ABSTRACT
Objetivo: analisar os efeitos do método Pilates sobre a força muscular respiratória em crianças com sintomas de asma. Metodologia: nesse estudo clínico foram avaliadas 17 crianças em idade escolar (09 a 12 anos), de ambos os sexos. Inicialmente responderam ao questionário International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC), que avalia a prevalência de asma e doenças alérgicas em crianças e adolescentes. Assim, aquelas que obtiveram uma pontuação no ISAAC, com nota de corte igual ou superior a 5, foram incluídas no estudo. Após as crianças realizarem uma avaliação através do manovacuômetro, a fim de mensurar as pressões respiratórias máximas (PImáx e PEmáx) foi realizada uma avaliação antropométrica para verificar a massa corporal e a estatura. Como intervenção, as crianças participaram de um programa de exercícios com base no método Pilates 2 vezes por semana, com duração aproximada de 50 minutos cada sessão, durante 8 meses, totalizando 32 semanas. Resultados: Em relação às pressões, tanto a PImáx quanto a PEmáx aumentaram pós-intervenção. Conclusão: o estudo encontrou contribuições significativas do método Pilates sobre a força muscular respiratória (PImáx e PEmáx) de crianças com sintomas de asma. Desta forma, sugere-se que o método representa uma ferramenta importante para melhorar a força muscular respiratória dessa população.
Objective: To analyze the effects of the Pilates method on respiratory muscle function in children with asthma symptoms. Methods: in this clinical study, a sample of school-age children (9 to 12 years old) of both sexes was included. Initially, the children answered the questionnaire International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Thus, those who scored 5 or more were included in the study. Subsequent to this initial screening, the children performed an evaluation of respiratory muscle strength through the digital manovacuometer in order to measure the maximum respiratory pressures (MIP and MEP). An anthropometric assessment was also performed to verify body mass and height. The children participated in an exercise program based on the Pilates method, being performed twice a week, lasting about 50 minutes each session, for 8 months, totaling 32 weeks. Results: regarding the pressures, both inspiratory and expiratory pressure increased at the end of the intervention. Conclusion: the present study found significant contributions of the Pilates method in the inspiratory muscle strength of children with asthma symptoms. Thus, it is suggested that the method represents an important tool to improve the muscular strength of these children.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Child , Asthma , Child , Physical Therapy Modalities , Exercise Movement Techniques , Muscle Strength , Lung Diseases , Epidemiology, Descriptive , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Clinical StudyABSTRACT
AIMS: Aluminum (Al) is an important environmental contaminant; however, there are not enough evidences of Al-induced cardiovascular dysfunction. We investigated the effects of acute exposure to aluminum chloride (AlCl3) on blood pressure, vascular reactivity and oxidative stress. METHODS AND RESULTS: Male Wistar rats were divided into two groups: Untreated: vehicle (ultrapure water, ip) and AlCl3: single dose of AlCl3 (100mg/kg,ip). Concentration-response curves to phenylephrine in the absence and presence of endothelium, the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor l-NAME, the potassium channel blocker tetraethylammonium, and the NADPH oxidase inhibitor apocynin were performed in segments from aortic and mesenteric resistance arteries. NO released was assessed in aorta and reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde, non-protein thiol levels, antioxidant capacity and enzymatic antioxidant activities were investigated in plasma, aorta and/or mesenteric arteries. After one hour of AlCl3 exposure serum Al levels attained 147.7±25.0µg/L. Al treatment: 1) did not affect blood pressure, heart rate and vasodilator responses induced by acetylcholine or sodium nitroprusside; 2) decreased phenylephrine-induced vasoconstrictor responses; 3) increased endothelial modulation of contractile responses, NO release and vascular ROS production from NADPH oxidase; 4) increased plasmatic, aortic and mesenteric malondialdehyde and ROS production, and 5) decreased antioxidant capacity and affected the antioxidant biomarkers non-protein thiol levels, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, superoxide dismutase and catalase enzymatic activities. CONCLUSION: AlCl3-acute exposure reduces vascular reactivity. This effect is associated with increased NO production, probably acting on K+ channels, which seems to occur as a compensatory mechanism against Al-induced oxidative stress. Our results suggest that Al exerts toxic effects to the vascular system.