Jacielle Carolina Ferreira

Most studies investigating recovery in CrossFit^® have focused on the effects of a single training session, whereas the cumulative effects of consecutive sessions within a training microcycle remain poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate perceived recovery and neuromuscular performance, assessed through the countermovement jump (CMJ) and handgrip strength tests, over a 72 h period following a habitual strength–power-emphasized CrossFit^® microcycle. Methods: Fourteen male CrossFit^® practitioners performed CMJ and handgrip strength tests and completed the Total Quality Recovery (TQR) scale before and at 24, 48, and 72 h after completing a strength–power-emphasized training microcycle. Results: Repeated-measures ANOVA revealed significant reductions in all variables 24 h after the microcycle compared with baseline values, followed by recovery to baseline within 48 h. Conclusions: These findings suggest that at least 48 h are required for the recovery of neuromuscular performance and perceived recovery following a habitual strength–power-emphasized CrossFit^® microcycle. Furthermore, the similar temporal responses observed across the three monitoring tools indicate that they may represent practical options for monitoring performance and recovery in CrossFit^® practitioners.

This study assessed the correlation between obesity markers and mental stress reactivity. Mainly, it evaluated whether physical exercise (PE) influences cardiovascular reactivity to the Stroop color word test (SCWT) in teachers. Thirty-one school teachers were evaluated. The SCWT was carried out under (1) baseline and (2) 30 min after aerobic PE conditions. Teachers performed 30 min of PE. The reactivity to mental stress (Δ) during the SCWT for blood pressure (BP) was determined, with Δ being the highest value observed [Δ2 or Δ4: with pre-test values (0 min)]. Of the teachers, 64.52% were considered overweight/obese and 19.35% had a high clinical BP. However, 67.74% of teachers were considered physically active. Systolic BP (SBP) reactivity to SCWT correlated negatively with obesity markers (Rho = −0.36 to −0.60; p < 0.05). The SBP and diastolic BP (DBP) were higher at 2 and 4 min compared to 0 during the SCWT under both conditions (p < 0.01). Moreover, SBP was always lower after PE (p < 0.01) and DBP was lower at 2 and 4 min after PE (p < 0.01). In summary, SBP reactivity to mental stress correlated negatively with obesity markers. Moderate-intensity acute PE reduced BP reactivity to mental stress in teachers.

In combat sports, precise technique evaluation is crucial for performance optimization; however, traditional systems for evaluating kick performance are frequently unreasonably complicated and costly. This study offers a useful and accessible substitute by introducing a contact mat-based tool that measures the roundhouse kick’s execution time during both the attack and recovery phases and by demonstrating its reliability. The experimental sessions involved 16 male Shotokan karate athletes (age: 25.6 ± 7.1 years; height: 1.74 ± 0.05 m; body mass: 71.5 ± 8.7 kg; body fat percentage: 14.7 ± 6.7%; training experience: 11.0 ± 4.9 years). The protocol included four sessions, starting with a familiarization phase followed by three testing sessions (test, retest, and retest two), during which a standardized warm-up was performed along with the roundhouse kick test. The intraclass coefficient correlation (ICC) used indicated high reliability for the at-tack (ICC = 0.85, 95% CI [0.64, 0.94]), recovery (ICC = 0.89, 95% CI [0.75, 0.96]), and total time (ICC = 0.90, 95% CI [0.76, 0.96]). The Friedman test revealed no significant difference between testing sessions (p > 0.31), demonstrating high reliability and no significant differences between sessions. This study confirms the system as a simple and reliability tool for measuring roundhouse-kick timing in combat sports.

Dentre os fatores que podem influenciar o desempenho motor (DM), o sexo parece ser um dos mais preponderantes. No entanto, ainda não é claro sobre como isso afeta diferentes componentes do desempenho motor. O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar o desempenho motor de crianças e adolescentes entre os sexos. Os participantes foram submetidos aos testes de velocidade, agilidade, força de membros inferiores e coordenação, sendo 31 crianças entre onze e quatorze anos que participavam das aulas de educação física. Os resultados indicaram que os meninos obtiveram melhor desempenho nos testes: tapping bipodal (p=0.01), salto em distância (p=0.05), salto contra movimento (p=0.04), velocidade (p=0.05) e agilidade (p=0.01), mas desempenho similar no tapping unipodal. Grande parte dos alunos se encontram abaixo do desempenho esperado pela Proesp. Conclui-se que os meninos apresentam melhor desempenho comparado às meninas, que pode se dar pelo início da puberdade ou por fatores comportamentais como a motivação, participação e envolvimento nas aulas de educação física.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare internal load (IL) and external load (EL) variables between blocks of a game-based Rugby Sevens training session.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed. Twenty-eight professional athletes from the first division of the Brazilian national championship were monitored during a game-based training session, which consisted of varying durations of ball-in-play blocks. The training session comprised 4 blocks of 1 min, 2 blocks of 2 min, and 1 block of 3 min of ball-in-play, with 1-min intervals between blocks of the same duration and 2-min intervals between blocks of different durations.Results: A reduction in EL was reported during longer bouts of ball-in-play. Specifically, a reduction was observed when comparing block 5 to block 1 (p = 0.021) and when comparing block 7 with blocks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 for distance per min. For accelerations and decelerations, blocks 5, 6, and 7 showed lower values than block 1 (p = 0.001 and p = 0.005, respectively). Block 4 showed an increase in rate of perceived exertion (RPE) values compared to blocks 1 (p = 0.010) and 2 (p = 0.004). Increased RPE values were also found in block 5 compared to block 1 (p = 0.001), as well as compared to blocks 2 (p = 0.001) and 3 (p = 0.002). RPE in block 7 was higher than in blocks 1, 2, 3, and 4 (p = 0.001).Conclusions: In summary, higher RPE values were reported across blocks, and IL appeared to be more volume-dependent.

