Efecto de diferentes protocolos de recuperación sobre la función autonómica cardiaca

Introdução: a avaliação da função autonômica cardíaca (FAC) após o teste de esforço (TE) é considerada um preditor poderoso e independente de risco cardiovascular. É escasso o conhecimento da influência de diferentes protocolos de recuperação sobre a FAC após TE em esteira rolante com os voluntários na posição ortostática. Objetivo: comparar a reativação vagal e o grau de modulação global da FAC em dois diferentes protocolos de recuperação, passiva (RP) e ativa (RA), imediatamente após TE submáximo em esteira rolante. Métodos: foram avaliados 24 homens fisicamente ativos com idade (média ± DP) de 27,2 ± 4,4 anos e IMC 24,8 ± 1,8 kg/m2. A ordem dos protocolos de recuperação foi definida de forma aleatória. Os testes foram realizados com intervalo de sete dias. Ambas as recuperações foram realizadas na posição ortostática durante cinco minutos, imediatamente após TE. Os índices temporais da variabilidade da frequência cardíaca foram utilizados para avaliar a reativação vagal e o grau de modulação global de FAC, rMSSD e SDNN, respectivamente, na RP e RA. Após análise da distribuição dos dados, utilizaram-se os testes de Mann-Whitney e de Friedman com post-hoc de Dum, no nível de significância de p ≤ 0,05. Resultados: verificou-se maior reativação vagal no primeiro minuto de recuperação na RP comparativamente a RA [4,1 (4,9-3,4) ms vs. 3,4 (4,0-2,9) ms, p = 0,03] e maior grau de modulação global da FAC do terceiro ao quinto minuto e tendência a diferença significativa no segundo minuto de RP comparativamente a RA (p = 0,09-0,005). Conclusão: os achados demonstram que o mínimo esforço físico, como caminhar lentamente sobre a esteira rolante, diminuiu a reativação vagal e o grau de modulação global da FAC após o TE submáximo em homens fisicamente ativos.Introduction: the evaluation of cardiac autonomic function (CAF) after stress test (ST) is considered a powerful and independent predictor of cardiovascular risk. The knowledge about the influence of different recovery protocols on CAF after ST on treadmill with volunteers in standing position is scarce. Objective: to compare the vagal reactivation and the degree of global CAF modulation in two different recovery protocols, passive (PR) vs. active (AR) immediately after submaximal ST in treadmill. Methods: We evaluated 24 physically active males, aged (mean ± SD) 27.2 ± 4.4 years and BMI 24.8 ± 1.8 kg/m2. The order of the recovery protocol was set at random. The tests were performed in 7-day intervals. Both recovery protocols were performed in standing position for 5 minutes, immediately after ST. The time indices of heart rate variability were used to assess the vagal reactivation and the overall degree of CAF, rMSSD, and SDNN, respectively, in PR and AR. After analysis of the data distribution, the Mann-Whitney and Friedman tests with Dum post-hoc were used at a significance level of p ≤ 0.05. Results: we observed a higher vagal reactivation at first minute of the PR compared to AR [4.1 (4.9-3.4) ms vs. 3.4 (4.0-2.9) ms, p = 0.03], and a higher degree of global CAF modulation from the third to the fifth minute and a tendency to significant difference in the second minute of PR compared to AR (p = 0.09−0.005). Conclusion: the findings demonstrate that minimum physical effort, such as walking slowly on a treadmill, decreased the vagal reactivation and the overall modulation degree of CAF after a submaximal ST in physically active men.Introducción: la evaluación de la función autonómica cardíaca (FAC) después de la prueba de esfuerzo (PE) se considera un predictor potente e independiente del riesgo cardiovascular. Es escaso el conocimiento de la influencia de los diferentes protocolos de recuperación sobre la FAC después de la PE en la cinta rodante con voluntarios en la posición de pie. Objetivo: comparar la reactivación vagal y el grado de la modulación general de la FAC en dos diferentes protocolos de recuperación, pasiva (RP) vs. activa (RA) inmediatamente después de la PE submáxima en la cinta rodante. Métodos: se evaluaron 24 hombres físicamente activos con edades (promedio ± DE) de 27,2 ± 4,4 años y IMC de 24,8 ± 1,8 kg/m2. El orden de los protocolos de recuperación se definió al azar. Las pruebas se realizaron en un intervalo de siete días. Ambas recuperaciones se realizaron en la posición de pie durante cinco minutos inmediatamente después de la PE. Los índices temporales de la variabilidad de la frecuencia cardiaca fueron utilizados para evaluar la reactivación vagal y el grado de modulación general de la FAC, rMSSD y SDNN, respectivamente, en RP y RA. Después del análisis de la distribución de los datos, se utilizaron la prueba de Mann-Whitney y la de Friedman con post-hoc de Dum, a un nivel de significación de p ≤ 0,05. Resultados: se observó una mayor reactivación vagal en el primer minuto de la PR comparada a la RA [4,1 (4,9-3,4) ms vs. 3,4 (4,0-2,9) ms, p = 0,03] y un mayor grado de modulación general de la FAC del tercer al quinto minuto y una tendencia a la diferencia estadística en el segundo minuto de RP comparada a RA (p = 0,09-0,005). Conclusión: los resultados muestran que el esfuerzo físico mínimo, como caminar lentamente sobre la cinta rodante, disminuyó la reactivación vagal y el grado de modulación general de la FAC después de la PE submáxima en hombres físicamente activos

