Impaired Cardiovascular Parameters in Resistance Training Practitioners Who Take Ergogenic Aids.

BACKGROUND: Although there are studies on blood pressure (BP) and autonomic cardiac control (ACC) impairments caused by ergogenic aids, research has scarcely addressed this analysis during sleep. This study analyzed BP and ACC during sleep and wake periods in three groups of resistance training (RT) practitioners: ergogenic aid non-users, thermogenic supplement (TS) self-users, and anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) self-users. METHODS: RT practitioners were selected for the Control Group (CG; n = 15), TS self-users Group (TSG; n = 15), and AAS self-users Group (AASG; n = 15). All individuals underwent cardiovascular Holter monitoring (BP, ACC) during sleep and wake periods. RESULTS: The maximum systolic BP (SBP) during sleep was higher in AASG (p < 0.01) than CG (p < 0.001). CG had lower mean diastolic BP (DBP) than TSG (p < 0.01) and lower mean SBP (p = 0.009) than the other groups. Additionally, CG had higher values (p < 0.01) than TSG and AASG for SDNN and pNN50 during sleep. HF, LF, and LF/HF ratio values during sleep were statistically different in CG (p < 0.001) from the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that high doses of TS and AAS can impair cardiovascular parameters during sleep in RT practitioners who take ergogenic aids.

Sleep quality monitoring in individual sports athletes: parameters and definitions by systematic review.

In the present review, we identify which instruments and parameters are used for sleep quality monitoring in individual sport athletes and which definitions were used for sleep quality parameters in this literature field. Systematic searches for articles reporting the qualitative markers related to sleep in team sport athletes were conducted in PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science online databases. The systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews. The initial search returned 3316 articles. After the removal of duplicate articles, eligibility assessment, 75 studies were included in this systematic review. Our main findings were that the most widely used measurement instruments were Actigraphy (25%), Rating Likert Scales (16%) and Sleep Diary (13%). On sleep quality parameters (Sleep duration = 14%; Wake after sleep onset = 14%; Sleep Quality = 12%; Sleep Effciency = 11% and Sleep Latency = 9%), the main point is that there are different definitions for the same parameters in many cases reported in the literature. We conclude that the most widely used instruments for monitoring sleep quality were Actigraphy, Likert scales and Sleep diary. Moreover, the definitions of sleep parameters are inconsistent in the literature, hindering the understanding of the sleep-sport performance relationship.

Mensuração de sobrecarga emocional em cuidadores de crianças com paralisia cerebral / Emotional overload measurement in caregivers of children with cerebral palsy

Objetivo: O presente estudo tem por objetivo avaliar o nível de sobrecarga emocional em cuidadores de crianças com paralisia cerebral, assim como, os possíveis fatores que influenciarão o aumento dessa sobrecarga. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo descritivo de corte transversal realizado no período de fevereiro de 2014 a Setembro de 2014, em ambulatórios de fisioterapia de serviços públicos e privados. Resultados: Foram avaliados 41 cuidadores. A média de sobrecarga pela Burden Interview foi de 25,2 ± 10,1, onde 37 desses cuidadores eram mães. A sobrecarga foi maior em indivíduos com renda familiar entre 1 e 2 salários mínimos; idades mais avançadas (33,5 ± 14,77) apresentaram maior tendência à sobrecarga; e indivíduos que apresentaram um maior número de filhos (2 ou 3), tiveram resultado estatístico significante, com p = 0,0091. Conclusão: Os cuidados dispensados às crianças com paralisia cerebral e as condições físicas e socioeconômicas do cuidador são fatores importantes no aumento da sobrecarga emocional destes. Foi possível verificar, ainda, que quanto maior o número de filhos, maior a sobrecarga emocional, e que tal condição está diretamente relacionada à idade do cuidador e a renda familiar

Objective: This study aims to assess the level of emotional burden in caregivers of children with cerebral palsy, as well as the possible factors that influence the growth of that burden. Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted from February 2014 to September 2014, in public and private services physiotherapy clinics. Results: We studied 41 caregivers. The average burden the Burden Interview was 25.2 ± 10.1, where 37 of these caregivers were mothers. The burden was higher in individuals with family income between 1 and 2 minimum wages; older age (33.5 ± 14.77) were more likely to overload; and individuals who had a higher number of children (2 or 3), had a significant statistical results with p = 0.0091. Conclusion: The treatment provided to children with cerebral palsy and physical and socioeconomic conditions of the caregiver are important factors in increasing the emotional burden of these. Furthermore, we found that the greater the number of children, the greater the emotional overload, and that such a condition is directly related to age of the caregiver and the family income