Effect of Menstrual Cycle Phase on Perceived Exertion During Aerobic Exercise in Eumenorrheic Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: The rating of perceived exertion (RPE) is a readily available and practical tool widely used in exercise science to monitor exercise load, but a rigorous review of the effect of menstrual cycle (MC) phases on RPE within continuous aerobic exercise has not yet been completed. Objective: This study investigated the effects of the MC phase on RPE during aerobic exercise. Study Design: This was a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: The search strategy was carried out using the 5 most common scientific databases. While qualitative analyses were performed in all included studies, random effects to standard mean difference were calculated and meta-analysis was performed where possible. This study addresses comparison for RPE at the beginning, middle, and end of the exercise adopting 2 mains analysis. The first adopted early cycle (first session of the cycle) as control compared with the subsequent phases, and the second adopted days 1 to 5 (early follicular) as control compared with the subsequent phases. Results: A total of 17 studies (n = 160) were included in the qualitative synthesis. The meta-analysis showed that MC phases did not impact RPE (P > .05). Conclusions: The current meta-analysis showed that MC does not impact RPE. Although acute RPE is not impacted by MC phases, future studies and practitioners should pay attention to the impact of RPE session by session throughout the MC.

Psychophysiological Responses to Self-Selected Exercise Intensity Over the Menstrual Cycle: A Randomized Crossover Phase Trial.

Purpose: This study investigated the psychophysiological responses during self-selected exercise intensity over the course of the menstrual cycle (MC). Methods: Seventeen healthy women with regular MCs completed three randomized treadmill bouts of 30 min of self-selected exercise intensity during menstruation, mid-follicular, and late luteal phases. Anxiety, menstrual distress (i.e., pain, behavior change, autonomic reaction, fluid retention, and negative affect) and profile of mood (i.e., tension, depression, and anger) were measured before exercise. Arousal, heart rate (HR), motivation, rating of perceived exertion and affective valence were measured before, during and after each exercise session. Results: Anger, anxiety, behavior change, pain, and negative affect were significantly greater (p < .05) during menstruation compared to the mid-follicular phase, whereas fluid retention, anger, behavior change, and autonomic reaction were greater (p < .05) during the late luteal phase compared with the mid-follicular phase. Participants felt more negative affective valence and less motivation to start exercise during menstruation compared with other MC phases. Average treadmill speed (5.8 ± 1.1 vs 6.0 ± 0.7 vs 5.9 ± 0.7 km/h-1, p = .36) and %HRmax (74.9 ± 3.2 vs 77.8 ± 5.4 vs 77.4 ± 7.1%, p = .40) did not differ between menstruation, mid-follicular, and late luteal phases. Also, noteworthy is that participants self-selected an intensity that exceeded the minimum levels recommended for health and cardiorespiratory fitness promotion (64-70% HRmax). Conclusions: Results of this study indicate that psychophysiological responses are negatively impacted mainly during menstruation and the late luteal phase of the MC. These findings may be helpful for professionals who work to promote the initiation and maintenance of exercise in women.

The effect of menstrual cycle and exercise intensity on psychological and physiological responses in healthy eumenorrheic women.

Psychological responses such as affect, mood, motivation, anxiety are important considerations for exercise adherence. A large body of evidence indicates that exercise intensity is a controllable variable capable of increasing positive feelings. Investigations thus far, however, have not considered that the higher incidence of negative psychological responses in women could be due to physiological particularities of the menstrual cycle (MC). This project investigates the effect of MC phases and exercise intensity on psychophysiological responses in fourteen healthy, eumenorrheic and physically active women. Measuring psychophysiological responses before, during and after exercise, participants completed two exercise bouts of 15 min above and below the anaerobic threshold in the follicular phase (FP) and the luteal phase (LP) of the MC. Lower levels of depression and hostility and higher levels of vigor, affect and motivation were observed during exercise in the FP. Exercise at moderate intensity elicited more positive psychological responses compared to high-intensity exercise, highlighted by findings that affect and rating of perceived exertion were worse in the LP without changes in physiological responses. These findings suggest no effect of MC on physiological responses, but psychological responses are impaired in the LP, worsening particularly during exercise at high intensity.