Agreement between BMI and body fat obesity definitions in a physically active population

Body mass index (BMI) is a widely used proxy of body composition (BC). Concerns exist regarding possible BMI misclassification among active populations. We compared the prevalence of obesity as categorized by BMI or by skinfold estimates of body fat percentage (BF%) in a physically active population. Subjects and methods 3,822 military firefighters underwent a physical fitness evaluation including cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) by the 12 min-Cooper test, abdominal strength by sit-up test (SUT) and body composition (BC) by BF% (as the reference), as well as BMI. Obesity was defined by BF% > 25% and BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2. Agreement was evaluated by sensitivity and specificity of BMI, positive and negative predictive values (PPV/NPV), positive and negative likelihood (LR+/LR-), receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and also across age, CRF and SUT subgroups. Results The prevalence of obesity estimated by BMI (13.3%) was similar to BF% (15.9%). Overall agreement was high (85.8%) and varied in different subgroups (75.3-94.5%). BMI underestimated the prevalence of obesity in all categories with high specificity (≥ 81.2%) and low sensitivity (≤ 67.0). All indices were affected by CRF, age and SUT, with better sensitivity, NPV and LR- in the less fit and older groups; and higher specificity, PPV and LR+ among the fittest and youngest groups. ROC curves showed high area under the curve (≥ 0.77) except for subjects with CRF ≥ 14 METs (= 0.46). Conclusion Both measures yielded similar obesity prevalences, with high agreement. BMI did not overestimate obesity prevalence. BMI ≥ 30 was highly specific to exclude obesity. Because of systematic under estimation, a lower BMI cut-off point might be considered in this population

NÍVEL DE ATIVIDADE FÍSICA E QUALIDADE DE VIDA DE POLICIAIS

Resumo: Bons níveis de atividade física e qualidade de vida são fatores determinantes para uma condição humana saudável, sendo imprescindível ao âmbito da prática laboral policial. O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar os níveis de atividade física e de qualidade de vida de policiais militares de um dos estados da região Norte do Brasil. Uma pesquisa epidemiológica realizada com a aplicação do IPAQ e do WHOQOL-Bref. As variáveis foram analisadas por meio de estatística descritiva apresentadas em medidas de tendência central e de dispersão.  Os resultados demonstraram um bom nível de qualidade de vida, com os maiores escores no domínio social e os menores no domínio ambiental. Sobre o nível de atividade física verificou-se que a maioria dos policiais militares pesquisados são ativos fisicamente. Contudo, a análise do IMC apresentou que a maioria dos profissionais pesquisados está classificada como sobrepesados ou obesos. Palavras-chave: Qualidade de Vida. Atividade Física. Policial Militar. Saúde Profissional Abstract: Good levels of physical activity and quality of life are determining factors for a healthy human condition, being essential in the police sphere. The aim of this study was to investigate the levels of physical activity and quality of life of military police officers from one of the states of northern Brazil. An epidemiological research conducted with the application of IPAQ and WHOQOL-Bref. The variables were analyzed using descriptive statistics presented in measures of central tendency and dispersion. The results showed a good quality of life, with the highest scores in the social domain and the lowest in the environmental domain. Regarding the level of physical activity it was found that most of the military police surveyed are physically active. However, BMI analysis showed that most professionals surveyed are classified as overweight or obese. Keywords: Quality of Life. Physical Activity. Military Police. Professional Healt

Is a short-stage protocol during an incremental exercise test reliable for heart rate variability threshold analysis?

