Abstract Aim: This study aimed to compare the quality of life perception among Boccia, Para-Athletics, and Wheelchair Tennis athletes. Methods: Eighty-six athletes with physical disabilities participated (Boccia = 41; Para Athletics = 14; Wheelchair Tennis = 31) in the study. The data were collected by applying the Brazilian Portuguese version of the WHOQOL-Bref questionnaire and a short survey for demographics. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the relationship among the variables considering a confidence level of 95%. Results: Wheelchair Tennis athletes were older and Para-Athletics athletes were involved in this sport for a longer period. The majority of participants perceived positively their overall quality of life and health. Wheelchair Tennis athletes presented higher total quality of life perception scores in comparison to Boccia athletes. Regarding the specific domains of quality of life, Para-Athletics athletes presented higher scores in the psychological domain in comparison to Boccia and Wheelchair Tennis. Wheelchair Tennis presented higher social scores in comparison to Boccia and higher environment scores in comparison to Boccia and Para-Athletics. No differences were found in the physical domain in all groups. Conclusion: The evidence points to the influence of athletes’ demographics, the specific nuances of their impairments, and the Paralympic Sports practiced in perceiving the quality of life. Suggestions are made to further explore the factors that may influence the quality of life perception among Paralympic Sports athletes.

Resumo A obesidade é um problema da saúde pública que tem reflexo direto nos níveis de aptidão física relacionada à saúde, principalmente em pessoas com deficiência intelectual (DI) por uma série de limitações cognitivas e sociais devido à deficiência. O objetivo do estudo é identificar a associação do estado nutricional com os níveis de aptidão física relacionado à saúde em pessoas com DI. A pesquisa foi realizada em uma instituição com 31 homens adultos, tendo a avaliação do estado nutricional sido realizada por meio do IMC, e os testes de aptidão física relacionado à saúde com uso da Bateria de Brockport adaptada (avaliação da adiposidade, teste de flexibilidade, força/resistência muscular e capacidade aeróbia). Utilizou-se a análise de covariância para comparar os grupos eutróficos e o excesso de peso em relação aos componentes de aptidão física relacionados à saúde e o teste exato de Fisher para verificar associação entre as variáveis. A maioria dos adultos não atingiu os critérios mínimos para a saúde. Adultos com excesso de peso (IMC) apresentaram maiores valores de percentual de gordura corporal e menores níveis de força/resistência muscular do que os eutróficos. Os indícios da associação entre excesso de peso com altos níveis de percentual de gordura e baixos níveis de força/resistência muscular alerta para a necessidade de programas específicos para população com DI.

Abstract Obesity is a public health problem that has a direct impact on levels of physical fitness and health, especially in people with intellectual disabilities (ID) for a series of cognitive and social limitations due to disability. The objective of the study is to identify the association between nutritional status and levels of health-related fitness in people with ID. The research was conducted in an institution with 31 adult men that the assessment of nutritional status was performed using BMI, and physical fitness tests related to health with use of adapted Brockport battery (assessment of adiposity, flexibility test, muscular strength / endurance and aerobic capacity). If you used the covariance analysis to compare groups eutrophic and overweight in relation to the components of physical fitness and health and the Fisher exact test to verify the association between variables. Most adults did not meet the minimum criteria for health. Adults who are overweight (BMI) had higher percentage values of body fat and lower levels of muscular strength / endurance than eutrophic. The Association of evidence between overweight with high percentage of fat levels and low levels of muscular strength / endurance alert to the need for specific programs for people with ID.

O presente estudo objetivou analisar o nível de flexibilidade dos escolares do ensino médio de Florianópolis de acordo com o sexo, idade e a prática de atividade física extraescolar. Contou com uma amostra de 300 escolares de ambos os sexos, com média de idade de 15 ± 0,9 anos. Utilizou-se um questionário autoaplicável para coletar informações socioeconômicas e de prática de atividade física extraescolar. Os resultados indicaram que a maioria dos escolares pertencia ao estrato socioeconômico da classe B e realizavam atividade física, dando preferência ao exercício aeróbio de uma a três vezes semanais. Na flexibilidade do quadril a maioria dos escolares do sexo feminino está na faixa de condição de risco à saúde, diferentemente dos escolares do sexo masculino. No entanto, na medida do ombro, as mesmas se encontraram dentro da faixa recomendável. Notou-se que a prática de atividade física não modifica esta situação. Conclui-se que os escolares do sexo masculino são mais flexíveis no quadril, entretanto, as do sexo feminino se sobrepõem na flexibilidade do ombro.

The present study aimed to analyze the flexibility level in high school students from Florianopolis - SC, regarding gender, age, and extracurricular physical activity practice. The sample was composed by 300 schoolchildren, from both genders, aged 15 ± 0.9 yr. A self-managed questionnaire was used to assess socioeconomic status and extracurricular physical activity practice. The results showed that most of the students as inform the class B socioeconomical stratum, and were used to engaging in some physical activity, notably those involving aerobic exercise, for one to three times per week. Hip flexibility, most of the female students is at a health risk condition range, unlike the male students. Nevertheless, for the shoulder, the females are at an advisable range. Physical education practice does not seem to modify such status. As a conclusion, male students are more flexible for hip, and on the other hand the females overcome their counterparts concerning shoulder flexibility.