Moderate-Intensity Walking Training Improves Depressive Symptoms and Pain in Older Adults with Good Quality of Life: A Controlled Randomized Trial

Abstract Background: Walking training can be an adequate choice to improve physical and psychological conditions in the elderly. Studies have reported positive changes in the quality of life, depressive symptoms and pain. However, baseline characteristics of volunteers have been controlled, and some of previous studies have not investigated these parameters concomitantly. Objectives: To assess the effects of moderate-intensity walking on quality of life, depressive symptoms and physical pain in physically active elderly individuals. Methods: Sixty-nine subjects were recruited and allocated into two groups: training group (n = 40) and control group (n = 29). All were evaluated for quality of life, depressive symptoms and pain. Training group underwent 40 minutes of walking (50-70% of maximum heart rate), 3 days a week for 12 weeks. For statistical analysis, we used the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Student's t-test and Split-Plot ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc, Pearson correlation. Significance level was set at 5%. Results: After 12 weeks of training, depressive symptoms and physical pain significantly reduced in the training group (2.7 ± 2.4 to 1.9 ± 1.8 and 4.3 ± 3.1 to 2.8 ± 2.9, respectively) compared with baseline values, and remained unchanged in the control group. There was a positive, moderate correlation between depressive symptoms and pain (r = 0.30). Conclusion: physically active elderly individuals with good quality of life show improved depressive symptoms after a short-term moderate-intensity walking training program.

Exercício com intensidade autosselecionada para idosos: implicações do afeto em aulas comunitárias / Self-selected intensity exercise for the elderly: implications of affect in community classes

A prescrição da intensidade do exercício de forma autosselecionada em função de maior afeto positivo é uma estratégia utilizada para promover aderência da população na prática de exercícios. Entre-tanto, ainda não foram investigadas as implicações que essa estratégia pode gerar na valência afetiva de idosos em ambientes não laboratoriais e em aulas em grupos. O objetivo desse estudo foi analisar se o exercício com intensidade autosselecionada realizado em grupos de idosos pode influenciar na valência afetiva. A amostra foi composta por 176 idosos, sendo 42 homens, com média de idade 70,70 ± 10,10 anos e 134 mulheres, com média de idade 71,00 ± 6,60 anos. Os idosos vinculados a um centro comunitário reportaram a valência afetiva e percepção subjetiva de esforço após uma caminhada de 30 minutos com intensidade autosselecionada. Os participantes foram alocados em três grupos segundo os tercis de percepção subjetiva de esforço: grupo com baixa (GBPE), média (GMPE) e alta (GAPE) percepção de esforço. Foi identificado que todos grupos se diferenciam entre si na valência afetiva [c² (2) = 50,860; p < 0,05]. A magnitude das diferenças pelo tamanho de efeito foi moderada na análise global (*ES = 0,331) e entre GBPE e GAPE (ES = 0,329). Conclui-se existe uma implicação negativa na valência afetiva em exercício com autosseleção da intensidade rea-lizados por idosos em grupos comunitários, possivelmente causado por fatores psicossociais capazes de influenciar na variabilidade de respostas perceptivas

The self-selected exercise intensity prescription due to greater positive affect is a strategy used to promote adherence of the population to exercise. However, the implications that this strategy may have on the affective valence of the elderly in non-laboratory environments and in group classes have not still investigated. The purpose of this study was to analyze whether self-selected intensity exercise performed in elderly groups can influence affective valence. The sample consisted of 176 elderly, 42 men, with a mean age of 70.70 ± 10.10 years and 134 women, with a mean age of 71.00 ± 6.60 years. The elderly linked to a community center reported affective valence and rating perceived exertion after a 30-minute walk with self-selected intensity. Participants were allocated to three groups according to the terciles of rating perceived exertion: group with low (GBPE), medium (GMPE) and high (GAPE) perceived exertion. It was identified that all groups differ in affective valence [c² (2) = 50,860; p <0.05]. The magnitude of the differences by effect size was moderate in the overall analysis (*ES = 0.331) and between GBPE and GAPE (ES = 0.329). In conclusion, there is a negative implication in affective valence in self-selected exercise intensity performed by the elderly in community groups, possibly caused by psychosocial factors capable of influencing the variability of perceptual responses

Impact of Moderate Aerobic Training on Physical Capacities of Hypertensive Obese Elderly.