Aim: Heart rate variability threshold (HRVT) is a valid method to determine parasympathetic depression during an incremental exercise test (IET). However, HRVT is usually assessed using the last 60s of each 180s stage of an IET, resulting in longer and demotivating tests. This study aimed to evaluate the agreement of HRVT analysis adopting the first and second minute of R-R interval (iRR) segment comparatively to a standard third-minute segment obtained at each 3-min stage on IET. Methods: Seventeen young male subjects (22.2 ± 3.1 years; 23.4 ± 2.3 kg/m2) underwent IET on a cycle ergometer. HRVT was considered the load corresponding to the point of stabilization of the SD1 index (HRVTV), or the first load with SD1 value < 3ms (HRVT<3), both assessed by the 1st (HRVT1V, HRVT1<3), 2nd (HRVT2V, HRVT2<3) and standard 3rd (HRVT3V, HRVT3<3) 60s iRR segment analyzed at each stage of IET. Agreement and reliability were assessed by the Bland-Altman analysis and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), respectively. Results: High reliability and non-significant bias were observed considering HRVT1V vs HRVT3V (ICC = 0.92; p = 0.18) or HRVT2V vs HRVT3V (ICC = 0.94; p = 0.99). However, lower reliability was observed for HRVT1<3 vs HRVT3<3 (ICC = 0.79; p = 0.75) and for HRVT2<3 vs HRVT3<3 (ICC = 0.91; p = 0.33). Conclusion: HRVT can be similarly assessed by the 1st, 2nd or 3rd 60 seconds iRR segment, mainly when assessed by a visual method

Impact of heart rate on reproducibility of heart rate variability analysis in the supine and standing positions in healthy men

OBJECTIVE: The reliability of heart rate variability (HRV) analysis is not yet fully understood, especially considering different body positions and the mathematical influence of heart rate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of HRV in supine and standing positions, with and without mathematical adjustment of HRV by the average R-R interval (iRR). METHODS: We evaluated 37 young males (23.1±4 years; 25.1±3 kg/m2). A 5-min segment of the iRR was collected in the supine and standing positions on three occasions separated by 48-hour intervals. Absolute and relative reliability of temporal and spectral indices were assessed by the coefficient of variation (CV) and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), respectively. RESULTS: We did not observe differences in HRV indices in the three occasions in the supine or standing position (p>0.05). Moderate to good reproducibility was observed for temporal and spectral indices of HRV in the supine position (ICC: 0.65-0.89; CV: 0.9-19.8). In the orthostatic position, low to good reproducibility was observed (ICC: 0.35-0.89; CV: 1.1-34.8), with higher ICCs for temporal indices. After mathematical adjustment, only a small modification in HRV reliability was observed in both positions. CONCLUSIONS: In young adult males, the mathematical adjustment of HRV by the average iRR led to a nonsignificant effect on HRV reliability. Additionally, HRV reliability is dependent on body position and the index analyzed. Promising measures in both supine and standing positions include r-MSSD and the HF band (parasympathetic indices)

Fatores de risco para tempo de internação prolongada após revascularização isolada do miocárdio

