Kinetic parameters during land and water walking performed by individuals with Down Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Down Syndrome (DS) is a genetic condition presenting delay in acquisition of main motor milestones, such as walking. Although studies have been investigating the biomechanical parameters during land walking performed by individual with DS, the literature is scarce regarding kinetic parameters analysis in this population, specially during water walking. RESEARCH QUESTION: This study sought to assess the vertical ground reaction force (Fz) of walking performed in water and on land at different speeds by individuals with DS. METHODS: Fourteen adults with DS (age: 27.9 ± 7.9 years; body mass: 58.4 ± 12.9 kg; height: 1.4 ± 0.1 m, body mass index: 29.2 ± 5.4 kg.m-2) completed two sessions of data collection, one on land and another in aquatic environment. The protocol consisted of walking performed at three self-selected speeds (slow, comfortable and fast) in randomized order. The Fz was assessed with a waterproof force plate in each condition. Two-way repeated-measures ANOVA (environment and speed), with Bonferroni's post hoc tests, were used for analysis. A significance level was set as α = 0.05. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed between environments (p < 0.001), with reduced first peak of Fz (68-73%), second peak of Fz (66-70%), loading rate (75-78%) and impulse (40-41%) in the water walking for all speeds analyzed. In the aquatic environment, no significant difference was observed for the first and second Fz peaks with the increasing speed of walking. Moreover, the loading rate significantly increased (p = 0.019) as the impulse significantly reduced (p < 0.001) in the higher speeds. SIGNIFICANCE: Individuals with DS present reduced Fz outcomes during water walking in comparison to land. Therefore, water walking may be performed by individuals with DS with safe vertical loads on lower limbs regardless the self-selected speed for rehabilitation, correction of gait and training purposes.

The "Hypertension Approaches in the Elderly: a Lifestyle study" multicenter, randomized trial (HAEL Study): rationale and methodological protocol.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a clinical condition highly prevalent in the elderly, imposing great risks to cardiovascular diseases and loss of quality of life. Current guidelines emphasize the importance of nonpharmacological strategies as a first-line approach to lower blood pressure. Exercise is an efficient lifestyle tool that can benefit a myriad of health-related outcomes, including blood pressure control, in older adults. We herein report the protocol of the HAEL Study, which aims to evaluate the efficacy of a pragmatic combined exercise training compared with a health education program on ambulatory blood pressure and other health-related outcomes in older individuals. METHODS: Randomized, single-blinded, multicenter, two-arm, parallel, superiority trial. A total of 184 subjects (92/center), ≥60 years of age, with no recent history of cardiovascular events, will be randomized on a 1:1 ratio to 12-week interventions consisting either of a combined exercise (aerobic and strength) training, three times per week, or an active-control group receiving health education intervention, once a week. Ambulatory (primary outcome) and office blood pressures, cardiorespiratory fitness and endothelial function, together with quality of life, functional fitness and autonomic control will be measured in before and after intervention. DISCUSSION: Our conceptual hypothesis is that combined training intervention will reduce ambulatory blood pressure in comparison with health education group. Using a superiority framework, analysis plan prespecifies an intention-to-treat approach, per protocol criteria, subgroups analysis, and handling of missing data. The trial is recruiting since September 2017. Finally, this study was designed to adhere to data sharing practices. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03264443 . Registered on 29 August, 2017.

Comparação das estimativas de atividade física e comportamento sedentário em adultos brasileiros no VIGITEL e PNS, Brasil, 2013 / Comparison of physical activity and sedentary behavior estimates in Brazilian adults from VIGITEL and PNS, Brazil, 2013

O objetivo do presente estudo foi comparar as estimativas de atividade física e comportamento se-dentário obtidas pelos inquéritos nacionais VIGITEL e PNS. Foram utilizados dados do VIGITEL 2013 e PNS 2013, conduzidos entre adultos (≥ 18 anos).Os desfechos foram: atividade física no lazer, deslocamento ativo para o trabalho, inatividade física no lazer e tempo de televisão. Sexo, idade, escolaridade e índice de massa corporal foram as variáveis independentes. Para a estatística, utilizou--se proporções (IC95%) e Coeficiente de Correlação de Concordância de Lin (CCC). As estimativas de deslocamento ativo para o trabalho e de tempo de TV apresentaram concordância moderada entre os inquéritos (CCC = 0,515; CCC = 0,478, respectivamente), enquanto as estimativas de atividade física no lazer e inatividade no lazer apresentaram concordância baixa (CCC = 0,060; CCC = 0,054, respectivamente). As estimativas obtidas entre os inquéritos PNS e VIGITEL sobre desfechos relacionados à atividade física e comportamento sedentário foram de concordância moderada a baixa, não sendo os resultados obtidos comparáveis

The aim of the present study was to compare estimates of physical activity and sedentary behavior by two Brazilian surveys, VIGITEL PNS. Were used data from VIGITEL 2013 and PNS 2013, conducted among adults (≥ 18 y). Were adopted as outcomes: leisure-time physical activity, active transportation to work, leisure-time physical inactivity and TV time. Sex, chronological age, race, educational status, marital status and body mass index were independent variables. For statistical analyses, proportions (IC95%) and Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) were calculated. The estimates of active transportation for work and TV viewing showed moderate agreement between the surveys (CCC = 0.515; CCC = 0.478, respectively), while estimates of leisure activity and leisure physical inactivity showed a low agreement (CCC = 0.060; CCC = 0.054, respectively). Agreement between the estimates of physical activity and sedentary behavior provided by the VIGITEL and PNS ranged from moderate to poor and the results are not comparable