Abstract Aim: To compare muscle function of knee extensors, gait parameters, and physical function in older women with and without knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and to associate these parameters to the KOA incidence in this population. Methods: Sixteen older women with KOA (66.9 ± 5.5 years; 74.9 ± 10.0 kg; 157.9 ± 0.9 cm; 30.2 ± 5.0 kg/m2) and fourteen healthy counterparts (control group: CG; 68.8 ± 5.8 years; 68.9 ± 10.5 kg; 158 ± 0.06 cm; 27.4 ± 4.0 kg/m2) participated in this study. Muscle function, physical function, and gait parameters were evaluated in both groups. The Western Ontario and McMaster Index (WOMAC) questionnaire was answered only by the KOA group. A correlation was performed to verify if KOA incidence was associated with muscle function, physical function, and gait parameters. Results: KOA group showed lower peak torque at 60°/s (30%; p = 0.003) and 180°/s (37%; p < 0.001), greater acceleration time at 60°/s (382%; p < 0.001), lower cadence (12.2%; p = 0.002), slower gait speed (19.5%; p < 0.001) and greater stride time (12.5%; p = 0.001) than CG group. However, there was no difference between groups in physical function (p < 0.0045). The KOA incidence presented a negative correlation with peak torque (rho = −0.602; p < 0.001), cadence (rho = −0.533; p = 0.002), gait speed (rho = −0.633; p < 0.001), stride length (rho = −0.517; p = 0.003) and a positive correlation with stride time (rho = 0.533; p = 0.002) and acceleration time (rho = 0.655; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that knee osteoarthritis may impair the function of the knee extensors muscles and gait parameters. An association between the ability to produce force rapidly and gait speed with the KOA incidence in older women was also observed.

RESUMO Exercícios aquáticos são recomendados para pessoas com osteoartrite (OA), pois melhoram a funcionalidade e a qualidade de vida e reduzem os sintomas da doença. Entretanto, os efeitos na força muscular ainda são controversos. O objetivo desta revisão foi avaliar e comparar o efeito de programas de exercícios aquáticos na força muscular e na funcionalidade de pessoas com OA. Foi feita uma busca bibliográfica nas bases de dados Pubmed, Scopus e Web of Science. Foram incluídos ensaios clínicos feitos com intervenções que envolveram exercícios aquáticos para indivíduos com OA. A qualidade metodológica dos estudos foi avaliada por meio da escala PEDro. Foram encontrados 296 estudos. Desses, 12 foram selecionados, seis que compararam exercícios aquáticos com exercícios feitos em solo e seis que compararam um grupo de exercícios aquáticos com grupo controle. Os programas contemplaram exercícios de fortalecimento muscular, aeróbios, de equilíbrio, de flexibilidade e alongamento. A duração do programa, a frequência semanal, a intensidade e a progressão variaram entre os estudos. Foram encontrados efeitos benéficos do exercício aquático na funcionalidade, porém, dos cinco estudos que avaliaram a força muscular, apenas dois verificaram efeito positivo dos exercícios aquáticos. Embora haja dificuldades para comparar os estudos e estabelecer diretrizes para a formulação de protocolos padronizados, observou-se que exercícios aquáticos podem ser eficientes na melhoria da funcionalidade e no aumento da força muscular, desde que os programas sejam bem estruturados com intensidade e sobrecarga controlada e progressiva.

ABSTRACT Water-based exercises are recommended for people with osteoarthritis (OA), due to the beneficial effects on physical function, quality of life and symptom reduction. However, the effects on muscle strength are still controversial. The aim of this review was to assess and compare the effects of aquatic exercise programs on muscle strength and physical function in people with OA. A systematic search was performed at Pubmed, Scopus and Web of Science databases. Clinical trials with interventions involving aquatic exercises for individuals with OA were included. The methodological quality of the studies was evaluated using the PEDro scale. 296 studies were found and twelve were selected: six studies comparing water-based exercises with land-based exercise, and six comparing water-based exercise groups with the control group. Exercise programs included muscle strengthening, aerobic, balance, flexibility and stretching exercises. Duration of the program, weekly frequency, intensity and progression varied between studies. Beneficial effects of aquatic exercise were found on physical function. However, only two of five studies that assessed muscle strength observed positive effect of aquatic exercise. Although it is difficult to compare studies and establish guidelines for the standardized protocol formulation, it was observed that water-based exercises can be effective on improving physical function and increasing muscle strength, since they are well-structured, with exercise intensity and overload controlled.

