SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: The aim of this work was to present hypotheses supporting capoeira as an activity aimed at health rehabilitation and maintenance of quality of life. METHODS: Capoeira players (n=245), residing in Brazil and abroad, were evaluated for quality of life (physical, social, psychological, and environmental domains from WHOQOL-bref). The capoeira players’ quality of life scores were compared to normative values and reference values in martial arts. Besides, studies involving capoeira (Medline/Embase/Cinahl/SportDiscus) were also reviewed for health-related hypotheses, describing population, intervention, comparator, and outcome. RESULTS: There are hypotheses on capoeira improving health through (1) body composition, addressed by two studies investigating waist circumference, bone, and muscle mass; (2) functional capacity, investigated by three studies considering performance variables; (3) metabolism, in two studies demonstrating triglycerides and blood glucose reduction, and an enhancement of anaerobic glycolysis; and (4) cardiovascular parameters, addressed by two studies highlighting an increase in maximal oxygen consumption, heart rate, and rate of pressure product reduction, as well as an increase in parasympathetic activity at rest. The sample of this study had higher quality of life scores when compared to normative values for Brazilians, similar quality of life when it comes to social relationships, higher quality of life in the psychological and environmental domains, and lower quality of life in the physical domain when compared to practitioners of other combat sports/martial arts. CONCLUSION: An analysis of the impacts of capoeira resulted in hypotheses on the rehabilitation of players’ biological health. Although the individuals were evaluated within the pandemic period, their quality of life domains were similar or superior to normative or reference values found by studies from before the pandemic.

Abstract Meta-analytical studies have indicated that isometric handgrip training promotes significant reduction in blood pressure in hypertensive patients with similar or greater decreases in blood pressure than observed after aerobic and dynamic resistance training. However, several gaps in the literature still need to be addressed. Thus, we designed the ISOPRESS network group, which consists of a task force of different research groups aimed at analyzing the effects of isometric handgrip training on different contexts, parameters, and populations. Thus, the aim of this study was to describe the rationale and design behind the ISOPRESS, presenting the methods employed. The ISOPRESS questions involve whether isometric handgrip training is effective in hypertensives in different settings (ISOPRESS 1 - unsupervised training and ISOPRESS 2 - public health system), whether it works in patients with other cardiovascular diseases (ISOPRESS 3 - obstructive sleep apnea and ISOPRESS 4 - peripheral artery disease) and what are the mechanisms underlying the effects of isometric handgrip training in hypertensives (ISOPRESS 5 - neural mechanism). The study will yield information on the effectiveness of isometric handgrip training in different settings and patients with other cardiovascular diseases. Finally, it will help to understand the mechanisms involved in reducing blood pressure in hypertensives.

Objective: To investigate the blood pressure (BP) responses to cardiovascular stress test after a combined exercise circuit session at moderate intensity. Method: Twenty individuals (10 male/10 fem; 33.4± 6.9 years; 70.2± 15.8 kg; 170.4± 11.5 cm; 22.3± 6.8% body fat) were randomized in a different days to control session with no exercise or exercise session consisting of 3 laps of the following circuit: knee extension, bench press, knee flexion, rowing in the prone position, squats, shoulder press, and 5 min of aerobic exercise at 75-85% of age-predicted maximum heart rate and/or 13 on the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion [scale of 6 to 20]. The sets of resistance exercise consisted of 15 repetitions at ~50% of the estimated 1 repetition maximum test. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured at rest and during 1h of recovery in both experimental sessions. After that, blood pressure reactivity (BPR) was evaluated using the Cold Pressor Test. Results: During 1h of exercise recovery, there was a reduction in SBP (3-6 mmHg) and DBP (2-5 mmHg) in relation to pre-session rest (p<0.01), while this reduction was not observed in the control session. A decline in BPR (4-7 mmHg; p<0.01) was observed 1h post-exercise session, but not in the control session. Post-exercise reductions in SBP and DBP were significantly correlated with BPR reductions (r=0.50-0.45; p<0.05). Conclusion: A combined exercise circuit session at moderate intensity promoted subsequent post-exercise hypotension and acutely attenuated BPR in response to a cardiovascular stress test. In addition, the post-exercise BP reduction was correlated with BPR attenuation in healthy adults of both genders.

