Effects of A Short-term Cardio Tai Chi Program on Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Hemodynamic Parameters in Sedentary Adults: A Pilot Study

This study evaluates the effects of a short-term Cardio Tai Chi program on the cardiorespiratory fitness and hemodynamic parameters in sedentary adults. Thirty-one sedentary participants (age: 58 ± 9 years, body mass: 63 ± 12 kg) were subjected to an exercise program during 10 sessions over a 10-day period within 2 weeks. The Cardio Tai Chi program consisted in a series of three to five intervals lasting 90 s each at ∼70% maximal heart rate separated by 2-min of low-intensity recovery. Primary outcome measures were cardiorespiratory fitness (peak oxygen uptake, V˙O2peak) assessed by the Rockport walking test and resting hemodynamic parameters (systolic, diastolic, mean, and pulse pressures). We observed a significant difference of means on post-pre V˙O2peak [4.5 ml/kg/min, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.1 to 5.8, p = 0.004], systolic blood pressure (-5.5 mmHg, 95% CI:-7.3 to -3.8, p = 0.010) and pulse pressure (-3.7 mmHg, 95% CI: -5.2 to -2.3, p = 0.028). No significant differences were observed for diastolic pressure (−1.8 mmHg, 95% CI: -2.6 to -1.0, p = 0.226), mean blood pressure (2.5 mmHg, 95% CI: 1.4 to 3.6, p = 0.302), or resting heart rate (-0.9 beat/min, 95% CI: -2.0 to 0.1, p = 0.631). Our findings suggest that engaging in a short-term Cardio Tai Chi program can improve cardiorespiratory fitness and hemodynamic parameters in sedentary adults

Dissimilaridade entre o estado de humor, humor deprimido e qualidade de vida em atletas com deficiência visual

O objetivo foi avaliar o estado de humor, o humor deprimido e a qualidade de vida de atletas de rendimento com deficiência visual, assim como a dissimilaridade entre estes constructos e a prática esportiva. Foi realizado um estudo seccional com 44 atletas com baixa visão ou cegueira total (26,8 ± 6,0 anos de idade; 72,7% homens), sendo 11 atletas de futebol de cinco, 14 de goalball, 2 de atletismo e 17 de judo. Os seguintes instrumentos na sua versão em portugues foram utilizados: (i) Profile of Mood States (POMS); (ii) Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) e (iii) Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Os participantes apresentaram o perfil de iceberg desejável para a POMS, 81,8% apresentou “nenhum risco” de transtorno depressivo e todos os escores dos domínios do SF-36 estavam acima da média. Foi encontrada correlação positiva entre a duração da sessão de treino e o fator “vigor” da POMS, dentre outras. Os participantes do estudo apresentaram perfil positivo nos estados de humor, baixo risco de ocorrência de transtorno depressivo e uma percepção positiva de qualidade de vida. Parece haver proximidade de elementos da prática esportiva com os estados de humor e domínios da qualidade de vida, e portanto devem ser acompanhados

Dissimilarity among mood state, depressed humor and quality of life in athletes with visual impairment