INTRODUÇÃO: Características do paciente e da cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio podem predispor à internação prolongada, aumentando custos e a morbimortalidade. OBJETIVO: Avaliar fatores de risco individuais e transoperatórios para internação prolongada na unidade de terapia intensiva e na enfermaria. MÉTODOS: Realizou-se estudo de caso-controle com 104 pacientes submetidos à revascularização do miocárdio isolada sob circulação extracorpórea. Consideraram-se casos os pacientes com internação >3 para terapia intensiva ou >7 dias para enfermaria. A associação entre variáveis foi estimada pelo teste do qui-quadrado e pela razão de chances (odds ratio-OR) empregando-se a regressão logística, ao nível de P3 dias na terapia intensiva ocorreu em 22,1% dos pacientes e >7 dias na enfermaria em 27,9%. Entre os fatores pré-operatórios, o diabetes (OR=3,17) e o tabagismo (OR=4,07) foram os preditores para permanência prolongada na terapia intensiva. Combinando-se as variáveis pré-, intra- e pós-operatórias, somente a ventilação mecânica por mais que 24 horas (OR=6,10) foi preditora para o desfecho na terapia intensiva. Para o desfecho na enfermaria, o preditor pré-operatório foi a fração de ejeção ventricular esquerda 24 horas para terapia intensiva e à presença de infecção para a enfermaria.INTRODUCTION: Characteristics of the patient and the coronary artery bypass grafting may predispose individuals to prolonged hospitalization, increasing costs and morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate individual and perioperative risk factors of prolonged hospitalization in intensive care units and wards. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study of 104 patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass. Patients hospitalized >3 days in the intensive care unit or >7 days in the ward were considered for the study. The association between variables was estimated by the chi-square test, odds ratio and logistic regression; P 3 days in the intensive care unit occurred for 22.1% of patients and >7 days in the ward for 27.9%. Among preoperative factors, diabetes (OR=3.17) and smoking (OR=4.07) were predictors of prolonged intensive care unit stay. Combining the pre-, intra-and postoperative variables, only mechanical ventilation for more than 24 hours (OR=6.10) was predictive of intensive care unit outcome. For the ward outcome, the preoperative predictor was left ventricular ejection fraction 24 hours for the intensive care unit and presence of infection for the ward

Nivel insuficiente de actividad física está asociado a menor calidad de vida y al estudio nocturno en universitarios del Distrito Federal

A prática de atividade física (AF) é essencial à saúde e à qualidade de vida (QV). Objetivo: Avaliar o nível de atividade física (NAF), a QV, fatores antropométricos e socioeconômicos em universitários do Distrito Federal. Métodos: Foram avaliados aleatoriamente 392 voluntários (43,6% homens). Empregaram-se os questionários IPAQ, WHOQOL e de tempo sentado (TS). Foram avaliados preditores do NAF com o emprego de regressão logística, assim como da QV estratificada por sexo, turno, NAF e renda. Resultados: Dos pesquisados, 51,4% eram insuficientemente ativos (IA) e mostraram menor QV do que os ativos (AT), nos domínicos físico (DOMF) e psicológico (DOMPS) (p 0,05). Menor NAF associou-se com maior TS e com aulas no turno noturno. A proporção de universitários IA foi elevada e se mostrou associada com menor QV no DOMF e DOMPS, elevado TS e com estudo noturno.Physical activity (PA) practice is an essential issue for health and quality of life (QOL). Objective: We analyzed the level of physical activity (LPA) and QOL in association with anthropometric and socioeconomics factors among undergraduate students from the Distrito Federal - Brazil. Methods: We randomly evaluated 392 volunteers (43.6% men). We employed the IPAQ + reported siting time (ST), and WHOQOL questionnaires. Logistic regression was used to evaluate LPA predictors. QOL was compared between sex, class period (day vs night), LPA and income. Results: Two hundred and one volunteers (51.4%) were insufficiently active (IA) and showed lower QOL than the active (AT) ones on physical (PHD) and psychological (PSD) domains (p< 0.05). Lower LPA was associated with greater ST and with the night shift study. We found a high proportion of IA students that was associated with lower QOL on PHD and PSD, higher ST and nightshift study

Reliability of heart rate variability threshold and parasympathetic reactivation after a submaximal exercise test

The objective of this study was to evaluate reproducibility of heart rate variability threshold (HRVT) and parasympathetic reactivation in physically active men (n= 16, 24.3 ± 5.1 years). During the test, HRVT was assessed by SD1 and r-MSSD dynamics. Immediately after exercise, r-MSSD was analyzed in segments of 60 seconds for a period of five minutes. High absolute and relatively reproducible analysis of HRVT were observed, as assessed by SD1 and r-MSSD dynamics (ICC = 0.92, CV = 10.8, SEM = 5.8). During the recovery phase, a moderate to high reproducibility was observed for r-MSSD from the first to the fifth minute (ICC = 0.69-0.95, CV = 7.5-14.2, SEM = 0.07-1.35). We conclude that HRVT and r-MSSD analysis after a submaximal stress test are highly reproducible measures that might be used to assess the acute and chronic effects of exercise training on cardiac autonomic modulation during and/or after a submaximal stress test

Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil: setting the baseline knowledge on the animal diversity in Brazil

The limited temporal completeness and taxonomic accuracy of species lists, made available in a traditional manner in scientific publications, has always represented a problem. These lists are invariably limited to a few taxonomic groups and do not represent up-to-date knowledge of all species and classifications. In this context, the Brazilian megadiverse fauna is no exception, and the Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil (CTFB) (http://fauna.jbrj.gov.br/), made public in 2015, represents a database on biodiversity anchored on a list of valid and expertly recognized scientific names of animals in Brazil. The CTFB is updated in near real time by a team of more than 800 specialists. By January 1, 2024, the CTFB compiled 133,691 nominal species, with 125,138 that were considered valid. Most of the valid species were arthropods (82.3%, with more than 102,000 species) and chordates (7.69%, with over 11,000 species). These taxa were followed by a cluster composed of Mollusca (3,567 species), Platyhelminthes (2,292 species), Annelida (1,833 species), and Nematoda (1,447 species). All remaining groups had less than 1,000 species reported in Brazil, with Cnidaria (831 species), Porifera (628 species), Rotifera (606 species), and Bryozoa (520 species) representing those with more than 500 species. Analysis of the CTFB database can facilitate and direct efforts towards the discovery of new species in Brazil, but it is also fundamental in providing the best available list of valid nominal species to users, including those in science, health, conservation efforts, and any initiative involving animals. The importance of the CTFB is evidenced by the elevated number of citations in the scientific literature in diverse areas of biology, law, anthropology, education, forensic science, and veterinary science, among others

Efeitos do incremento do número de passos diários sobre a função autonômica cardíaca e o desempenho físico no limiar anaeróbico, em indivíduos normais sedentários