The association of old age and chronic conditions, such as hypertension and obesity, can lead to larger decreases in the physical capacities of elderly, compared with their healthy counterparts. Physical exercise has been demonstrated to be efficient in postponing this phenomenon, mainly strength training. However, little is known about the effect of aerobic training on this condition. The aim of this work was to investigate the impact of 12 weeks of moderate-intensity aerobic training on the physical capacities of hypertensive obese older women. Aerobic power, lower limb muscle power, upper limb muscle strength, endurance, and flexibility of 19 hypertensive obese elders were evaluated. Afterward, patients were blindly randomized into control group (CG) and exercise group (EG). EG underwent three sessions/week of 60 min of moderate-intensity aerobic training, during 12 weeks. EG showed increases in VO2max compared with CG (p = .03) and increases in flexibility compared with basal moment (+21.6%; p = .01) after 12 weeks, whereas CG did not show any significant alterations. Moderate aerobic training is capable of inducing increases in maximal aerobic power and flexibility in hypertensive obese elderly. However, other essential physical capacities associated with independence in elderly people (i.e., muscle power and strength) were not responsive to this kind of protocol.

Prefrontal cortex asymmetry and psychological responses to exercise: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown a relationship between prefrontal cortex (PFC) activation asymmetry and psychological responses to exercise, so that a higher rest activation in left rather than right PFC has been associated with positive psychological responses to exercise such as an improved affect, anxiety and multidimensional arousal states. PURPOSE: To review: 1) evidence that PFC activation asymmetry before exercise is associated with psychological responses to exercise; 2) protocols of PFC asymmetry determination. METHODS: A systematic review (SR) was performed on studies retrieved from the PubMed and Web of Science database up to 04-30-2019. Eligibility criteria were: 1) studies investigating participants submitted to aerobic exercises; 2) including cerebral activation measures through electroencephalography (EEG) before the exercise bout; 3) and psychological measures during or after the exercise bout; 4) original studies. RESULTS: A number of 1901 studies was retrieved from the databases and 1 study was manually inserted. Thereafter, 1858 studies were excluded during the screening stage so that 30 studies remained for the SR. After full reading, 22 studies were excluded and 8 studies composed the final SR. Methodological assessment revealed that 62.5% of the studies showed a low risk of bias, while 34.37% and 3.12% showed either an unclear or a high risk of bias, respectively. Protocols of PFC activation asymmetry used EEG at F3-F4-P3-P4 (3 studies), F3-F4 (2 studies), F3-F4-T3-T4 (1 study), F3-F4-F7-F8-T5-T6-P3-P4 (1 study) and Fp1-Fp2-Fz-F3-F4-F7-F8-Cz-C3-C4-T3-T4-T5-T6-Pz-P3-P4-Oz-O1-O2 (1 study) positions. Most studies (75%) found a higher left PFC activation associated with a greater affect (n = 2), energetic arousal (n = 2), lower anxiety (n = 2) as well as calmness and tired arousal, simultaneously (n = 1). CONCLUSIONS: Although the heterogeneity of PFC asymmetry protocols, reviewed studies showed a low risk of bias, suggesting that a higher left PFC activation is associated with a positive psychological response to exercise.

Psychophysiological responses of music on physical performance: a critical review / Respostas psicofisiológicas da música no desempenho físico: uma revisão crítica

Music can be considered as an ergogenic aid of psychological nature. Currently, athletes of different training status regularly use music as an ergogenic aid to improve performance in different exercise models in their training sessions. In order to understand the effect of music on psychophysiological responses to physical exercise, a music-oriented search was performed on the Pubmed and Web of Science databases to select relevant articles to this theme, thus enabling to present a critical review to explain the three main suggested ergogenic mechanisms of music: 1) Music and perceptive responses during exercise; 2) Influence of music on exercise in different intensities; 3) Action of music on the central nervous system. One of the reasons to listening to music during training sessions is the strong motivational factor during the practice of physical activity. Studies have pointed out benefits such as an improved mood, excitatory control, reduced subjective perception of effort, increased motivation and improved physical performance. In this sense, although the real mechanisms that lead music to be considered as an ergogenic aid to improve performance remain unknown, music seems to have important effects on psychological responses generated in the central nervous system, thus acting as a stimulating agent for the release of excitatory neurotransmitters such as serotonin and endorphin. On the other hand, according to the theory of parallel processing / dissociation, the main mechanism of music to improve physical performance is the increased dissociative thoughts to exercise, thereby reducing perceptual responses processed through the brain that result in increased positive emotional responses to exercise....(AU)