O objetivo foi avaliar o estado de humor, o humor deprimido e a qualidade de vida de atletas de rendimento com deficiência visual, assim como a dissimilaridade entre estes constructos e a prática esportiva. Foi realizado um estudo seccional com 44 atletas com baixa visão ou cegueira total (26,8 ± 6,0 anos de idade; 72,7% homens), sendo 11 atletas de futebol de cinco, 14 de goalball, 2 de atletismo e 17 de judô. Os seguintes instrumentos na sua versão em português foram utilizados: (i) Profile of Mood States(POMS); (ii) Beck Depression Inventory(BDI) e (iii) Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Os participantes apresentaram o perfil de iceberg desejável para a POMS, 81,8% apresentou “nenhum risco” de transtorno depressivo e todosos escores dos domínios do SF-36 estavam acima da média. Foi encontrada correlação positiva entre a duração da sessão de treino e o fator “vigor” da POMS, dentre outras. Os participantes do estudo apresentaram perfil positivo nos estados de humor, baixo risco de ocorrência de transtorno depressivo e uma percepção positiva de qualidade de vida. Parece haver proximidade de elementos da prática esportiva com os estados de humor e domínios da qualidade de vida, e portanto devem ser acompanhados.RESUMEN: El objetivo fue evaluar el estado de ánimo, el estado de ánimo deprimido y lacalidad de vida de los atletas com discapacidad visual, así como la disparidad entre estos constructos y la práctica deportiva. Se realizo um estudio transversal con 44 atletas con baja visión o ceguera total (26.8 ± 6.0 años de edad, 72.7% hombres): 11 jugadores de fútbol de 5, 14 jugadores de goalball, 2 atletas de atletismo y 17 atletas de judo. Se utilizaron las versions brasileñas de los siguientes instrumentos: Profile of Mood States(POMS); (ii) Beck Depression Inventory(BDI) y (iii) Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey(SF-36). Los participantes presentaron el deseable perfil de iceberg para POMS, el 81.8% presentó "sin riesgo" de transtorno depresivo y todos los puntajes de los dominios SF-36 estuvieron por encima del promedio. Se encontró una correlación positiva entre la duración de la sesión de entrenamiento y el factor "vigor" del POMS, entre otros. Los participantes del estúdio presentaron un perfil positivo en los estados de ánimo, un bajo riesgo de transtorno depresivo y una percepción positiva de la calidad de vida. Parece haber una cercanía entre los elementos de la práctica deportiva con los estados de humor y los dominios de la calidad de vida, y por lo tanto deben acompañarse.ABSTRACT: The aim was to evaluate mood, depressed mood andquality of life of athletes with visual impairment, as well as the dissimilarity between these constructs and sports practice. A cross-sectional study was carried out with 44 athletes with low vision or total blindness (26.8 ± 6.0 years of age, 72.7% men): 11 five-a-side football players, 14 goalball players, 2 athletics and 17 judo athletes. The Portuguese Brazilian versions of the following instruments were used: (i) Profile of Mood States (POMS); (ii) Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and (iii) Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Participants presented the desirable iceberg profile for POMS, 81.8% presented "no risk" of depressive disorder and all scores of SF-36 domains were above average. Positive correlation was found between the duration of the training session and the "vigor" factor of the POMS, among others. The study participants presented a positive profile in mood states, a low risk of depressive disorder and a positive perception of quality of life. There seems to be closeness of elements of sports practice with states of humor and domains of quality of life, and therefore must be accompanied

Does low serum TSH within the normal range have negative impact on physical exercise capacity and quality of life of healthy elderly people?

Objective Investigate the differences in cardiopulmonary (CP) capacity and Quality of Life (QOL) between healthy elderly (≥ 65 years) with different TSH levels (< 1.0 and ≥ 1.0 μIU/mL) both within the normal range. Also, evaluate the effects of TSH elevation on CP test and QOL, by administering methimazole to subjects with initial lower-normal TSH, in order to elevate it to superior-normal limit. Materials and methods Initially, a cross-sectional study was performed to compare CP capacity at peak exercise and QOL (using WHOQOL-OLD questionnaire) between healthy seniors (age ≥ 65 years) with TSH < 1.0 μIU/mL vs. TSH ≥1.0 μIU/mL. In the second phase, participants with TSH < 1.0 μIU/mL were included in a non-controlled-prospective-interventional study to investigate the effect of TSH elevation, using methimazole, on QOL and CP capacity at peak exercise. Results From 89 elderly evaluated, 75 had TSH ≥ 1 μIU/mL and 14 TSH < 1 μIU/mL. The two groups had similar basal clinical characteristics. No difference in WHOQOL-OLD scores was observed between groups and they did not differ in terms of CP function at peak exercise. QOL and CP variables were not correlated with TSH levels. Twelve of 14 participants with TSH < 1.0 μIU/mL entered in the prospective study. After one year, no significant differences in clinical caracteristics, QOL, and CP variables were detected in paired analysis before and after methimazole intervention. Conclusions We found no differences in CP capacity and QOL between health elderly with different TSH levels within normal range and no impact after one year of methimazole treatment. More prospective-controlled-randomized studies are necessary to confirm or not the possible harm effect in normal low TSH