Self-management strategies and multicomponent training to mitigate the effects of the interruption of physical exercise programmes in the pandemic context on functionality, sedentary behaviour, physical capacity, mental health, body composition and quality of life in older adults: a blinded randomized controlled study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Considering the confinement recommended by the World Health Organization due to the pandemic caused by COVID-19, many community physical exercise programmes for older adults have had their activities cancelled. In this context, proposing strategies to recover the possible adverse effects of the confinement period is pertinent. The use of self-management strategies associated with regular physical activity reduces sedentary behaviour and improves physical capacity in older adults. Thus, the purpose of this study was to describe a multicomponent training programme combined with a self-management strategy protocol to mitigate the effects of interruptions in physical exercise programmes on functionality, physical capacity, mental health, body composition and quality of life in older adults. METHODS: This will be a blinded, randomized and controlled clinical trial performed in São Carlos, SP, Brazil. Eighty older adults will be divided into two groups: multicomponent training (Multi) and multicomponent training + self-management strategies (Multi+SM). The intervention will be performed over 16 weeks on three alternate days of every week, with 50-min sessions. The assessment of physical capacity will be performed before the interruption of physical exercise programmes (T0: initial assessment, March 2020), preintervention (T1: immediately after the return of the exercise programme) and postintervention (T2). The assessments of physical activity level, quality of life, mental health, functionality and body composition will be performed at T1 and T2. DISCUSSION: The results from this MC+SM protocol will allow us to contribute clinical support to evaluate the variables analysed and to guide future public health policies with the aim of minimizing the possible deleterious effects arising from the physical exercise interruption periods caused by epidemics and pandemics. TRIAL REGISTRATION: RBR-10zs97gk . Prospectively registered in Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC) on 17 June 2021. Registry name: Use of self-management strategies combined with multicomponent training to mitigate the effects of social distancing due to COVID-19 on capacity, physical capacity, mental health and quality of life in older adults - A blind, randomized and controlled clinical trial.

La electroestimulación neuromuscular como mecanismo complementario en el entrenamiento deportivo de predominancia anaeróbica / Neuromuscular electro-stimulation as a complementary mechanism in sports training of anaerobic predominance

Introducción: La electroestimulación neuromuscular puede dar un valor agregado a los programas de ejercicio físico de rehabilitación, siempre y cuando se contemplen aspectos como los objetivos propios de cada persona, la tolerancia a la intensidad y las necesidades de recuperación y descanso. Así mismo, puede ser un elemento interesante a agregar en la planificación deportiva con miras a mejorar la recuperación, así como en el aumento del rendimiento físico. Objetivo: El objetivo principal de la presente investigación fue determinar los efectos del ejercicio combinado de electroestimulación neuromuscular y ejercicios de alta intensidad y corta duración en hombres sanos y físicamente activos sobre el índice de fatiga. Metodología: 34 hombres sanos, físicamente activos y estudiantes de educación física (19,4 ± 2,60 años) fueron aleatorizados y organizados en cuatro grupos: G1, programa de electroestimulación neuromuscular; G2, entrenamiento de alta intensidad y corta duración: G3, ejercicio combinado de alta intensidad y corta duración y, electroestimulación neuromuscular; y G4, grupo control. Se aplicó un test de Wingate antes y después del periodo de entrenamiento. Resultados: En el grupo G3 se evidencian aumentos en el rendimiento anaeróbico con diferencias significativas en la potencia promedio relativa al peso (p=0,027), con un aumento de 7,36% y con una disminución de 12,2% en el índice de fatiga (p=0,048). En el grupo G4 se evidencian disminuciones en el rendimiento, evidenciado a través de las diferencias significativas en la potencia media (p=0,030), con una disminución en el rendimiento de 6,32% y una disminución en el rendimiento en la potencia media relativa al peso con diferencia significativa (p=0,010) de 3,92%. Conclusiones: Un programa combinado de electroestimulación neuromuscular y ejercicio intervalico de alta intensidad mejora el rendimiento anaeróbico en la potencia media y relativa al peso, evidenciado a través de un test de Wingate. Así mismo, disminuye el porcentaje de caída del rendimiento anaeróbico, mostrando mejores resultados frente a un entrenamiento de solo ejercicio intervalico de alta intensidad

Introduction: Neuromuscular electrostimulation can add value to rehabilitation physical exercise programs, as long as aspects such as the objectives of each person, tolerance to intensity, and the needs for recovery and rest are considered. Likewise, it can be an interesting element to add in sports planning with a view to improving recovery, as well as increasing physical performance. Objective: The main objective of this research was to determine the effects of combined neuromuscular electrostimulation exercise and high intensity and short duration exercises in healthy and physically active men on the fatigue index. Methodology: 34 healthy, physically active, and physical education male students (19.4 ± 2.60 years) were randomized and organized into four groups: G1, neuromuscular electrostimulation program; G2, high intensity and short duration training; G3, combined exercise of high intensity and short duration, and neuromuscular electrostimulation; and G4, control group, A Wingate test was applied before and after the training period. Results: In the G3 group, there are increases in anaerobic performance with significant differences in the average power relative to weight (p=0.027), with an increase of 7.36%, and a decrease of 12.2% in the fatigue index (p=0.048). In the G4 group there are decreases in performance, evidenced through the significant differences in the average power (p = 0.030), with a decrease in performance of 6.32% and a decrease in the performance in mean power relative to weight with a significant difference (p=0.010) of 3.92%. Conclusions: A combined program of neuromuscular electrostimulation and high-intensity interval exercise improves anaerobic performance in mean power and relative to weight, evidenced through a Wingate test. Likewise, it decreases the percentage of drop in anaerobic performance, showing better results in comparison to training with only high-intensity interval training