. Estatura elevada foi uma característica presente, ultrapassando, na média, 1.97 m. O somatotipo dos atletas da Seleção Brasileira modificou-se ao longo dos anos. As configurações mais presentes nos atletas foram ectomorfismo e mesomorfismo. Conclui-se que, ao longo dos 11 anos, os atletas selecionados apresentaram um aumento da massa muscular, diminuição na espessura das pregas cutâneas e no percentual de gordura. As classificações antropométricas mais frequentes foram: Mesomorfo-ectomorfo durante cinco anos, seguida da classificação meso-ectomorfo com três anos. Sugerindo que nas convocações dos atletas, a estatura elevada e o baixo componente de gordura corporal foram considerados.

This study analyzed the anthropometric and morphological characteristics of the adult male players in the Brazilian volleyball team for 11 years. The sample comprised 92 athletes selected for the national team from 1995 to 2005. Anthropometric measures were collected and body composition and somatotype components were estimated. One-way ANOVA and the Bonferroni test were used for descriptive statistical analysis, and the level of significance was set at p<0.05. Along the 11 years, there was a significant increase in the flexed arm perimeter, humerus diameter and lean mass. Skinfold thickness and percent body fat tended to decrease. Height increased and was greater than 1.97 m. The somatotype of the volleyball players in the Brazilian team changed along the years. Ectomorphic and mesomorphic somatotypes were the most frequent. In 11 years, the athletes selected for the Brazilian team had an increase in body mass and a decrease in skinfold thickness and percent body fat. The most frequent anthropometric classifications were mesomorph-ectomorph for five years, followed by mesomorphic-ectomorph for three years, which suggests that taller athletes and those with a low body fat percentage were more frequently selected for the national team.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have reported the phenomenon of post-exercise hypotension. However, the factors that cause this drop in blood pressure after a single exercise session are still unknown. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of aerobic exercise on the acute blood pressure response and to investigate the indicators of autonomic activity after exercise. METHODS: Ten male subjects (aged 25 ± 1 years) underwent four experimental exercise sessions and a control session on a cycle ergometer. The blood pressure and heart rate variability of each subject were measured at rest and at 60 min after the end of the sessions. RESULTS: Post-exercise hypotension was not observed in any experimental sessions (P > 0.05). The index of parasympathetic neural activity, the RMSSD, only remained lower than that during the pre-exercise session after the high-intensity session (Δ = -19 ± 3.7 for 15-20 min post-exercise). In addition, this value varied significantly (P < 0.05) between the high- and low-intensity sessions (Δ = -30.7 ± 4.0 for the high intensity session, and Δ = -9.9 ± 2.5 for the low intensity session). CONCLUSION: The present study did not find a reduction in blood pressure after exercise in normotensive, physically active young adults. However, the measurements of the indicators of autonomic neural activity revealed that in exercise of greater intensity the parasympathetic recovery tends to be slower and that sympathetic withdrawal can apparently compensate for this delay in recovery.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo determinar a ocorrência das espécies Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar em amostras clínicas de pacientes ambulatoriais de Pernambuco. Neste estudo, foi utilizado o teste imunoenzimático específico para Entamoeba histolytica, que entre os 213 pacientes não identificou nenhuma amostra fecal positiva. Estes resultados confirmam Entamoeba dispar é a espécie dominante nesta região.

The objective this study was to determine the occurrence of the species Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba díspar in clinical samples of ambulatory patients in Pernambuco. A specific assay for Entamoeba histolytica was used in this study, which identified no positive fecal samples among the 213 patients. These results confirm that E. dispar is the dominant species in Pernambuco State.