Objetivo: Investigar a associação dos polimorfismos Arg16Gly e Gln27Glu do gene receptor β2-adrenérgico (ADRB2) com a ocorrência de asma e sobrepeso, bem como a influência do gene sobre variáveis antropométricas, clínicas, bioquímicas e de aptidão física em crianças e adolescentes. Métodos: Os indivíduos foram avaliados quanto à frequência alélica do gene ADRB2, estatura, peso, índice de massa corporal, IMC-escore Z, circunferência abdominal, estágio puberal, frequência cardíaca de repouso, pressão arterial, colesterol total, glicose, insulina, lipoproteína de alta densidade, lipoproteína de baixa densidade, triglicerídeos, Homeostasis Metabolic Assessment (HOMA2-IR), Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI) e consumo máximo de oxigênio (VO2max). Os participantes foram divididos em quatro grupos: sobrepeso asmático (n=39), sobrepeso não asmático (n=115), peso normal asmático (n=12) e peso normal não asmático (n=40). Resultados: Com relação ao polimorfismo Gln27Glu, foi observado maior valor de colesterol total nos indivíduos do genótipo usual do que naqueles que carregam a variante (p=0,04). Não foi encontrada evidência de que os polimorfismos avaliados influenciem a aptidão física. O alelo Arg16 foi encontrado em maior frequência no grupo de peso normal asmático comparado com o grupo de peso normal não asmático (p=0,02) e o alelo Glu27 foi mais frequentemente encontrado no grupo de sobrepeso asmático comparado com o grupo de peso normal não asmático (p=0,03). Conclusões: A associação do alelo Arg16 com a ocorrência de asma e a associação do alelo Glu27 com adolescentes com sobrepeso asmáticos evidenciam a contribuição do gene ADBR2 para o desenvolvimento da obesidade e da asma.

Objective: To investigate the association of Arg16Gly and Gln27Glu polymorphisms of β2-adrenergic receptor gene (ADRB2) with the occurrence of asthma and overweight and the gene's influence on anthropometric, clinic, biochemical and physical fitness variables in children and adolescents. Methods: Subjects were evaluated for allelic frequencies of the β2-adrenergic receptor gene, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), BMI Z-score, waist circumference (WC), pubertal stage, resting heart rate (HRres), blood pressure (BP), total cholesterol (TC), glucose, insulin, high density lipoprotein (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG), Homeostasis Metabolic Assessment (HOMA2-IR), Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI) and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). The participants were divided in four groups: overweight asthmatic (n=39), overweight non-asthmatic (n=115), normal weight asthmatic (n=12), and normal weight non-asthmatic (n=40). Results: Regarding the Gln27Glu polymorphism, higher total cholesterol was observed in usual genotype individuals than in genetic variant carriers (p=0.04). No evidence was found that the evaluated polymorphisms are influencing the physical fitness. The Arg16 allele was found more frequently among the normal weight asthmatic group when compared to the normal weight non-asthmatic group (p=0.02), and the Glu27 allele was more frequently found in the overweight asthmatics group when compared to the normal weight non-asthmatic group (p=0.03). Conclusions: The association of Arg16 allele with the occurrence of asthma and of the Glu27 allele with overweight asthmatic adolescents evidenced the contribution of the β2-adrenergic receptor gene to the development of obesity and asthma.

RESUMO Objetivamos comparar a função muscular e a funcionalidade entre idosas com OA de joelho (GOA=15) e idosas assintomáticas (GAS=18). Foram mensurados dados antropométricos, funcionalidade e qualidade de vida por meio de um questionário específico para OA, Western Ontario and Mc Master Universities Osteoarthritis Index e um conjunto de testes funcionais:Short Physical Performance Battery,TimedUpand Go Teste Teste de Caminhada de 6 minutos. A normalidade dos dados foi verificada pelo teste deKolmogrov-Smirnov. Para as variáveis com distribuição normal foi aplicado o teste "T" de Student para amostras independentes e o teste não paramétrico "U" Mann-Whitney para os dados que não apresentaram normalidade (p<0,05).Os resultados indicam que não há diferenças entre os grupos nas variáveis antropométricas, na idade e no desempenho físico e funcional. Podemos concluir que idosas com osteoartrite de joelho em grau leve e moderado apresentam desempenho físico e funcional semelhante a idosas assintomáticas.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to compare muscle function and functionality of a group of elderly women with knee OA (GOA=15) with the asymptomatic group(GAS=18). Anthropometric characteristics, physical function and quality of life were evaluated by a specific OA questionnaire Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, and a battery of functional tests: Short Physical Performance Battery, Timed Up and Go Test, and the 6 minutes walking test. Kolmogrov-Smirnov test was applied to confirm data normality. To variable that showed normal distribution the student "T" test for independent samples was used and the"U" Mann-Whitney was applied to variables without normal distribution (p<0.05). The results showed that there are no differences in anthropometric variables, age, physical and functional performance between groups. It can be concluded that elderly women with mild to moderate knee OA have physical and functional performance similar to asymptomatic elderly.