FUNDAMENTO: Apesar de o limiar anaeróbio (LAn) ser utilizado na avaliação funcional de diferentes populações, estudos comparando métodos para sua identificação em diabéticos tipo-2 tem sido pouco realizados. OBJETIVO: Comparar protocolos de identificação do LAn em indivíduos diabéticos tipo 2 e em não-diabéticos, e analisar respostas relacionadas ao equilíbrio ácido-básico em intensidades relativas ao LAn. MÉTODOS: Diabéticos tipo 2 (n=10; 54,5±9,5 anos; 30,1±5,0 kg/m²) e jovens não-diabéticos (n=10; 36,6±12,8 anos; 23,9±5,0 kg/m²) realizaram teste incremental (TI) em ciclo ergômetro. O aumento desproporcional no equivalente ventilatório de oxigênio (VE/VO2) e lactatemia ([lac]) identificaram intensidades (Watts-W) correspondentes aos limiares ventilatório (LV) e de lactato (LL), respectivamente. A intensidade correspondente à menor glicemia ([glic]) foi considerada limiar glicêmico individual (LGI). O LAn também foi determinado por ajuste polinomial das razões VE/Watts (LV VE/W) e [lac]/Watts (LL[lac]/W), as quais identificaram intensidades acima das quais um aumento desproporcional na VE e [lac] ocorreram. RESULTADOS: Não foram observadas diferenças entre LL, LV, LG, LL[lac]/W e LV VE/W em diabéticos (85,0±32,1; 88,0±31,7; 86,0±33,8; 82,0±20,9 e 90,2±22,2W) e não-diabéticos (139,0±39,0; 133,0±42,7; 140,8±36,4; 122,7±44,3 e 133,0±39,1W). Contudo os valores de LAn diferiram significativamente entre grupos (p<0.001). A técnica de Bland-Altman confirmou concordância entre os protocolos. Reduções significativas no pH e pCO2 em paralelo a um aumento na [lac], pO2 e VE foram observadas em intensidades supra limiares. CONCLUSÃO: Os protocolos apresentaram, para ambos os grupos estudados, concordância na identificação do LAn, que se mostrou como uma intensidade de exercício acima da qual ocorre perda de equilíbrio ácido-básico.

BACKGROUND: In spite of Anaerobic Threshold (AT) to be widely used on exercise evaluation for different populations, there are few studies comparing methods to identify AT for individuals with type-2 diabetes. OBJECTIVE: To compare methods of AT determination on type-2 diabetics (T2D) and non-diabetic (ND) subjects and verify the acid-base balance as related to AT intensity. METHODS: T2D (n=10; 54.5±9.5 yr; 30.1±5.0 kg/m²) and younger ND (n=10; 36.6±12.8 yr; 23.9±5.0 kg/m²) performed an incremental test (IT) on a cycle ergometer. The over-proportional increase in VE/VO2 and blood lactate ([lac]) identified the ventilatory (VT) and lactate thresholds (LT) respectively. The workload corresponding to the lower blood glucose ([gluc]) during test identified the individual glucose threshold (IGT). The AT was also determined by polynomial adjustment of the VE/Workload and [lac]/Workload responses to identify exercise intensities above which an over-proportional increase in VE and [lac] did occur and were named VT VE/W and LT[lac]/W. RESULTS: The workload (Watts-W) corresponding to LT, VT, IGT, LT Lac/W and VT VE/W of diabetics (85.0±32.1; 88.0±31.7; 86.0±33.8; 82.0±20.9 and 90.2±22.2W) and non-diabetics (139.0±39.0; 133.0±42.7; 140.8±36.4; 122.7±44.3 and 133.0±39.1W) differed between groups (p<0.001), but not within groups. Thus it was evidenced an agreement among the studied methods. The pH and pCO2 were significantly decreased in parallel to the increase in [lac], pO2 and VE at supra AT intensities. CONCLUSION: The AT intensities, as determined by different methods both for diabetics and non-diabetic individuals, were in agreement to each other and identified exercise intensities above which the acid-basic balance is disrupted.

