Health in Madeira: a comprehensive study of aging, body composition, physical activity and functional fitness

Physical Activity (PA) and functional fitness (FF) are predictors of a healthy and independent lifestyle in older adults. The purpose of this study was: (1) to construct reference values for FF; (2) to describe sex- and age-related changes in FF, balance, gait, PA, body composition, and bone health/strength; and (3) to determine their variation and co-variation with respect to PA. This cross-sectional study included 401 males and 401 females aged 60-79 years old. FF was assessed using the Senior Fitness test and balance by the Fullerton Advance Balance scale (FAB). Gait parameters: gait velocity (GV), stride length (SL), cadence and gait stability ratio (GSR) were measured. Femoral strength index (FSI) and bone mineral density (BMD) of the total body, lumbar spine, hip region and total lean tissue mass (TLTM) and total fat mass (TFM) were determined by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry-DXA. PA was assessed during face-to-face interviews using the Baecke questionnaire. Demographic and health history information were obtained by structured telephone interview. In both sexes, a significant main effect for age-group was found for FF parameters, balance scores, gait performances, TLTM and hip, LS and total BMD and FSI. Likewise there were significant main effects for age-group for total PA in women and sports related PA in men. Men scored significantly better than women in FF (except in upper- and lower-body flexibility), balance, GV, SL, GSR and had higher BMD and TLTM compared with women. Active subjects scored better in FF, balance, and gait than their average and non-active peers. PA and FF exerted only a minor influence in the differentiation of BMD and FSI among the elderly while constitutive factors like age, height, body mass, TLTM and TFM entered as the most significant contributors. This study gives scientific support to public policies at the community level, targeted to increase PA, FF and TLTM, thereby contributing to improved quality of life in older adults.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia e Universidade da Madeir

Avaliação nos jogos desportivos coletivos

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The Impact of Mobile Phone Reminders on Perceived Self-Care Levels of Informal Caregivers

: Informal caregivers play a fundamental role in caring for people that need assistance and provide an effective service in managing their loved ones’ health. Because of this, they have little time to attend to themselves and perform self-care practices. Some of these practices can improve mental health. By snowball sampling, we recruited 15 informal caregivers, 12 females and three males. Using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, we analyzed the impact of the reminders on a self-care scale. We used the Mindful Self-Care Scale, comparing the same population without reminders and with reminders. Results indicated that total self-care scores with reminders increased statistically significantly, T = 13, Z = −2.481, p ≤ 0.013, with a large effect size (r = 0.64). This study shows a significant self-care increase in informal caregivers after using reminders. Future development of a reminders-based approach could focus on increasing self-care and the time caregivers take for themselves, empowering them to take a more active role in meeting their own needs.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Prevalência e características das quedas em pessoas idosas do estado do Amazonas – Brasil: Prevalence and characteristics of falls in elderly people in the state of Amazonas – Brazil

Objetivos: (1) determinar a prevalência de quedas em pessoas idosas no Estado do Amazonas; (2) investigar as características das quedas, i.e., o local, as razões, as atividades associadas, e (3) comparar a realidade da prevalência de quedas entre pessoas idosas brasileiras com outros contextos internacionais. Métodos: Este estudo enquadra-se no projeto “Saúde, Estilo de Vida e Aptidão em Adultos e Adultos Idosos do Amazonas (SEVAAI)”. Esta investigação, com um delineamento transversal, 701 idosos, 268 homens e 433 mulheres, entre os 60 aos 92,8 anos de idade, residentes em três municípios do estado do Amazonas: Apuí, Fonte Boa e Manaus. A atividade física, a qualidade de vida e as variáveis sociodemográficas de saúde foram avaliadas através de questionários validados para a população brasileira (entrevistas face-to-face). As pessoas foram ainda questionadas sobre o medo e a ocorrência de quedas. Resultados: A prevalência de quedas entre os idosos foi de 32,4%, sendo mais comum a causa de queda escorregar 16,4%, quando estavam a caminhar em plano 17,3%, fora de casa 14,1%. Estas pessoas idosas situavam-se na maioria, nos 69,2 anos de idade e eram do sexo feminino 34,4%. Conclusão: Este estudo mostrou que as quedas estão associadas ao escorregar enquanto andando em local plano fora de casa em idosos na faixa etária de 69,2 anos do sexo feminino. Assim, deixa-se como reflexão a importância da discussão sobre a temática, e futuros estudos para avaliar fatores de risco, prevenção, aconselhamento e cuidados relacionados a quedas na população de idosos do Amazonas

Modeling Adoption, Security, and Privacy of COVID-19 Apps: Findings and Recommendations From an Empirical Study Using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology

Background: The global health crisis caused by COVID-19 has drastically changed human society in a relatively short time. However, this crisis has offered insights into the different roles that such a worldwide virus plays in the lives of people and how those have been affected, as well as eventually proposing new solutions. From the beginning of the pandemic, technology solutions have featured prominently in virus control and in the frame of reference for international travel, especially contact tracing and passenger locator applications. Objective: The objective of this paper is to study specific areas of technology acceptance and adoption following a unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) research model. Methods: We presented a research model based on UTAUT constructs to study the determinants for adoption of COVID-19–related apps using a questionnaire. We tested the model via confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) using travelers’ data from an insular tourist region. Results: Our model explained 90.3% of the intention to use (N=9555) and showed an increased understanding of the vital role of safety, security, privacy, and trust in the usage intention of safety apps. Results also showed how the impact of COVID-19 is not a strong predictor of adoption, while age, education level, and social capital are essential moderators of behavioral intention. Conclusions: In terms of scientific impact, the results described here provide important insights and contributions not only for researchers but also for policy and decision makers by explaining the reasons behind the adoption and usage of apps designed for COVID-19.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Correlatos das quedas em pessoas idosas do Amazonas, Brasil

