It may be that resistance exercise can be used to prevent the degenerative processes and inflammation associated with ageing. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of resistance training on cytokines, leptin, resistin, and muscle strength in post-menopausal women. Thirty-five sedentary women (mean age 63.18 years, s = 4.8; height 1.64 m, s = 0.07; body mass 57.84 kg, s = 7.70) were recruited. The 16 weeks of periodized resistance training consisted of two weekly sessions of three sets of 6-14 repetition maximum. Maximal strength was tested in bench press, 45 degrees leg press, and arm curl. Plasma tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, interleukin-15, leptin, and resistin were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Maximal strength on all measures was increased after 16 weeks. There were minor or no modifications in tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-15. Interleukin-6 was decreased 48 h after compared with baseline and declined after 16 weeks. Leptin decreased 24 h after compared with baseline and was reduced at baseline and 48 h after compared with pre-training. There was a decrease in resistin after 24 and 48 h compared with baseline and a decline in baseline and immediately after levels compared with pre-training. A possible explanation of the results of the present study is a lower production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by the innate immune system. Periodized resistance training seems to be an important intervention to reduce systemic inflammation in this population.

When the same participants were submitted to different exercise intensities, the acute and short-term effects of exercise on white blood cells were intensity-dependent immediately after exercise (i.e., lymphocytosis and monocytosis) and 2 hours after passive recovery (i.e., neutrophilia).

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of resistance training on the activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and bone biomechanical properties in ovariectomized and intact rats. Forty-eight female rats were divided into two distinct groups, ovariectomized (OVX) and intact (Int), which were subdivided into three similar subgroups: sedentary, acute exercise and chronic exercise. Rats performed a resistance training for 12 weeks in which animals climbed a vertical ladder of 1.1 m with weights attached to their tails. Sessions were performed with an interval of 3, 4-9 and 8-12 days scaled dynamic movements of climbing. Biomechanical and physical analyses were performed using a universal testing machine, and MMP-2 activity analysis by zymography. Bone density (BD), mineral density (MD), maximum load and fracture load was reduced in sedentary and acute exercise OVX groups compared with the sedentary intact group (P<0.05); in contrast, chronically trained groups (OVX and Int) showed a significant increase in BD, MD and fracture load compared with all the other groups. MMP-2 activity in chronically trained groups also showed a significant increase, while the sedentary OVX group showed a decrease in MMP-2 activity compared with the intact sedentary group (P<0.05). Our results suggest that the resistance training proposed in our work was efficient in reverting the deleterious effects of ovariectomy on bone tissue, and also produced modeling effects in intact rats. On the other hand, ovariectomy reduced the activity of MMP-2 and produced deleterious effects on bone tissue, mimicking menopause intrinsically.

Social isolation due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has reduced physical activity levels in both men and women. The identification of barriers to physical activity may assist in developing strategies to increase levels of physical activity during this pandemic. The study aim was identify the barriers to regular participation in physical during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazilian adults. This cross-sectional study included 1570 [56.6% women; aged: 39.1 (37.7-40.7) years old] in social isolation due COVID-19. Barriers to physical activity were obtained using the validated questionnaires. "Laziness and fatigue" (50.2%), "lack of motivation" (31.2%), "lack of appropriate facilities/equipment/space" (17.4%), and "lack of time" (13.0%) were the barriers most prevalent in the study. Lack of motivation (OR = 1.49; 95% CI = 1.19-1.86) and lack of appropriate facilities/equipment/space (OR = 2.11; 95% CI = 1.57-2.83) were most associated with impacting physical activity levels due to the COVID-19, independent of sex, age, education level, days of social isolation and status weight. In conclusion, personal barriers to physical activity are common between both sexes, with lack of motivation and lack of appropriate facilities/equipment/space most associated with a decreased level of physical activity due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o perfil antropométrico, o valor energético total da dieta (VET) e a ingestão de macronutrientes em atletas profissionais de futebol, assim como verificar se existem diferenças entre as posições: goleiros (n = 12), zagueiros (n = 20), meio-campistas (n = 41), laterais (n = 21) e atacantes (n = 24) dentre as variáveis estudadas. A amostra foi composta por 118 futebolistas (23 anos ± 5 anos), profissionais da elite do Estado de São Paulo. Todas as avaliações foram realizadas durante o período competitivo. A composição corporal foi determinada através da medida das dobras cutâneas e os dados nutricionais obtidos por inquérito alimentar. Os goleiros e zagueiros mostraram-se mais altos, pesados e com maior quantidade de massa magra do que os demais atletas, porém sem diferenças significativas em relação à percentagem de gordura. Em relação aos hábitos alimentares destes atletas, verificou-se que os mesmos apresentaram dieta com baixa ingestão de carboidratos, hiperprotéica e tendência à hiperlipídica. Assim, pode-se concluir que existem diferenças antropométricas entre as posições estudadas e inadequações nutricionais. Os resultados do presente estudo sugerem que sejam realizadas intervenções nutricionais em futebolistas de elite, visando melhorar o desempenho.