FUNDAMENTO: A pesar de que el umbral anaeróbico (UAn) se utiliza en la evaluación funcional de diferentes poblaciones, pocos estudios que comparen métodos para su identificación en diabéticos tipo 2 están siendo realizados. OBJETIVO: Comparar protocolos de identificación del UAn en individuos diabéticos tipo 2 y en no diabéticos, y analizar respuestas relacionadas al equilibrio ácido-base en intensidades relativas al UAn. MÉTODOS: Diabéticos tipo 2 (n=10; 54,5±9,5 años; 30,1±5,0 kg/m²) y jóvenes no diabéticos (n=10; 36,6±12,8 años; 23,9±5,0 kg/m²) realizaron un test incremental (TI) en ciclo ergómetro. El aumento desproporcionado en el equivalente ventilatorio de oxígeno (VE/VO2) y lactatemia ([lac]) identificó intensidades (Watts-W) correspondientes a los umbrales ventilatorio (UV) y de lactato (UL), respectivamente. La intensidad correspondiente a la menor glucemia ([gluc]) se consideró umbral glucémico individual (UGI). El UAn también fue determinado por ajuste polinomial de las razones VE/Watts (UV VE/W) y [lac]/Watts (UL[lac]/W), las que identificaron intensidades por encima de las cuales ocurriera un aumento desproporcionado en la VE y [lac]. RESULTADOS: No se observaron diferencias entre UL, UV, UG, UL[lac]/W y UV VE/W en diabéticos (85,0±32,1; 88,0±31,7; 86,0±33,8; 82,0±20,9 y 90,2±22,2W) y no diabéticos (139,0±39,0; 133,0±42,7; 140,8±36,4; 122,7±44,3 y 133,0±39,1W). Sin embargo, los valores de UAn difirieron significativamente entre los grupos (p<0.001). La técnica de Bland-Altman confirmó una concordancia entre los protocolos. En las intensidades sobre los umbrales se observaron reducciones significativas en el pH y pCO2 paralelamente a un aumento en la [lac], pO2 y VE. CONCLUSIÓN: Los protocolos presentaron, para ambos grupos estudiados, concordancia en la identificación del UAn, que se mostró como una intensidad de ejercicio, por encima de la cual ocurre pérdida de equilibrio ácido-base.

Objetivo: Analisar em ratos idosos os efeitos de oito semanas de treinamento aeróbio em carga correspondente ao limiar de lactato. Métodos: Dezessete ratos idosos (~ 478 dias/vida) foram divididos em Treinados-T, n=11 e Controle-C, n=6. Foram submetidos a um teste incremental antes e após 8 semanas de treinamento de natação (30 min/dia, 5/semanais, a ~5% do peso corporal) ou controle sem exercícios. O teste foi realizado com incrementos de 1% do peso corporal a cada 3 minutos até a exaustão. O limiar de lactato foi identificado por ajuste polinomial da resposta da razão lactato/carga. Após período experimental os animais foram sacrificados para cálculo da razão peso do coração/peso corporal. Resultados: O limiar de lactato não demonstrou diferença significativa com o treinamento em ambos os grupos (T:pré=5,1±0,7/pós=5,3±0,7%PC; C:pré=6,1±0,4/pós=6,4±0,6%PC;p>0,05). Quando calculada a variação do peso corporal do pré para o pós-experimento, constatou-se diferença significativa entre os grupos (T=-1,5±2,4% vs. C=6,4±3,3%;p<0,0001). Observou-se diferença de 13% da razão peso do coração/peso corporal entre grupos (T=0,29±0,04 vs. C=0,25±0,03;p<0,05). Conclusão: Embora alterações na razão peso do coração/peso corporal indiquem possíveis benefícios de eficiência cardiovascular decorrente do treinamento, a metodologia utilizada não resultou em melhora da capacidade aeróbia mensurada pelo limiar de lactato em ratos idosos.

Objective: To analyze in elderly rats the effect of eight weeks of aerobic training in corresponding load to the lactate threshold. Methods: Seventeen elderly rats (~ 478 days/life) had been divided in Trained-T, n=11 and Control-C, n=6. They underwent an incremental test before and after 8 weeks of swimming training (30 min/day, 5/weekly, ~5% body weight) or control without exercise. Incremental test was carried out with increments of 1% body weight each 3 minutes until exhaustion. Lactate threshold was identified by polynomial adjustment of the ratio lactate/workload. After experimental period animals were sacrificed for calculation of the ratio weight of the heart/body weight. Results: lactate threshold did not demonstrate significant difference with training in both groups (T:pre=5.1±0.7/post=5.3±0.7%PC;C:pre=6.1±0.4/post=6.4±0.6%PC;p>0.05). When calculated the variation of the body weight before and after training, significant difference between groups was evidenced (T=-1.5±2.4% vs. C=6.4±3.3%;p<0.0001). A 13% difference was observed in the ratio weight of heart/body weight between groups (T=0.29±0.04 vs. C=0.25±0.03;p<0.05). Conclusion: Although alterations in the ratio weight of heart/body weight indicate possible cardiovascular benefits because of training, the used protocol did not result in improvement of aerobic capacity evaluated by lactate threshold in elderly rats.