Objetivos: (1) Investigar o grau de associação entre as quedas e fatores modificáveis (i.e., equilíbrio, o nível de atividade física, e fatores de risco para a saúde) e não modificáveis (i.e., idade e gênero), e (2) Investigar a associação entre os fatores modificáveis e as quedas depois de controlados a idade e o gênero. Métodos: Este estudo enquadra-se no projeto “Saúde, Estilo de Vida e Aptidão em Adultos e Adultos Idosos do Amazonas (SEVAAI)”. Esta investigação, com um delineamento transversal, 701 idosos, 268 homens e 433 mulheres, entre os 60 aos 92,8 anos de idade, residentes em três municípios do estado do Amazonas: Apuí, Fonte Boa e Manaus. A atividade física, a qualidade de vida e as variáveis sociodemográficas de saúde foram avaliadas através de questionários validados para a população brasileira (entrevistas face-to-face). Resultados: Verificamos que a ocorrência de quedas na população estudada estava correlacionada significativamente e positivamente com os fatores de risco para a saúde. A idade não apresentou diferenças significativas entre os idosos com quedas (70,35 anos) e idosos sem quedas (70,37 anos). Menores níveis de atividade física e menores scores da escala de Fullerton estavam relacionados com a idade. A análise revelou que depois de controlados por fatores de risco não modificáveis (i.e., a idade e gênero), apenas duas variáveis predizem a ocorrência de quedas: os fatores de risco para saúde e o score da escala de Fullerton.  Conclusão: Os participantes que não reportaram quedas apresentaram menos fatores de risco para a saúde, um nível de atividade física superior e melhores scores na escala de Fullerton comparativamente aos participantes que reportaram quedas

A kinematic analysis of the basketball shot performance: impact of distance variation to the basket

Purpose: The aim of the current study was to examine the variation on the kinematic parameters in the basketball shot associated with the shooting distance. Methods: Twenty-seven female adolescent basketball players aged 12.1 ± 0.9 years completed 10 BS trials from a frontal position of 4.75 m and 5.75 m from the basket. Nine anatomical markers were placed on the participants’ dominant side to assess the kinematic variables. The following variables were analyzed: angle, velocity, and height at ball release; centre of mass horizontal displacement and maximum height attained; maximum hip height and hip height at release; shoulder, elbow, and knee angular position and velocity at ball release; deepest knee flexion during the preparatory phase; the peak of the angular velocity of the shoulder, elbow, and knee joints. Results: At release, the angle decreased while velocity increased significantly at 5.75 m. During the release, greater shoulder flexion and increased joint (shoulder and knee) angular velocity were observed. The deepest knee flexion and the centre of mass horizontal dis placement were accentuated at 5.75 m. The ball release occurred before the peak of the jump phase. Conclusions: To compensate for the long ball trajectory to the basket, participants perform a set of adjustments in the body segmental organization to increase the ball veloc ity at release. The coaches’ feedback should focus on the shooting arm’s positioning and in the jump phase (to jump as close to vertical as possible). Also, a consistent shooting technique should be acquired close to the basket before expanding the shooting range.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Muscle strength and balance as mediators in the association between physical activity and health-related quality of life in community-dwelling older adults

Lower extremity muscle strength (LEMS) and body balance (BB) are essential for older adults to maintain an upright posture and autonomously perform their basic activities of daily living. This study aimed to examine whether LEMS and BB mediate the relationship between physical activity (PA) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a large sample of community-dwelling older adults. This is a cross-sectional study carried out with 802 individuals, 401 males and 401 females (69.8 ± 5.6 years), residents of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, Portugal. PA and HRQoL were assessed by the Baecke Questionnaire and e SF-36, respectively. LEMS was assessed by the Senior Fitness Test and BB by the Fullerton Advance Balance (FAB). The serial mediation pathway model pointed out that LEMS and BB partially mediated the association between PA and HRQoL in approximately 39.6% and 47%, respectively. The total variance in HRQoL explained by the entire model was 98%. Our findings may indicate the role that LEMS and BB play in the relationship between PA and HRQoL in the older population.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Exercise Aging and Health: A Proposal Course for Healthcare Professionals and Physical Activity Instructors

To live a long and healthy life is now considered the main challenge of geriatric medicine worldwide. Exercise, aging, and health are key research topics to maintain functional ability that has been considered one of the strongest predictors of independence in old age. Functional ability comprises the interaction between physical and mental capacities in a particular environment. Increasing physical activity is considered a key recommendation in sustainable policies and action programs for healthy aging. Evidence shows that physical activity impacts functional and cognitive abilities and social activities. The contents of training courses related to Exercise Aging and Health are responsible for ensuring an intervention focused on the needs of older people. Healthcare professionals, physical activity instructors, or other health professionals who work directly with older people may need to understand deeply demography, theories, and current policies on aging, physical, and functional changes associated with aging, physical-psychosocial relationships, contextual determinants of physical activity, and exercise prescription in the older population