BackgroundThe outbreak of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused a global panic and public concern due to its mortality ratio and lack of treatments/vaccines. Reduced levels of physical activity have been reported during the outbreak, affecting the normal daily pattern.ObjectiveTo investigate (i) the relationship of physical activity level with sleep quality and (ii) the effects of reduction physical activity levels on sleep quality.MethodsA Google form was used to address personal information, COVID-19 personal care, physical activity, and mental health of 1,907 adult volunteers. Binary logistic regression was used to verify the association of physical activity parameters and sleep quality.ResultsInsufficient physical activity levels were a risk factor to have disturbed sleep pattern [OR: 1.28, 95% CI (1.01–1.62)]; however, when the BMI was added to the analysis, there was no more statistical difference [OR: 1.23, 95% CI (0.96–1.57)]. On the other hand, we found that the reduction of physical activity levels was associated with negative changes in sleep quality [OR: 1.73, 95% CI (1.37–2.18)], regardless all the confounders [OR: 1.30, 95% CI (1.01–1.68)], unless when feeling of depression was added in Model 6 [OR: 1.28, 95% CI (0.99–1.66)].ConclusionDisruption in daily physical activity routine, rather than physical activity level, negatively influences sleep quality during the COVID-19 quarantine.

Background: Elevated screen time has been associated with addictive behaviors, such as alcohol and sugar intake and smoking. Considering the substantial increase in screen time caused by social isolation policies, this study aimed to analyze the association of increased screen time in different devices during the COVID-19 pandemic with consumption and increased desire of alcohol, smoking, and sweetened foods in adults.Methods: A sample of 1,897 adults with a mean age of 37.9 (13.3) years was assessed by an online survey, being composed by 58% of women. Participants were asked whether screen time in television, cell phone, and computer increased during the pandemic, as well as how much time is spent in each device. Closed questions assessed the frequency of alcohol and sweetened food consumption, smoking, and an increased desire to drink and smoke during the pandemic. Educational level, age, sex, feeling of stress, anxiety, depression, and use of a screen device for physical activity were covariates. Binary logistic regression models considered adjustment for covariates and for mutual habits.Results: Increased television time was associated with increased desire to drink (OR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.12; 1.89) and increased sweetened food consumption (OR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.18; 1.99), while an increase in computer use was negatively associated with consumption of alcohol (OR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.53; 0.86) and sweetened foods (OR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.62; 0.98). Increased cell phone time was associated with increased sweetened food consumption during the pandemic (OR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.18; 2.67). Participants with increased time in the three devices were less likely to consume sweetened foods for ≥5 days per week (OR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.39; 0.99) but were twice as likely to have sweetened food consumption increased during pandemic (OR = 2.04, 95% CI: 1.07; 3.88).Conclusion: Increased screen time was differently associated with consumption and desire for alcohol and sweets according to screen devices. Increased time in television and cell phones need to be considered for further investigations of behavioral impairments caused by the pandemic.

Objective To investigate the impact of the coronavirus 2019 pandemic on physical activity levels and sedentary behavior among Brazilians residents aged ≥18 years. Methods An online survey was distributed through a social media platform between May 5 and 17, 2020. Participants completed a structured questionnaire in Google Forms, which assessed the physical activity level and sedentary behavior of adults in Brazil during the pandemic. Results Age (OR: 0.98; 95%CI: 0.97-0.99), chronic disease (OR: 1.29; 95%CI: 1.03-1.63), physical inactivity before the coronavirus 2019 pandemic (OR: 2.20; 95%CI: 1.78-2.72) and overweight (OR: 1.34; 95%CI: 1.09-1.65) showed higher risk of impact on physical activity levels. Increased sitting time was associated with older individuals (OR: 0.97; 95%CI: 0.96-0.98), inactivity (OR: 1.51; 95%CI: 1.16-1.96), chronic disease (OR: 1.65; 95%CI: 1.23-2.22), higher number of days in social isolation (OR: 1.01; 95%CI: 1.00-1.02) and higher schooling levels (OR: 1.87; 95%CI: 1.26-2.78). Conclusion Our results demonstrated that advanced age, chronic disease and physical inactivity before social isolation had a greater risk of impact on reduced physical activity levels and increased sitting time during the coronavirus 2019 disease pandemic.