Motricidade

The use of control group in research design: the ethical challenge in the population with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Susana Diz — 2024-12-31

Ethics studies moral values and defines good and bad conduct in research and researchers. In research with human beings, it plays a crucial role in imposing limits, reducing abuses, and providing fair lines of research. The use of control groups in this type of research has been addressed and seems to be an effective method to assess the effects of an intervention, but it has raised doubts about the ethical challenges it involves. Therefore, this narrative review aims to address the ethical challenges in the use of control groups in research projects. In the analysed studies on populations with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), it was found that most researchers favoured the use of control groups, which, during the research period, did not engage in any activity other than the usual activities in their daily lives. However, they should ensure that the control group has the opportunity to perform an intervention equal to the one performed by the experimental group after the end of the research. In addition, it was possible to verify that, for the most part, the authors ensure the follow-up of ethical standards in studies with human subjects.

Physical activity, exercise and fitness in Portugal: past, present and future

Filipe Rodrigues — 2024-12-31

This article sought, analytically and narratively, to analyze the trends in physical activity and exercise practice in Portugal over the past two decades. Additionally, the context of fitness in the national territory was examined, based on records released over the past years. Specifically, physical exercise was analyzed based on the fitness context, where interest was focused on the economic response to attrition rates and the weekly frequency of members. The current work is structured into several parts, namely: i) physical activity practiced in Portugal; ii) the panorama of physical exercise and fitness in Portugal; and iii) the economic analysis of the fitness sector in Portugal; iv) levels of physical exercise, and v) reasons for non-practice and abandonment of physical exercise. Finally, we will present a discussion highlighting practical implications. In conclusion, this study highlights the difficulty of the fitness sector in reversing inactivity trends. There is a need to review the methods used to assess physical activity and exercise. Additionally, it underscores the importance of understanding the reasons for dropout in fitness centers and implementing reforms to improve customer experience and reduce attrition rates.

Psychological Impact of the Sars-Cov-2 Pandemic on University Students: A Systematic Review

Sílvia Maria Fernandes Ala — 2024-12-31

The objective of this research is to point out studies that describe variables that are associated with the impact of contingency measures resulting from the pandemic on the mental health of university students. A systematic review was carried out, following the PRISMA-P guidelines and PECO approach, and the review protocol was registered in INPLASTY. The search was conducted in five databases from December 2019 to December 2022. A selection process was carried out by title, abstract and full text, according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Initially, 27,458 articles were identified, and after eliminating duplicates, applying the inclusion criteria and critical analysis, 11 original articles were selected for qualitative analysis. The sample size was 47,552 participants, the majority of whom were women (68.07%) with an average age of 21.07 years. It was concluded that contingency measures (social isolation, quarantine, distancing) as a measure to prevent the spread of the pandemic had a negative impact on the psychological well-being of university students. Adequate support and research into which interventions can mitigate these risks are essential. We suggest the implementation of psychological interventions, which should be promoted proactively, to minimise negative impacts.

The visuomotor process of children with Developmental Coordination Disorder and its relationship with functionality in activities of daily living

Jéssica de Jesus Dutra Lopes — 2024-12-31

The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between visuomotor processing and functionality in Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) of children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). The sample consisted of 52 children, 35 children with DCD (mean age=7.11 years) and 17 without DCD (mean age=7.11 years). The identification of DCD was carried out using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children Second Edition (MABC-2) and the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire – Brazil (DCDQ BR). To evaluate ADL functionality, the Developmental Coordination Disorder Daily - Questionnaire (DCDDaily-Q) was used, and the Trail Making Test (TMT-L) was used to assess visuomotor processing. There were no significant differences in visuomotor processing between the group with and without DCD. When analyzing the scores of the instruments, it was possible to identify that children with poorer visuomotor processing had a lower score on the DCDQ (r= −0.253; p= 0.010) and in the Balance domain of the MABC-2 (r= −0.336; p= 0.015), and a higher score in the “school” domain of the acquisition subscale (r= 0.210; p= 0.048) and the “Leisure” domain of the participation subscale (r= −0.278; p= 0.046) of the DCDDaily-Q. Children with poorer visuomotor processing performance seem to have a higher chance of indicating DCD, poorer balance, decreased participation in leisure activities, and delays in the acquisition of school tasks. This data allows for more accurate evaluations and diagnoses to guide interventions in both the educational and health domains.

The effect of balance on the real and perceived motor competence of 7 –and 8-year-old children

Inés Martín Velasco — 2024-12-31

The aims of the present study were to observe the values of balance, Motor Competence (MC) and Perceived Motor Competence (PMC) in pupils between 7 and 8 years of age, as well as to find out the effect of a program focused on balance work over MC, PMC and balance itself, and the differences according to sex. The sample consisted of 10 boys and 7 girls, belonging to the second year of Primary Education (Mage = 7.6 years; SD = .24). A pre-experimental repeated measures study design was used. The instruments used were the Test of Gross Motor Development (TGMD-3) to analyse actual motor competence, the Pictographic Scale of Perceived Motor Skills Competence (PMSC) to analyse their perceived motor competence, and the Stability Skills test for balance. A 10-session programme, in which balance was the main aim, was implemented. The results indicated improvements in all dimensions, with differences according to the gender of the participants. Therefore, it can be concluded that specific balance work can improve not only balance but also real and perceived motor competence, although more studies are needed on sex differences.