A música pode ser considerada como um recurso ergogênico de natureza psicológica. Atualmente, atletas de diferentes níveis de treinamento utilizam a música como um recurso ergogênico em suas sessões de treinamento em diferentes modelos de exercício para melhorar o desempenho. Para entender o efeito da música nas respostas psicofisiológicas no desempenho físico foi realizada uma busca intencional nas bases de dados 'Pubmed' e 'Web of Science' de artigos relevantes ao tema, desse modo, a presente revisão foi conduzida de maneira crítica para explanar os principais mecanismos sugeridos para a ação ergogênica da música em 3 tópicos: 1) Músicas e respostas perceptivas durante o exercício; 2) Influência da música sobre o exercício em diferentes intensidades; 3) Ação da música sobre o sistema nervoso central. Um dos motivos da utilização da música durante as sessões de treinamento é o forte fator motivacional durante a prática da atividade física. Estudos apontam alguns benefícios como a melhora do humor, controle excitatório, redução da percepção subjetiva de esforço, aumento da motivação e melhora do desempenho físico. Nesse sentido, embora os reais mecanismos que levam a música a ser considerada um recurso ergogênico ainda permanecem desconhecidos, a música parece ter importantes efeitos sobre as respostas psicológicas geradas no sistema nervoso central, atuando como um agente estimulante para a liberação de neurotransmissores excitatórios como a serotonina e endorfina. Por outro lado, de acordo com a teoria do processamento paralelo/dissociação, o principal mecanismo da música sobre o desempenho físico é o aumento da dissociação durante o exercício, reduzindo as respostas perceptivas processadas no cérebro, com a resultante do aumento de respostas emocionais positivas ao longo da tarefa....(AU)

Fatores determinantes da estratégia de ritmo em esportes de endurance / Determinants factors of pacing strategy on endurance sports / Determinantes de la estrategia de ritmo en los deportes de resistencia

Resumo Provas cíclicas de longa duração exigem que atletas tomem decisões acerca do uso de energia durante a prova. Visto isso, diferentes estratégias de ritmo (pacing strategy) foram diagnosticadas a fim de promover uma economia de energia durante o esforço. Portanto, o objetivo desta revisão é apresentar os principais mecanismos da estratégia de ritmo, baseados nos modelos de tomada de decisão sustentados por informações aferentes ou contextuais/intuitivas, que são usadas para calcular e reduzir um possível risco de fadiga prematura durante uma tarefa de endurance.

Abstract Long cyclic exercises require that athletes make decisions about the use of energy during the trial, as this, different pacing strategies were diagnosed in order to promote an economy of energy during exercise. Therefore the aim of this review was to present the major exercise strategy mechanisms, based on the decision-making models supported by accurate afferent information, or contextual / intuitive, which are used to calculate the risk of the exercise/test, and decide to reduce/maintain/increase the pace of exercise/test.

Resumen Las pruebas cíclicas a largo plazo requieren que los atletas tomen decisiones sobre el uso de la energía durante la carrera. De esta manera, se diagnosticaron diferentes estrategias de ritmos (pacing strategy) con el fin de promover una economía de energía durante el esfuerzo. Por tanto, el objetivo de esta revisión es presentar los principales mecanismos de la estrategia de ritmo, basados en los modelos de toma de decisiones con el apoyo de la información aferente exacta, o contextual/intuitiva, que se utiliza para calcular el posible riesgo de cansancio prematuro durante la prueba de resistencia.

Correction to: Effects of Carbohydrate Mouth Rinse on Cycling Time Trial Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Section 3.2, Fig. 2: The wording on the x-axis which previously read.

