Repositório Científico da Universidade Politécnica de Castelo Branco
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Extension project – Physical Exercise for Older Adults: The Experience of the University of Brasília, Brazil
Publication . Silva, Fabiana; Costa, Maria da Glória; Safons, Marisete
Background: The Extension Project Physical Exercises for Older Adults, from the Uni-versity of Brasília, has, since 1997, developed a program of physical exercises comple-mented by cultural activities aimed at promoting the health of the elderly population. The project is coordinated by the Study and Research Group on Physical Activities for Older Adults (GEPAFI), whose work has contributed to the development and dissemination of innovative practices focused on active and healthy aging. Objective: To describe the train-ing methodology of GEPAFI and present its effects on the health of older adults. Methods: This is a descriptive study in which data from 78 GEPAFI participants, each with at least one year of practice and who completed an anamnesis form, were analyzed. GEPAFI adopts a standardized system aimed at resistance training for older adults, prioritizing efficiency, safety, and organization. Training sheets are structured according to complex-ity level and muscle groups, following scientific parameters. Exercises are performed in a circuit format, with an average duration of 60 minutes, and are individualized and adapted to the needs of each participant. Results: The sample consisted predominantly of women (76.9%), individuals with higher education (47.4%), and married (41.0%). The most prevalent conditions were arterial hypertension (46.2%), arthritis/arthrosis (39.7%), and osteoporosis (38.5%), all of which were mainly controlled through physical exercise. Despite reports of pain in the lumbar spine (42.9%), shoulders (36.4%), and knees (35.1%), 67.9% reported a reduction in pain after joining the program. Moreover, most participants had not experienced falls in the past 12 months and did not express concern about falling (91.0%). Conclusions: This study reinforces the relevance of the project as an effective strategy for promoting active aging. Initiatives of this nature can contribute to improving participants’ health and quality-of-life indicators, while also strengthening university–community integration and consolidating the social role of institutions.
Risk of frailty and associated factors among older people during the COVID-19 pandemic
Publication . Silva, Fabiana Medeiros de Almeida; Safons, Marisete
Background: Frailty is a multifactorial geriatric syndrome characterized by the cumulative decline of physiological systems, which results in decrease in energy reserves and resistance to stressors. Social determinants such as socioeconomic level and lifestyle stand out as predisposing factors for functional decline, which favor the development of other disabilities, which may result in frailty, institutionalization, hospitalization and death. Purpose: To analyze the spatial distribution of the risk of frailty and associated factors among community older adults during the covid-19 pandemic.
Methods: An epidemiological screening type research, with cross-sectional design and sample representative of the Federal District, Brazil, was carried out. Data were collected through electronic questionnaire. In order to answer the problem question, the Clinical-Functional Vulnerability Index - IVCF-20 instrument was used (with risk ≥7 points), complemented by questions about demographic factors, socioeconomic factors and health risk behaviors (physical activity and physical exercise before and during the physical distancing resulting from the covid-19 pandemic). To determine the prevalence of risk of frailty and health risk behaviors, descriptive procedures were used (frequency distribution and confidence interval) and to identify the association of risk of frailty with health risk behaviors, multivariate analysis with crude and adjusted logistic regression was used, adopting significance level of p≤0.05. In the analysis of the spatial distribution pattern of risk of frailty and associated health risk
behaviors, bivariate association analysis was used (chi-square test of variables of interest stratified by income and place of residence, adopting significance level of p≤0.05) and geoprocessing techniques in the QGis 3.28.9 software.
Results: The sample consisted of 1,363 older adults (66.0%=female; 34.0%=male), the majority aged 60-74 years (82.2%), who lived in high-income regions (61%), with higher education level (50.1%) and who did not live alone (76.6%). There was high prevalence of individuals exposed to risk of frailty (30.7%; CI 95%=26.3-35.1), insufficiently active (45.6%; CI 95%=41.7-49.5) and who did not practice physical exercises before (30.2%; CI 95%=25.8-34.6) and during the physical distancing resulting from the covid-19 pandemic (53.4%; CI95%=49.8-57.0), being higher for all variables in low-income regions when compared to their peers (p<0.001). The prevalence of risk of frailty was associated with insufficient level of physical activity (OR=3.37; 95% CI 2.59-4.39) and with not practicing physical exercise before (OR=1.54; 95% CI 1. 17-2.03) and during physical distancing (OR=2.07; 95% CI 1.58-2.69).
Discussion and conclusions: It could be concluded that the prevalence of risk of frailty in the investigated sample was high, being associated with insufficient level of physical activity and absence of physical exercises. The spatial analysis allowed knowing the distribution of the risk of frailty and associated health risk behaviors, with higher concentration in low-income regions compared to highincome ones. The results point to the need for health interventions to prevent the onset of frailty in older
adults who were exposed to physical distancing resulting from the covid-19 pandemic, highlighting the importance of promoting physical activity, health care and education in health for all strata of the society.