The use of operational equipment in real-fire exercises in the fire simulator does not alter the perception of musculoskeletal discomfort, handgrip strength and stress symptoms of military firefighters: pilot study

Florisvaldo R. Pereira Junior — 2024-12-31

Considering that occupational activity deserves constant attention and monitoring, especially due to the adversities encountered in the operational requirements of firefighting, the aim of this study was to analyze the psychophysiological repercussions before and after the Live Fire Exercise (EFR). Seven soldiers (24.71 ± 2.06 years old) from a platoon of firefighters who were studying the Structural Fire Fighting discipline of the Espírito Santo Firefighter Training Course were evaluated before and after EFR in relation to: Stress Symptoms, musculoskeletal discomfort (with and without personal protective equipment (PPE) for firefighting), anthropometric measurements, hand grip and sweating rate. No significant changes were found in handgrip strength and stress symptoms (p> 0.05). In relation to musculoskeletal discomfort, there was an increased sensation of discomfort in the neck, shoulders and legs, on both sides analyzed (p < 0.05). Considering the parameters related to body composition, a significant difference (p < 0.05) was found between body mass before (69.37 ± 12.89 kg) compared to after (68.14 ± 12.56 kg) indicating a loss of 1.22 ± 0.78 kg, with a sweating rate of 36.13 ± 23.07 ml/min. In conclusion, military firefighters using operational equipment in real fire exercises in the fire simulator experience muscular discomfort in the neck, shoulders and legs, increased sweating without showing changes in stress indicators and reduced handgrip strength.

High-intensity bodyweight interval training increases strength and functional capacity in older adults

Gabriela Vitória Gonçalves Evangelista — 2024-12-31

The present research aimed to analyse the effect of HIIT with body weight on strength and functional capacity parameters in older adults. Sixty sedentary older people were randomised into the control group (n=30) and the training group (n=30), who performed the bodyweight interval training program. The training consisted of 3 weekly sessions of 30 minutes in duration, performed on alternate days, consisting of warm-up, central part, and cool-down. The main part of the training session was 20 minutes long, totalling 20 work cycles. Each work cycle comprised 30 seconds of stimulation and 30 seconds of passive recovery. To verify the functional variables of older adults, the 5-time sit-and-stand test, the 10m walk test, the Timed Up and Go (TUG), and the 1RM test were used to determine maximum muscular strength. The results showed significant differences (p<0.05) for the TUG (p=0.0001), 5TSTS test (p=0.009), and maximum reproduction for elbow flexion 1RMEF (p=0.05) for the group Training. High-intensity interval training with body weight improves the functionality mainly of the lower limbs, impacting the performance of instrumental activities of daily living and gait performance, generating autonomy and independence of movement.

Construction and validation of the Handbook of Good Practices for Physical Education Professionals, resistance training for patellofemoral pain

Carla Oliveira Megiani — 2024-12-31

The present study aimed to build and validate the Handbook of Good Practices for Physical Education Professionals, resistance training for patellofemoral pain. The tool is an instructional material, whose target audience is teachers who care for students/patients with patellofemoral pain. This was a methodological development study of educational technology, of a theoretical-practical manual type, with knowledge about resistance training. The construction of the tool was based on Bloom's Taxonomy and its content validation was carried out by a group of six expert expert judges. The agreement between evaluators on the validation items was analyzed using the content validity index (CVI), the content validity ratio (CVR) and the concordance coefficient (Gwet's AC1). Eleven of the 12 items evaluated presented maximum values (IVC = 100% and CVR = 1.00), being considered adequate. The Handbook concordance coefficient was 0.97, a value considered excellent, which represented a consensus among the expert judges, validating the tool. The statistical level achieved in this study demonstrated that the Handbook is adequate to meet the objective of supporting physical education professionals in conducting resistance training as the measure of choice for the non-pharmacological treatment of patellofemoral pain in the chronic phase.

Association Between Motor Performance and Cognitive Function in Children and Adolescents aged 5 to 14

Layra Alves Guimarães — 2024-12-31

The human development is a highly complex process that begins at birth and involves the performance of motor areas and cognitive functions. Assessing and diagnosing possible changes promotes a favourable prognosis and minimizes the consequences for motor skills. The objective of this study is to verify the association between motor performance and cognitive functions in children and adolescents aged five to fourteen years. The research is observational, transversal and quantitative. The sample consisted of 268 children and adolescents of both sexes from two municipal schools in Goiânia – GO. Data analysis was carried out at the Statistical Package for Social Sciences program for statistical analysis with the Mann-Whitney and Shapiro-Wilk U tests. The cognitive functions of the sample were assessed with the Mini Infant Mental Examination, and the broad motor skills were assessed with the Motor Competence Assessment test for the manipulative skills of the test, such as kicking and throwing. The study found that motor performance for throwing and kicking skills did not show a significant difference between cognitive performance in children and adolescents aged 5 to 14 years. Regarding differences in performance between the sexes, we found that boys had greater performance and kick speed compared to girls despite having superior cognitive performance.