Tese (doutorado)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Medicina, 2007.Introdução: Promover o estilo de vida ativo tornou-se preocupação central na esfera da saúde pública. Evidências da associação positiva entre atividade física e saúde são abundantes. Entretanto, existem lacunas sobre efeitos de intervenções baseadas no quantitativo de passos diários, bem como de mecanismos fisiológicos implicados. Objetivos: Verificar os efeitos do incremento de 3500 passos diários, durante três semanas, sobre a função autonômica cardíaca (FAC) e o desempenho físico no limiar anaeróbico, em indivíduos normais e insuficientemente ativos. Avaliar a efetividade do aumento do número de passos diários e correlacionar esse incremento com a variabilidade da freqüência cardíaca (VFC) e com variáveis de desempenho físico no limiar anaeróbico (LA). Indivíduos e Métodos: Foram estudados 19 homens, com idade mediana de 30 anos (19 - 46 anos), clinicamente normais, sedentários e com IMC entre 18,5 e 29,9 Kg/m2. Os participantes submeteram-se ao teste de avaliação da FAC, por meio das análises temporal e espectral da VFC de séries temporais de 5 min de intervalos R-R do ECG, obtidos por meio do freqüencímetro Polar S 810®, no repouso supino e na postura ortostática. Seqüencialmente registrou-se o padrão usual de passos diários por ± 18 dias, por meio do pedômetro Yamax SW710® (fase controle). Logo após, submeteram-se a nova avaliação da FAC e ao teste ergoespirométrico (TE) para avaliação do desempenho físico ao nível do LA. Iniciou-se, então, a fase de intervenção com incremento mínimo de 3.500 passos diários durante ± 23 dias, calculado sobre a média de passos diários acumulados em dias de semana na fase controle. Ao término, procedeu-se à nova avaliação da FAC, bem como do desempenho físico no LA. Resultados: A mediana e extremos do número de passos/dia na fase de intervenção (11772, 8998 – 18620) foi superior ao registrado na fase controle (7295, 4700 – 14752) p<0,0001). As variáveis funcionais de repouso (FC, PAS e PAD) e antropométricas (peso e IMC) não se alteraram com a intervenção (p>0,05). A maioria dos índices temporais da VFC ficaram estáveis (p>0,05), à exceção da média dos intervalos R-R (supino e ortostático) e do rMSSD no ortostatismo (p=0,07 – 0,05 e 0,07). Dos índices espectrais, apenas a área espectral de baixa freqüência no supino mostrou tendência estatística de redução (p=0,076). A intervenção provocou aumento do desempenho físico no LA, com incremento médio de 8% na distância percorrida (p=0,02) e de 6% no tempo até o LA (p=0,03), sem, entretanto, modificar o consumo de oxigênio e a FC no LA (p>0,12). Observou-se tendência de correlação positiva entre o incremento percentual de passos e o pNN50 e a área espectral absoluta de baixa freqüência no supino na última avaliação (rs = 0,39 - p = 0,09) e o pNN50 e rMSSD na postura ortostática (rs = 0,44 - p = 0,06). Houve correlação negativa entre a FC de repouso e a variação percentual da FC de repouso até o LA, nos dois testes de esforço (rs = -0,67 e -0,69 respectivamente, p< 0,002). Conclusões: O incremento no número de passos diários induziu discreto aumento da modulação parassimpática, especialmente na postura ortostática, porém sem modificar o balanço vago-simpático. O treinamento físico mostrou-se eficiente para melhorar o rendimento físico submáximo ao nível do limiar anaeróbico. As sutis modificações observadas adquirem relevância, tendo em vista a faixa etária da amostra e o tipo de intervenção instituída, baseada apenas no aumento de passos diários. _______________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTIntroduction: Promoting an active life style has become a central concern in the Public Health sector. Evidences of the positive association between physical activity and health are abundant. Nevertheless, there are gaps on the effects of interventions based on the amount of daily steps, as well as in what concerns the physiological mechanisms involved. Objectives: To verify the effects of the increase of 3500 daily steps, during a three week period on the cardiac autonomic function (CAF) and the physical performance at the anaerobic threshold (AT), in normal and inactive subjects. To evaluate the effectiveness of increasing the number of daily steps and to corrolate this increase to the heart rate variability (HRV) and to the variables of physical performance at the AT. Subjects and Methods: Nineteen men, with median age of 30 years old (19-46 years), clinically normal, sedentary and with BMI between 18.5 and 29.9 Kg/m2 were studied. The participants were submitted to CAF assessment test through temporal and spectral analysis of HRV in 5 minute temporal series of R-R intervals of ECG, obtained from the Polar S810® heart rate monitor, in supine rest and in orthostatic posture. Following that, the usual pattern of daily steps was recorded for ± 18 days, using SW710® Yamax Pedometer (control stage). Right after, they were submitted to a new CAF assessment and to a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CET) in order to assess physical performance at the AT. Intervention stage was then started with a minimum increase of 3500 daily steps, during ± 23 days, increase which was calculated on the mean number of daily steps accumulated during week days in the control stage. At the end, a new CAF assessment was performed as well as a new cardiopulmonary exercise test. Results: The median and the extremes of number of steps/day during the intervention stage (11772, 8998 – 18620) were higher than those recorded in the control stage (7295, 4700 – 14752). Functional variables (HR, SBP and DBP) and anthropometric variables of rest (weight and BMI) were not altered by the intervention (p>0.05). Most temporal indexes of HRV remained stable (p>0.05), except for the mean of R-R intervals (supine and orthostatic) and of rMSSD on orthostatism (p=0.07 – 0.05 e 0.07). Among the spectral indexes, only the spectral area of low frequency on supine showed a statistic tendency to reduction (p=0.076). The intervention caused an increase in physical performance at the AT, with an average increase of 8% in the covered distance (p=0.02) and of 6% in time until AT, not modifying, however, the oxygen consumption and the heart rate (HR) at the AT (p=0.12). A tendency of positive correlation between the percental increase of steps and pNN50 and the absolute spectral area of low frequency on supine in the last evaluation (rs = 0.39 - p = 0.09) and the pNN50 and the rMSSD in orthostatic posture was observed. There was a negative correlation between the HR at rest and the percentual variation of HR at rest until AT, in two effort tests (rs = -0.67 and -0.69 respectively, p< 0.002). Conclusions: The increase in number of daily steps led to a slight increase in parasympathetic modulation, especially in orthostatic posture, though with no change to the sympathovagal balance. Physical training proved efficient in improving sub maximum physical performance at the anaerobic threshold. The subtle changes observed become important, when bearing in mind the age scope of the sample and the type of intervention used, which was based only on the increase of daily steps