Effects of Carbohydrate Mouth Rinse on Cycling Time Trial Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Despite the growing number of studies reporting carbohydrate mouth rinse effects on endurance performance, no systematic and meta-analysis review has been conducted to elucidate the level of evidence of carbohydrate mouth rinse effects on cycling trial performance such as time-, work-, and distance-based trials. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study were to establish the effect of a carbohydrate mouth rinse on cycling performance outcomes such as mean power output and time to complete a trial, together with the risk of bias in the cycling-carbohydrate mouth rinse literature. METHODS: We systematically reviewed randomized placebo-controlled trials that assessed carbohydrate mouth rinse effects on mean power output and time to complete the trial. A random-effects meta-analysis assessed the standardized mean difference between carbohydrate and placebo mouth rinses. RESULTS: Thirteen studies (16 trials) were qualitatively (systematic review) and quantitatively (meta-analysis) analyzed with regard to mean power output (n = 175) and time to complete the trial (n = 151). Overall, the reviewed studies showed a low risk of bias and homogeneous results for mean power output (I2 = 0%) and time to complete the trial (I2 = 0%). When compared with placebo, the carbohydrate mouth rinse improved mean power output (standardized mean difference = 0.25; 95% confidence interval 0.04-0.46; p = 0.02), but not the time to complete the trial (standardized mean difference = - 0.13; 95% confidence interval - 0.36 to 0.10; p = 0.25). CONCLUSION: The present systematic and meta-analytic review supports the notion that a carbohydrate mouth rinse has the potential to increase mean power output in cycling trials, despite showing no superiority over placebo in improving time to complete the trials.

Physical education class can improve acute inhibitory control in elementary school students

Abstract Aim: The aim of the study was to analyze the impact of a based-team sports physical education class on inhibitory control of elementary school children. Methods: Were selected 29 elementary school students (13 boys and 16 girls; 10.7 ± 0.7 years old; 43.2 ± 8.2 kg weight; 147 ± 5 cm height). Participants were submitted to a 50-minute sports-based physical education class performed at moderate intensity. Inhibitory control was measured before and immediately after the end of the physical education class by the Stroop Test. Results: Results indicate that the variables derived from Stroop Test performance overall reaction time were significantly reduced after the physical education class (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that a 50-minute sports-based physical education class performed at moderate intensity elicited a significant improvement on the inhibitory control elementary school students.

Non-periodized and Daily Undulating Periodized Resistance Training on Blood Pressure of Older Women.

The present study aimed at investigating the effects of a daily undulating periodization (DUP) and non-periodized (NP) resistance training programs on hemodynamic parameters of older women. Forty-two older women were randomized into one of the three experimental groups: NP, DUP, and control group (CG). Evaluations of the hemodynamic parameters occurred before, during and after the intervention. The exercise programs were performed twice a week over 22 weeks. NP and DUP groups were based on 3 sets of 8-10 repetitions in 9 exercises. In NP, the two exercise sessions were based on traditional strength training, which was performed at a Difficult intensity according to the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) method. In DUP, the first session was based on power resistance exercise, in which the concentric muscle contraction was performed as fast as possible at a moderate intensity based on RPE, while the second session was the same that was performed by NP. The findings demonstrated that diastolic blood pressure (90.4 vs. 76.2 mmHg) and mean arterial pressure (108.6 vs. 92.7 mmHg) were significantly reduced after NP, while no significant alterations were observed in DUP. Nevertheless, both training groups seem to have a cardio protective effect, since both training modes prevented the increase in HR reported in the experimental period in CG. In conclusion, our findings indicate that a 22-week NP resistance training program causes beneficial effects on hemodynamic parameters of older women. Trial Registration: NCT03443375.

Moderate Aerobic Training Decreases Blood Pressure but No Other Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Hypertensive Overweight/Obese Elderly Patients.

