Association between Estimated Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Depression among Middle-income Country Adults: Evidence from National Health Survey.

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and depression in adults. METHODS: A total of 52,611 individuals aged between 18-59 years old were evaluated for symptoms of depression and CRF. The presence of depressive symptoms was self-report through the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the CRF was predicted from a non-exercise equation. The association between CRF and the presence of depression was determined by crude and multivariable-adjusted logistic regressions. RESULTS: The associations were identified between symptoms of depression and CRF in both unadjusted and adjusted models. After adjusting for age categories, sex, body mass index categories, educational level, marital status, smoking, and alcohol use, the individuals with moderate CRF had 18% lower odds of depression (OR: 0.82, CI 95%: 0.71 - 0.95) compared to individuals with low CRF. CONCLUSION: Depressive symptoms are inversely related to CRF levels in adults.

Can transcranial direct current stimulation improve range of motion and modulate pain perception in healthy individuals?

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of different electrode assemblies and electric current polarity on the ROM of the hip and pain perception. Ten healthy male, sedentary, right-leg-dominant, and aged between 19 and 30 years (24.0 ± 4.0 years) subjects were recruited. For the experimental conditions, the application of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) was performed with the following montages. In the montage 1, the cathodal electrode was placed over the motor cortex (MC) horizontally, and the anodal electrode was positioned over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). In the montage 2, the anodal electrode was placed over the MC bilaterally, and the cathode electrode was positioned over the left DLPFC. The sham montage was the same as the montage 1. In the montage 1 and 2 stimulation was applied with 2 mA current intensity for 20 min. In the Sham condition, the stimulator was turned off after 30 s of active stimulation and the electrodes remained on the participants for 20 min. Before and after experimental conditions (Pre-stimulation, Post-stimulation), the maximum Hip ROM and pain perception was measured. For the Montage 1, the maximum Hip ROM increased in post-stimulation compared to pre-stimulation, and in the Montage 2, the maximum Hip ROM decreased in post-stimulation compared to pre-stimulation. The pain perception in the Montage 1 decreased in the post-stimulation compared to pre-stimulation. In the post-stimulation, pain perception for the Montage 1 was lower compared to Montage 2 (p = 0.005), and sham (p = 0.004). When the anodic stimulus was applied on the left DLPFC and the cathodic stimulus on the motor cortex, an increase in ROM and a reduction in the pain perception was observed. This montage may to modulate pain perception and joint flexibility.

Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Anxiety Symptoms and Cortical Activity in Patients with Panic Disorder: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: The effects of the aerobic exercise on anxiety symptoms in patients with Panic Disorder (PD) remain unclear. Thus, the investigation of possible changes in EEG frontal asymmetry could contribute to understand the relationship among exercise, brain and anxiety. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the acute effects of aerobic exercise on the symptoms of anxiety and the chronic effects of aerobic exercise on severity and symptoms related to PD, besides the changes in EEG frontal asymmetry. METHODS: Ten PD patients were divided into two groups, Exercise Group (EG; n=5) and Control Group (CG; n=5), in a randomized allocation. At baseline and post-intervention, they submitted the psychological evaluation through Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), EEG frontal asymmetry, and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max). On the second visit, the patients of EG being submitted to the aerobic exercise (treadmill, 25 minutes, and 50-55% of heart rate reserve) and the CG remained seated for the same period of time. Both groups submitted a psychological evaluation with Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS) at baseline, immediately after (Post-0), and after 10 minutes of the rest pause (Post-10). The patients performed 12 sessions of aerobic exercise with 48-72 hours of interval between sessions. RESULTS: In EG, SUDS increased immediately after exercise practice and showed chronic decrease in BAI and BDI-II as well as increased in VO2max (Post-intervention). CONCLUSION: Aerobic exercise can promote increase in anxiety acutely and regular aerobic exercise promotes reduction in anxiety levels.

Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on time limit and ratings of perceived exertion in physically active women.

The limiting factors of maximum performance in humans have been extensively investigated. The aim of this study was to verify the acute effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on time limit (i.e., the time by which an individual is able to sustain a certain intensity of effort) at 100% of peak power (tlim@100%PP) and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE). Eleven moderately active women underwent an anthropometric evaluation and a maximal incremental test in the cycle ergometer, in order to obtain peak power (PP). At the two subsequent visits, which were separated by 48-72h, participants were randomly assigned to two experimental conditions: anodal stimulation (a-tDCS) and sham. In the a-tDCS condition, the stimulus was applied in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), with intensity of 2mA for 20min. In the sham condition, the equipment was switched off after 30s of stimulation. Immediately after the conditions, participants performed the tlim@100%PP. Immediately after the tlim@100%PP test, the RPE scale was applied. The results demonstrated that the tlim@100%PP was higher in a-tDCS condition compared to sham condition (p=0.005). No difference was found between the conditions (a-tDCS vs sham) for the RPE (p=0.52). The anodal stimulus increased the tolerance to the exercise performed in the cycloergometer with maximum load, having some ergogenic effect in exercises of cyclic characteristics.

Effects of Different Types of Physical Exercise on the Perceived Quality of Life in Active Elderly.

