Luis Leitão

Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic syndrome characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and cognitive and affective symptoms. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the acute effects of Resistance Training (RT) and Pilates on pain, functional impact, flexibility, and health-related quality of life in individuals with FM. Methods: In this randomized crossover pilot study, eight adults (7 females, 1 male; mean age: 48.5 ± 8.2 years) with a clinical diagnosis of FM participated. Each participant performed both RT and Pilates sessions in a randomized order. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and 24 h post-intervention using the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, and the Wells sit-and-reach test (WELLS). Data were analyzed using two-way repeated-measures ANOVA and paired t-tests, with effect sizes (η²p and Cohen’s d) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. No formal sample size calculation was performed. Results: Participants presented a mean body mass index (BMI) of 27.4 ± 4.1 kg/m² and time since diagnosis of 6.2 ± 3.1 years. Within-subject variations were observed following both interventions. FIQ scores decreased at 24 h after both RT and Pilates sessions (RT: 52.21 ± 18.61; Pilates: 45.50 ± 18.63; p = 0.038, η²p = 0.42, 95% CI [−12.5, −1.2]). Conclusions: Both Resistance Training and Pilates acutely reduced overall disease impact in individuals with fibromyalgia, with Pilates promoting superior acute gains in posterior chain flexibility.

Background: Paralympic powerlifting requires high upper-limb force production within a short time frame, making anaerobic power a potentially relevant physiological component associated with competitive performance. This study aimed to analyze the associations between biodynamic variables and competitive performance in Paralympic powerlifting athletes. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 13 elite Paralympic powerlifters. Body composition was assessed using DXA. Arm isometric strength was measured by the handgrip test, dynamic strength by the medicine ball throw, and anaerobic power by an upper-limb-adapted Wingate test. Competitive performance was determined based on the official ranking position in the Brazilian Paralympic Powerlifting Championship. Results: Significant correlations were observed between all anaerobic power variables and competitive performance: relative mean power (r = −0.864; p < 0.001), mean power (r = −0.804; p = 0.003), relative peak power (r = −0.766; p = 0.006), and peak power (r = −0.791; p = 0.004). Additionally, total lean mass and left-hand grip strength showed significant associations with maximum competition lift in exploratory linear regression analyses. Conclusions: Upper-limb anaerobic power showed strong associations with competitive performance indicators in Paralympic powerlifting athletes. Furthermore, lean mass and upper-limb isometric strength showed significant associations with maximum competition lift, supporting the multifactorial nature of competitive performance in Paralympic powerlifting. These findings suggest the potential relevance of integrating power-, strength-, and body composition-oriented assessments and interventions into the training process of elite Paralympic powerlifters.

Introduction: Population aging is a growing and challenging phenomenon, primarily due to its association with functional decline and sarcopenia, which increase the risk of falls. These events have significant impacts on public health and the quality of life of older adults. Regular physical activity has shown benefits in reducing falls and their consequences, with systemic vibratory therapy (SVT) emerging as a promising strategy to mitigate these adverse outcomes. However, evidence on the actual effectiveness of this therapeutic approach remains limited, as does clarity regarding optimal body position, protocol parameters, and equipment when combined with physical activity programs. Objectives: To compare the effect of systemic vibratory therapy (SVT) associated with a physical activity program on the perception of fear of falling in older adults (M01.060.116.100). As secondary outcomes, the study will assess functional physical conditioning, electromyographic activity, muscular synergy, and center of pressure oscillation in this population. Methods: A randomized controlled clinical trial with blinded outcome assessors and blinded statistical analysis will be conducted with 192 older adults participating in the UNATI/UNISUAM program. Participants will be allocated into three groups: (A) usual physical activity; (B) usual physical activity + SVT in a semi-squat position; and (C) usual physical activity + SVT in a seated position. Assessments will include sociodemographic data, concern about falling assessed using the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I), physical performance (2 min stationary march test), surface electromyography of the tibialis anterior and medial gastrocnemius muscles, along with posturography using a force platform. Results: This study will provide information on outcomes related to fall risk, balance, physical fitness, and neuromuscular variables in older adults undergoing two distinct SVT protocols. Clinical Trials Registration: Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials RBR-68pry5j. Registered on 8 December 2025.