Karate athletes strategically use lower-limb techniques in combat, with the roundhouse kick (mawashi geri) being highly effective in kumite. To quickly improve the technical performance before training or competitions, conditioning activities (CAs) are often utilized. Recently, Whole-Body Vibration (WBV) has emerged as a potential conditioning activity (CA). This study aimed to analyze the acute effects of WBV as a CA on the performance of the mawashi geri. The sample included sixteen male karate athletes. The study had a familiarization and two experimental sessions: one with WBV and the other without (NWBV), conducted randomly and counterbalanced, each preceded and followed by a mawashi geri assessment on a force platform. During the CA intervention, the participants performed four sets of isometric half-squats on a vibration platform at a frequency of 26 Hz and an amplitude of 4 mm in the WBV condition, while the platform was off in the NWBV condition. A significant reduction in the mawashi geri attack phase time was observed under the WBV condition [pre: 0.31 ± 0.03 s; post: 0.30 ± 0.03 s] compared to the NWBV condition [pre: 0.31 ± 0.04 s; post: 0.32 ± 0.03 s] (p = 0.02). However, no differences were noted regarding the impact force or other kinetic variables between the conditions. Therefore, WBV did not increase the performance of the kinetic and kinematic variables of the mawashi geri in karate athletes, but it is possible that there is a positive effect on attack time, suggesting that further studies with different vibration protocol configurations would be beneficial.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi comparar o desempenho motor no Tapping Foot Test (TFT) entre a posição sentada e a posição em pé, em indivíduos saudáveis. Participaram do estudo treze adultos jovens saudáveis do sexo masculino, com idade entre 18 e 40 anos. Os voluntários realizaram duas visitas, uma para realização do teste em pé e outra na posição sentada. O protocolo em cada uma das visitas era composto por aquecimento e duas tentativas do TFT com três minutos de descanso entre tentativas. Para a contagem dos eventos foi utilizado um Tapete de Contato (Plataforma Jumptest®) e o software Multisprint®. Foi aplicado um teste t pareado para comparar o número de contatos no TFT entre as posições em pé e sentada, utilizando-se a tentativa de melhor desempenho. Também foi realizado um teste de Correlação de Pearson para identificar o nível de correlação entre eles. Um maior número de contatos foi realizado na posição sentada (p=0,029) e a correlação do desempenho entre as diferentes posições foi significativa (p<0,001) e forte (r=0,811), o que indica que, apesar de diferentes, há uma forte associação entre o desempenho em pé e sentado.

Este estudio tiene como objetivo comparar la fuerza de prensión manual entre atletas de jiu-jitsu brasileño (JJB) que practican musculación y aquellos que no lo practican, explorando índices de fuerza que evalúen la máxima fuerza y la resistencia, así como sus respectivas asimetrías. La muestra incluyó 22 atletas masculinos de JJB, separados en dos grupos según su entrenamiento: practicantes de musculación (PM) y no practicantes (NPM). Ambos grupos se sometieron a una prueba isométrica de presión manual, aplicando 30 segundos de máxima fuerza con un dinamómetro (EMG System do Brasil®). Los datos se procesaron en Matlab® para obtener índices de fuerza: fuerza máxima (Fmáx), media (Fmed) e índice de fatiga (IF). Se utilizó la prueba t de Student para el análisis. No hubo diferencias significativas en la Fmáx de mano derecha (35,08 ± 5,30 y 32,75 ± 7,33; p=0,14), mano izquierda (30,77 ± 6,31 y 29,57 ± 7,32; p=0,35) y asimetría (13,11±10,67 y 11,98 ± 9,85; p=0,78) entre PM y NPM. Los valores de IF tampoco difirieron (derecha: 30,48 ± 18,89 y 36,48 ± 11,62, p=0,36; izquierda: 35,72 ± 12,99 y 35,13 ± 13,17, p=0,95); excepto para asimetría (22,67 ± 13,29 y 44,69 ± 28,45; p=0,02). El entrenamiento con pesas en practicantes de JJB no aumenta significativamente la fuerza máxima de prensión manual, pero reduce la asimetría en miembros contralaterales para el índice de fatiga.