UNLABELLED: There is a lack of knowledge about the influence of individual physical activities on the quality of life (QoL) of older adults, especially in strength training and swimming, two popular activities. OBJECTIVES: To assess and compare the perceived QoL levels among sedentary, swimming and strength training groups in elderly individuals. METHODS: Twenty one subjects were evaluated: 9 sedentary, 10 swimming and 12 strength training. Physical activity levels were assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire short version, and the physical, psychological, social and environmental domains, as well the general QoL of each group, were assessed through the World Health Organization questionnaire short version. In addition, the contribution of each domain in general QoL was also verified. RESULTS: The sedentary group presented a statistically lower score in each variable examined (p<0.05). The physical domain was higher only in the strength training group and the psychological and social domains were higher only in the swimming group. In relation to the influence on general QoL, the physical domain (i.e., sedentary); the physical and psychological domains (i.e., swimming) and the social and environmental domains (i.e., strength training) were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the QoL levels were always lower in the sedentary group. However, the determination of the domain depended on the physical activity level of each subject. Further, the domains with better scores were not necessarily the ones that showed a higher association with the general QoL in each group.

Effects of chronic exercise on severity, quality of life and functionality in an elderly Parkinson's disease patient: case report.

Exercise produces potential influences on physical and mental capacity in patients with neuropsychiatric disorders, and can be made a viable form of therapy to treat Parkinson's disease (PD). We report the chronic effects of a regular physical exercise protocol on cognitive and motor functions, functional capacity, and symptoms in an elderly PD patient without dementia. The patient participated of a program composed of proprioceptive, aerobic and flexibility exercises, during 1 hour, three days a week, for nine months. Patient used 600 mg of L-DOPA daily, and 1 hour prior to each exercise session. Assessment was conducted in three stages, 0-3, 3-6 and 6 to 9 months, using percentual variation to the scales Hoehn and Yahr, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Parkinson Activity Scale (PAS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS-III). Reassessment showed clear changes in clinical parameters for Hoehn and Yahr (4 to 2.5), MMSE (14 to 22), PAS (13 to 29), BDI (9 to 7) and UPDRS-III (39 to 27) at the end of 9 months. According to our data, exercise seems to be effective in promoting the functional capacity and the maintenance of cognitive and motor functions of PD patients. Regular exercise protocols can be implemented as an adjunctive treatment for reducing the severity of PD.

Efeito de dois tipos de prescrição de exercício físico aeróbio sobre variáveis relacionadas à adesão / Effect of two type of aerobic physical exercise prescription on variables related to exercise adherence

Apesar dos benefícios gerados pelo exercício físico, são elevadas as taxas de sedentarismo no mundo. As respostas afetivas ao exercício têm sido apontadas como relevantes para o aumento da adesão ao exercício. O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar o efeito de duas prescrições aeróbias, uma baseada no nível de atividade física (PBAF) e outra baseada no VO2máx (PBVO2máx), sobre desfechos relacionados a adesão ao exercício. Vinte e quatro indivíduos foram submetidos a três sessões experimentais em esteira rolante. Na primeira visita foram realizadas as medidas antropométricas e um teste cardiopulmonar de exercício para a estimativa do VO2máx. Nas visitas subsequentes, foram realizadas as atividades aeróbias (PBAF e PBVO2máx) em ordem sorteada. Durante as atividades foram registradas a frequência cardíaca, a percepção de esforço e a escala de sensações para a quantificação do afeto. Um teste t pareado demonstrou maior intensidade (p<0,01) e duração (p<0,05) na PBAF comparada a PBVO2máx. A percepção de esforço não apresentou diferença significativa entre as condições (p>0,05). Uma análise de razão de chance (RC) demonstrou que a PBVO2máx gerou maior chance de ocorrência dos desfechos positivos (Conclusão do treino: RC=2,89; Manutenção do estado estável: RC=2,87; e Aumento do afeto: RC=1,84) e menor chance de ocorrência dos desfechos negativos (Afeto negativo: RC=0,33; Redução do afeto: RC=0,60; e Negativação do afeto: RC=0,34). A PBVO2máx gerou melhores respostas para desfechos associados à adesão em uma sessão de treinamento aeróbio. É recomendável a utilização da PBVO2Max em conjunção à monitoração das respostas afetivas para a configuração de sessões aeróbias.

Despite the benefits of exercise there are still high rates of physical inactivity. The affective responses to exercise has been identified as relevant to increase exercise adherence. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of two aerobic prescriptions, one based on physical activity level (PBAF) and another based on VO2max (PBVO2max) on outcomes related to exercise adherence. Twenty-four subjects underwent three experimental sessions on the treadmill. On the first visit, anthropometric measurements and a cardiopulmonary exercise test (to estimate VO2max) were performed. In subsequent visits, aerobic activities (PBAF and PBVO2max) were performed in a randomized order. During the sessions, heart rate, perceived exertion and the Feeling Scale (for the affective response measurement) were recorded. A paired t-test showed greater intensity (p<0.01) and duration (p<0.05) in PBAF compared to PBVO2max. The perceived exertion was not significantly different between conditions (p>0.05). An analysis of odds ratio (OR) showed that PBVO2max generated greater frequency of positive outcomes (Training completion: OR = 2.89; Maintenance of steady state: OR=2.87; Increase of affect: RC=1.84) and less chance of occurrence of negative outcomes (Negative affect: OR=0.33; Reduction of affect: OR=0.60, and Affect negativization: RC=0.34). The PBVO2max generated better responses for outcomes related to exercise adherence in a single session of aerobic training. We recommend the use of PBVO2max in addition to the evaluation of affective responses to prescribe aerobic sessions.