OBJETIVO: Predizer a resistência à insulina em crianças a partir de indicadores antropométricos e metabólicos por análise de sensibilidade e especificidade dos pontos de corte. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal foi realizado em 109 crianças de 7 a 11 anos, sendo 55 obesas, 23 sobrepesadas e 31 eutróficas, classificadas pelo índice de massa corporal (IMC) para idade. Foram medidos IMC, circunferências da cintura e quadril, razão circunferência da cintura/circunferência do quadril, índice de conicidade e percentual de gordura (absortometria de raio X de dupla energia). Coleta sangüínea em jejum foi realizada para mensuração da trigliceridemia, glicemia e insulinemia. A resistência à insulina foi avaliada pelo método homeostase glicêmica, considerando-se o percentil 90 como ponto de corte. Na identificação dos preditores de homeostase glicêmica, foi adotada a análise das curvas receiver operating characteristic com intervalo de confiança de 95%, calculando-se posteriormente a sensibilidade e especificidade. RESULTADOS: Os indicadores com poder de predição da resistência à insulina analisando a área sob a curva receiver operating characteristic (intervalo de confiança), com respectivos pontos de corte, foram, nesta ordem: insulinemia = 0,99 (0,99-1,00), 18,7 µU×mL-1; percentual de gordura = 0,88 (0,81-0,95), 41,3%; IMC = 0,90 (0,83-0,97), 23,69 kg×m²-¹; circunferência da cintura = 0,88 (0,79-0,96), 78,0 cm; glicemia = 0,71 (0,54-0,88), 88,0 mg×dL-1; trigliceridemia = 0,78 (0,66-0,90), 116,0 mg×dL-1 e índice de conicidade = 0,69 (0,50-0,87), 1,23 para amostra total; e insulinemia = 0,99 (0,98-1,00), 19,54 µU×mL-1; percentual de gordura = 0,76 (0,64-0,89), 42,2%; IMC = 0,78 (0,64-0,92), 24,53 kg×m²-¹; circunferência da cintura = 0,77 (0,61-0,92), 79,0 cm e trigliceridemia = 0,72 (0,56-0,87), 127,0 mg×dL-1 para os obesos. CONCLUSÕES: Indicadores antropométricos e metabólicos apresentaram bom poder de predição da resistência à insulina em crianças entre 7 e 11 anos, utilizando-se pontos de corte com melhor equilíbrio entre sensibilidade e especificidade da técnica preditora.

OBJECTIVE: To predict insulin resistance in children based on anthropometric and metabolic indicators by analyzing the sensitivity and specificity of different cutoff points. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out of 109 children aged 7 to 11 years, 55 of whom were obese, 23 overweight and 31 well-nourished, classified by body mass index (BMI) for age. Measurements were taken to determine BMI, waist and hips circumferences, waist circumference/hip circumference ratio, conicity index and body fat percentage (dual emission X-ray absorptiometry). Fasting blood samples were taken to measure triglyceridemia, glycemia and insulinemia. Insulin resistance was evaluated by the glycemic homeostasis method, taking the 90th percentile as the cutoff point. Receiver operating characteristic curves were analyzed to a 95% confidence interval in order to identify predictors of glycemic homeostasis, and sensitivity and specificity were then calculated. RESULTS: After analysis of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (confidence interval), indicators that demonstrated the power to predict insulin resistance were, in the following order: insulinemia = 0.99 (0.99-1.00), 18.7 µU×mL-1; body fat percentage = 0.88 (0.81-0.95), 41.3%; BMI = 0.90 (0.83-0.97), 23.69 kg×m2-¹; waist circumference= 0.88 (0.79-0.96), 78.0 cm; glycemia = 0.71 (0.54-0.88), 88.0 mg×dL-1; triglyceridemia = 0.78 (0.66-0.90), 116.0 mg×dL-1 and conicity index = 0.69 (0.50-0.87), 1.23 for the whole sample; and were: insulinemia = 0.99 (0.98-1.00), 19.54 µU×mL-1; body fat percentage = 0.76 (0.64-0.89), 42.2%; BMI = 0.78 (0.64-0.92), 24.53 kg×m2-¹; waist circumference = 0.77 (0.61-0.92), 79.0 cm and triglyceridemia = 0.72 (0.56-0.87), 127.0 mg×dL-1, for the obese subgroup. CONCLUSIONS: Anthropometric and metabolic indicators appear to offer good predictive power for insulin resistance in children between 7 and 11 years old, employing the cutoff points with the best balance between sensitivity and specificity of the predictive technique.