Background: Combat sports performance is highly determined by psychological factors, and differences in pre-competitive anxiety and mood states can exist between medalist and non-medalists athletes; Methods: The present study aims to assess pre-competitive anxiety and mood state differences between medalist and non-medalists Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) athletes graded as white-belts. The Competitive State Anxiety Inventory–2 (CSAI-2) and the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS) questionnaires were applied to 26 BJJ white-belt athletes before a fight in a national-level competition.; Results: Medalists presented less cognitive anxiety (22.36 ± 3.82 vs. 25.21 ± 3.17; p < 0.05) and higher mental confusion (9.86 ± 3.01 vs. 7.43 ± 3.01; p < 0.05) than non-medalist athletes. No significant differences were found in any other variable; Conclusions: The relationship between pre-competitive anxiety and sport performance is clear; however, higher mental confusion in medalists is a confounding result. More research is needed on this topic to elucidate the psychological phenomena of higher mental confusion in less-experienced athletes.

Background: In recent years, padel-based interventions have been widely applied in junior and elite players of both genders concerning athletic performance, whereas evidence of their efficacy in trials that use simple randomization has not been well established. This study aimed to compare the effects of 8 weeks of padel training (PD) on the strength and power of untrained healthy children. Methods: Twenty-five children aged 11–15 years (12.36 ± 1.15 years) were randomly assigned into experimental (PD) (nine boys and five girls: 1.58 ± 0.04 m; 50.00 ± 6.75 kg; and 19.96 ± 1.95 kg/m²) and control (CT) (seven boys and four girls: 1.60 ± 0.05 m; 56.92 ± 2.75 kg; and 21.61 ± 1.02 kg/m²) groups. The PD group trained twice a week for 8 weeks, and the CT group did not follow any training program and did not participate in regular exercise or sports. Countermovement jump, medicine ball throw, handgrip, and 5 m sprint test results were measured at baseline and after the intervention in the padel sport group. Results: The results showed a significant interaction for training-induced responses in the sprint test (T5) (F = 10.55, p = 0.004, η² = 0.31). No significant interactions were observed for handgrip strength (HG) (F = 3.90, p=0.06), the medicine ball throw (MBT) (F = 0.851, p = 0.37, η² = 0.04), and the countermovement jump (F = 1.04, p =0.32, η² = 0.04), with clear improvements from pre- to post-training in the PD group. After 8 weeks of training, the PD group showed increased performance in handgrip strength (p = 0.004), while the CT group had decreased velocity post-training (p = 0.011). Conclusions: The individual results in the PD group showed an improvement, which suggests that the practice of padel seems to be a good strategy for improving one’s fitness. It is suggested that 8 weeks of PD seem to be effective in improving strength- and power-related variables in healthy, untrained children. This could be considered an alternative to traditional sports to improve the body fitness of young children and should be applied in school-based programs and the sports club community. Also, more high-quality RCTs are needed in the future.