Effects of body composition and anthropometric profiles on competitive performance in U14 male basketball players
Publication . Rocha, João; Serrano, João; Martinez-Sanchez, Almudena; Campos-Redondo, Amália; Ibáñez, Sergio; Fabrizio Perroni
Body composition and anthropometric characteristics are considered relevant factors in youth basketball performance, yet evidence in early adolescence remains limited. This
study aimed to analyze the influence of these characteristics on competitive performance in U14 male basketball players from Portuguese regional selection teams. Ninety-six athletes were assessed during a national youth tournament using a cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational design. Body composition variables (weight, height, BMI, muscle mass, fat mass, fat-free mass, bone mass, and total body water) were measured using a Tanita MC-780MA bioelectrical impedance analyzer. Competitive performance was evaluated through the Performance Index Rating (PIR), normalized per minute of play. Spearman’s correlations showed moderate positive associations between PIR and height (ρ = 0.296), muscle mass (ρ = 0.280), fat-free mass (ρ = 0.280), bone mass (ρ = 0.274), and total body water (ρ = 0.262). Although multivariable regression analyses did not identify significant individual predictors due to severe multicollinearity, principal component analysis revealed an “overall body size” factor, mainly reflecting lean and bone mass, that significantly predicted PIR (β = 0.046, p < 0.001). Physically more developed players tended to demonstrate higher competitive effectiveness. Monitoring body composition may support youth development programs when combined with functional and tec
Quantificação da carga com recurso à tecnologia IMU no basquetebol juvenil: uma revisão sistemática
Publication . Rocha, João; Serrano, João; Mancha-Triguero, David; Ibáñez, Sérgio; Sociedad Iberoamericana de Psicología del Deporte
A monitorização da carga de treino e competição é fundamental nas etapas de formação, em que os atletas enfrentam elevadas exigências físicas durante processos de maturação biológica e motora. Este estudo sintetizou a evidência científica sobre a quantificação da carga de jogo no basquetebol de formação através de tecnologia baseada em dispositivos inerciais. Foi realizada uma revisão sistemática nas bases de dados Web of Science e PubMed, seguindo as diretrizes PRISMA e com protocolo registado no PROSPERO. Foram analisados 21 estudos quantitativos com jogadores de basquetebol 5x5 entre os 12 e os 18 anos. A maioria incidiu sobre atletas sub-18 de níveis subelite ou elite e utilizou IMUs baseadas em tecnologia UWB ou sistemas LPS. As variáveis de carga externa mais reportadas incluíram distância total, acelerações, desacelerações, saltos, impactos e PlayerLoad™, enquanto a carga interna, sobretudo baseada na frequência cardíaca, foi menos analisada. Os resultados reforçam a necessidade de protocolos padronizados e abordagens de monitorização mais inclusivas.
The importance of physical education and the intention to be physically active as predictors of subjective well-being in secondary school adolescents
Publication . Batista, Marco; Rojo-Ramos, Jorge; Castillo-Paredes, Antonio; Galán-Arroyo, Carmen
Introduction: In recent years, concerns about adolescent mental health and declining physical activity levels have increased across European educational systems, including Portugal. Understanding how Physical Education (PE) and students’ intention to remain physically active contribute to subjective wellbeing is therefore essential for guiding educational practices and health promotion strategies. Within this context, the present study aimed to analyze these relationships in a group of secondary school students in Portugal, with a view to proposing evidence-based recommendations. This study aimed to analyze the role of the importance attributed to Physical Education (PE) and the intention to be physically active as significant statistical predictors of subjective well-being (SWB) in Portuguese secondary school adolescents.
Methods: The sample consisted of 560 students, aged between 16 and 19 years, from different regions of Portugal. Validated scales were used to measure the variables of interest: Importance of PE, Intention to Be Active, Positive and Negative Affect, and Life Satisfaction. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Spearman correlations, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests, linear regressions, and simple mediation models (Hayes’ model 4).
Results: The results indicated high levels of physical activity intention and life satisfaction, low levels of negative affect, and strong internal consistency in the scales used. The importance attributed to PE and the intention to be active were significantly associated with positive affect and life satisfaction, with intention partially mediating the relationship between the importance of PE and positive affect, and fully mediating the relationship with negative affect. No significant mediation was found for life satisfaction. Additionally, significant differences were observed across school years, highlighting the 11th year as a stage of greater emotional vulnerability.
Discussion: The findings suggest the need to reinforce the value of PE in the curriculum and to promote educational strategies that encourage regular physical activity as a way to enhance SWB in the school context.