The purpose of this paper was to validate the ability of automated devices to measure the velocity of the upper limbs. Thus, 144 students, from 8 to 17 years old, both sexes, participated in the study in a social project in the city of Natal/RN. The Automated Tapping Test (AATT) was developed following the dimensions of the original EUROFIT test, but built out of metal parts, so that the calibration was more accurate and could be read as an electronic signal by the integrated circuit. The upper limb velocity test was applied in three steps: before performing the original test, all participants underwent a laterality check and then motor practice similar to the original test. After 30 minutes, the first step in the pattern established by the EUROFIT test battery was performed and 30 minutes later, the third stage, with the AATT. The measurement reliability of the automated apparatus was tested through intraclass correlations and a strong intraclass interaction coefficient of r = 0.901 was found. In conclusion, the AATT was found to be accurate and efficient as to what it is proposed to evaluate, being able to minimize the intra-evaluator error and to assist professionals in the sports.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi identificar e comparar a qualidade de vida (QV) dos professores de educação física que atuam em academias de ginástica da cidade de Olinda-Pernambuco, de acordo com características sociodemográficas, econômicas e profissionais. Participaram do estudo 62 profissionais, sendo 58,1% homens. Os instrumentos de coleta de dados foram um questionário com questões sociodemográficas, comportamentais e econômicas, o Whoqol-Bref e o IPAQ. Foram encontradas diferenças significativas no domínio físico na faixa etária (p= 0,04) e nos ciclos de desenvolvimento profissional (p= 0,04); no domínio psicológico nas atividades exercidas na academia (p= 0,03); e no domínio ambiental no nível de atividade física no lazer (p= 0,01). Percebe-se que os professores de educação física de academias de ginástica apresentam uma QV relativamente boa, tendo em vista os elevados valores para os domínios da QV.

The aim of the present study was to identify and compare the quality of life (QoL) of physical education teachers who work in gyms in the city of Olinda, Pernambuco State, according to socio-demographic, economic and professional characteristics. This study included 62 professionals, 58.1% were men. Data collection instruments were a questionnaire addressing socio-demographic, behavioral and economic issues; the Whoqol-Bref and the IPAQ. Significant differences were detected: in the physical domain, in the age range (p= 0.04) and professional development cycles (p= 0.04); in the psychological domain, in the activities performed in the gym (p= 0.03); and in the environmental domain, at the level of the leisure physical activity (p= 0.01). The results suggested that physical education teachers of fitness centers in Olinda have a high quality of life, as seen by the elevated values of QoL domains.