Leitão, L, Pareja-Blanco, F, Marinho, D, and Neiva, H. Effects of different back squat protocols on prefrontal cortex oxygenation responses. J Strength Cond Res 39(8): 845–849, 2025—The prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays an important role in the execution of the various motor tasks that an athlete performs because the brain is involved in the process of starting and ending every exercise. However, the cerebral oxygenation responses to resistance exercise until muscle failure induced by distinct loads are unclear. Therefore, we examined the PFC oxygenation responses to different loads in the back squat exercise. Eighteen men (4.3 ± 1.4 years of experience, 28.1 ± 3.8 years, 74.8 ± 8.8 kg, 1.78 ± 0.05 m, 14.9 ± 3.9% body fat) performed 3 back squat protocols to task failure with distinct loading conditions: 3, 6, and 10RM. Prefrontal cortex oxygenation (oxygenated-HbO ₂ and deoxygenated-HHb hemoglobin; total hemoglobin-tHb; and tissue oxygenation index-TOI) was analyzed during the protocols by near-infrared spectroscopy. HbO ₂ and tHb increased throughout the protocols for all loading conditions ( p < 0.01). The 10RM load resulted in decreases in HHb in the last repetition and lower increases in HbO ₂ and tHB than the other protocols ( p < 0.05). By contrast, 3RM induced higher increases in HbO ₂ and tHb than 6RM and 10RM ( p < 0.05). Although HbO ₂ and tHb increased until failure in all protocols, loads influence the magnitude of PFC oxygenation response. These findings support the role of higher exercise intensities in eliciting central changes in brain activity.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the acute effects of different pre-ST strategies on muscular performance and blood pressure (BP) responses in recreationally strength-trained women. Methods: Twelve overweight women with normal BP were recruited and performed six experimental protocols in a randomized order: (1) control protocol (CC), where BP was assessed without exercises performed; (2) ST; (3) foam rolling warm-up followed by ST (FR + ST); (4) specific warm-up followed by ST (SW + ST); (5) aerobic exercise followed by ST (AE + ST); and (6) stretching exercises followed by ST (SE + ST). ST consisted of three sets at 80% of 10 repetition maximum with a self-suggested rest interval between sets for bench press, back squat, bench press 45°, front squat, lat pull-down, leg press, shoulder press, and leg extension. Results: All experimental protocol had a lower total training volume, fatigue index, and repetitions performance in relation to ST (p < 0.05). No significant reduction was observed in systolic and diastolic BP for any protocol or exercise, although the effect size magnitudes ranged from trivial to large. Decreases in maximum repetitions, resistance to fatigue, and total training volume were performed before ST as warm-up strategies. However, these strategies indicated a clinical reduction in BP with a large and meaningful magnitude (effect size) in recreationally strength-trained women with normal to elevated BP. Conclusions: The results of this investigation may help to influence decision-making by practitioners who desire to elicit a post-exercise hypotension response in both subjects with normal BP and hypertension.

O estudo objetivou avaliar alterações na aptidão física relacionada à saúde e ao desempenho motor em escolares durante o período da pandemia do COVID-19 em um seguimento de 3 anos. Participaram 299 adolescentes, sendo 161 homens (13,1 ±1,1 anos em 2019 e 16,1 ±1,1 anos em 2022) e 138 mulheres (12,9 ±1,1 anos em 2019 e 16,0 ±1,1 anos em 2022). Os testes realizados foram: massa corporal (MCT), IMC, percentual de gordura (%G), nível de atividade física (NAF), volume máximo de oxigênio (VO2max), força de preensão manual (HG), potência de membros superiores (PMS), potência de membros inferiores (PMI), velocidade de corrida de 20 metros (V20) e flexibilidade (FLEX). Para análise dos dados foram utilizados média e desvio padrão e teste t pareado, adotando p<0,05 como estatisticamente significativo. Todos os indicadores apresentaram melhoras significativas após o período de seguimento, exceto V20, VO2max e PMI nas meninas. O ganho médio (∆) nos meninos foi: HG = 37% (p<0,001), PMS = 30,6% (p<0,001), PMI = 17,3% (p<0,001), FLEX = 21,3% (p<0,001), V20 = -7,2% (p<0,001) e VO2max = 37% (p<0,001); nas meninas foram: HG = 11,9% (p<0,001), PMS = 8,7% (p<0,001), PMI = -4,2% (p<0,001), FLEX = 12,5% (p<0,001), V20 = -0,2% (p=0,66) e VO2max = 4,6% (p=0,13). A partir dos resultados apresentados conclui-se que na amostra avaliada, especialmente nos meninos, o isolamento social pela pandemia do COVID-19 não causou prejuízos na aptidão física relacionada à saúde e ao desempenho motor.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a condition that significantly affects the quality of life (QoL) of individuals, causing motor, physiological, social, and psychological impairments. Physical exercise plays a crucial role in maintaining the health and functional capacity of these individuals, helping to minimize the negative impacts of SCI. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of detraining (DT) (reduction or cessation of physical exercise) during the pandemic on five individuals with thoracic SCI. We assessed muscle strength using strength tests, functional capacity using a functional agility test, mental health using anxiety and depression inventories, and body composition using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). The results after 33 months of DT showed significant losses in functional agility and MS, as well as a worsening in symptoms of anxiety and depression. It was observed that total body mass and fat mass (FM) exhibited varied behaviors among the individuals. Similarly, the results for lean body mass were heterogeneous, with one participant showing significant deterioration. It is concluded that DT caused by the pandemic worsened the physical and mental condition of individuals with SCI, highlighting the importance of continuous exercise for this population and underscoring the need for individual assessments to fully understand the impacts of DT.