A força de preensão manual (FPM) é uma medida utilizada para diferentes fins e uma ferramenta importante na avaliação de indicadores de saúde. Um dinamômetro adaptado com célula de carga (DA) é uma alternativa mais barata para medição da FPM e que possibilita maior variedade de parâmetros para análise. A validade e confiabilidade do DA foi avaliada com teste T para comparação entre dispositivos e entre teste vs reteste (DA). A correlação foi avaliada com o teste de Pearson. Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre as medidas dos dispositivos e o nível de correlação observado foi alto. O mesmo foi observado para a comparação teste e reteste (DA) e os valores de correlação foram altos para Fmax e Fmed e moderados para TPF e IF. O DA apresentou uma validade e confiabilidade excelente, o que sugere aplicabilidade para diagnósticos e avaliações físicas mais precisas e com maior variabilidade de aplicação. Descritores: Dinamômetro de Força Muscular, Força da Mão, Validade, Confiabilidade. Validity and reliability of handgrip strength assessed with a low-cost dynamometer Hand grip strength (HGS) is a measurement used for various purposes and is an important tool in assessing health indicators. A dynamometer adapted with a load cell (DA) is a more affordable alternative for measuring HGS, allowing a greater variety of parameters for analysis. The validity and reliability of the DA were evaluated using a T-test for comparison between devices and test-retest (DA). Correlation was assessed using Pearson's correlation test. No significant differences were found between device measurements, and the observed level of correlation was high. The same was observed for the test-retest comparison (DA), with high correlation values for Fmax and Fmed, and moderate values for TPF and IF. The DA demonstrated excellent validity and reliability, suggesting its applicability for more accurate diagnostic and physical assessment purposes, with a wider range of applications. Descriptors: Muscle Strength Dynamometer, Hand Strength, Validity, Reability. Validez y confiabilidad de la fuerza de prensión manual evaluadas con un dinamómetro de bajo costo Resumen: La fuerza de agarre manual (FAM) es una medida utilizada para diversos fines y es una herramienta importante para evaluar indicadores de salud. Un dinamómetro adaptado con una célula de carga (DA) es una alternativa más económica para medir la FAM, lo que permite una mayor variedad de parámetros para el análisis. La validez y confiabilidad del DA se evaluaron utilizando una prueba T para la comparación entre dispositivos y entre la repetición de pruebas (DA). La correlación se evaluó mediante la prueba de correlación de Pearson. No se encontrarón diferencias significativas entre las mediciones de los dispositivos, y el nivel de correlación observado fue alto. Lo mismo se observó para la comparación de las repeticiones de pruebas (DA), con valores de correlación altos para Fmax y Fmed, y valores moderados para TPF e IF. El DA demostró una excelente validez y confiabilidad, lo que sugiere su aplicabilidad para diagnósticos más precisos y evaluaciones físicas, con una mayor variedad de aplicaciones. Descriptores: Dinamómetro de Fuerza Muscular, Fuerza de la Mano, Validez, Confiabilidad.

Among traditional cardiovascular diseases (CVD) risk factors, obesity has become a major research target due to its epidemic prevalence¹ 1 GBD 2017 Risk Factor Collaborators. Global, regional, and national comparative risk assessment of 84 behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risks or clusters of risks for 195 countries and territories, 1990-2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet. 2018;392(10159):1923-94. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)32225-6. PMid:30496105. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)... . Another independent risk factor for CVD is psychological stress² 2 Huang CJ, Webb HE, Zourdos MC, Acevedo EO. Cardiovascular reactivity, stress, and physical activity. Front Physiol. 2013;4:314. http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2013.00314. PMid:24223557. http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2013.003... . Acute mental stress tasks have been used as a laboratory models to examine cardiovascular response to psychological stress³ 3 Carroll D, Ginty AT, Der G, Hunt K, Benzeval M, Phillips AC. Increased blood pressure reactions to acute mental stress are associated with 16-year cardiovascular disease mortality. Psychophysiology. 2012;49(10):1444-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8986.2012.01463.x. PMid:22958235. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8986.20... 4 Steptoe A, Kivimaki M, Lowe G, Rumley A, Hamer M. Blood pressure and fibrinogen responses to mental stress as predictors of incident hypertension over an 8-year period. Ann Behav Med. 2016;50(6):898-906. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12160-016-9817-5. PMid:27401000. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12160-016-981... -⁵ 5 Carroll D, Phillips AC, Der G, Hunt K, Benzeval M. Blood pressure reactions to acute mental stress and future blood pressure status: data from the 12-year follow-up of the West of Scotland Study. Psychosom Med. 2011;73(9):737-42. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0b013e3182359808. PMid:22021460. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0b013e3182... . Evidence has suggested that the association between systolic blood pressure (SBP) reactivity to mental stress and increased risk for future cardiovascular events is independent of baseline BP values⁶ 6 Chida Y, Steptoe A. Greater cardiovascular responses to laboratory mental stress are associated with poor subsequent cardiovascular risk status: a meta-analysis of prospective evidence. Hypertension. 2010;55(4):1026-32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.109.146621. PMid:20194301. http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAH... .