Hypertension and obesity are prevalent diseases in elderly people, and their combination can cause deleterious effects on physiological system. Moderate intensity aerobic training (MIAT) seems to be a beneficial approach to control and treat these diseases separately. However, few studies have investigated the impact of MIAT on cardiovascular risk factors associated with these conditions (i.e., elevated blood pressure values, blood markers, and body composition). Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the effects of MIAT on blood pressure, blood markers, and body composition in hypertensive overweight/obese elderly patients. Twenty-four hypertensive overweight/obese elderly patients were randomized into control group (CG) and training group (TG), submitted to 12 weeks of MIAT of 50 min, 3 days per week, at 60% of maximal HR (heart rate). There was a decrease in diastolic blood pressure (-10.1 ± 3.3; p = .01; effect size = 1.29) and mean arterial pressure (MAP; -8.2 ± 3.7; p = .04; effect size = 0.94) following 12 weeks of training in the TG as compared with baseline. There was an increase in triacylglycerol levels in the TG (+0.1 ± 0.0; p = .02). There were no significant changes in body composition for both groups. The present study revealed that 12 weeks of MIAT can decrease blood pressure in hypertensive obese elderly patients, with no significant modifications in blood markers and body composition.

Vertical Jump Is Strongly Associated to Running-Based Anaerobic Sprint Test in Teenage Futsal Male Athletes.

As one of the most popular sport modalities in Brazil, and with an exponential growth in Europe, futsal is characterized by intermittent stimulus of anaerobic high intensity sprints. The running-based anaerobic sprint test (RAST) is one of the most common tests to assess anaerobic power in futsal athletes, however, it presents both time and physical challenges. Therefore, we aimed to correlate RAST with a simpler test, the vertical jump (VJ), in teenage male futsal athletes; Methods: Thirteen volunteers were enrolled and underwent two visits to the laboratory, one for the VJ and the other for the RAST in a randomized order; Results: The association test indicates a strong and significant correlation between VJ and RAST. We conclude that VJ can be used as an alternative to RAST in teenage male futsal athletes.

Hypertension, Sarcopenia, and Global Cognitive Function in Community-Dwelling Older Women: A Preliminary Study.

The present study aimed to investigate whether sarcopenia interferes in the association between HTN and cognitive function in community-dwelling older women. One hundred and eleven older women were recruited and dichotomized in hypertensive (n=63) and normotensive groups (n=48). Volunteers underwent evaluations of the sarcopenic state (i.e., skeletal muscle mass, short physical performance battery (SPPB), balance), hemodynamic parameters, and global cognitive status (i.e., Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)). Data demonstrated that hypertensive patients had lower global cognitive status than normotensive subjects. When volunteers were divided according to sarcopenic status, data demonstrated that hypertensive patients with low performance on SPPB (0.006), low values of sarcopenic index (0.03), and low performance on sit-to-stand (0.09) demonstrated poor cognitive status compared with hypertensive patients with normal values of these variables. In conclusion, data of the current study indicate that the sarcopenic state might interfere in the association among hypertension and poor cognitive status, once a higher frequency of hypertensive patients with low lower limb muscle function (i.e., SPPB and sit-to-stand) and muscle mass index (i.e., Janssen index) was observed in the <24 MMSE segment, in comparison with hypertensive patients with normal results in these parameters.

Multicomponent Exercise Improves Hemodynamic Parameters and Mobility, but Not Maximal Walking Speed, Transfer Capacity, and Executive Function of Older Type II Diabetic Patients.

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of a 6-month multicomponent exercise program (MCEP) on functional, cognitive, and hemodynamic parameters of older Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. Moreover, additional analyses were performed to evaluate if T2DM patients present impaired adaptability in response to physical exercise when compared to nondiabetic volunteers. A total of 72 T2DM patients and 72 age-matched healthy volunteers (CG) were recruited and submitted to functional, cognitive, and hemodynamic evaluations before and after six months of a MCEP. The program of exercise was performed twice a week at moderate intensity. Results indicate T2DM and nondiabetic patients present an increase in mobility (i.e., usual walking speed) after the MCEP. However, improvements in maximal walking speed, transfer capacity, and executive function were only observed in the CG. On the other hand, only T2DM group reveals a marked decline in blood pressure. In conclusion, data of the current study indicate that a 6-month MCEP improves mobility and reduce blood pressure in T2DM patients. However, maximal walking speed, transfer capacity, and executive function were only improved in CG, indicating that T2DM may present impaired adaptability in response to physical stimulus.