The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on countermovement jump performance (CMJ) in men with advanced strength training experience. Ten healthy male subjects, with advanced strength training and squatting exercise experience, were included. Participants took part in an initial visit to the laboratory to complete anthropometric measurements and CMJ kinematic test-retest reliability. Participants then completed three experimental conditions, 48-72 hours apart, in a randomized, double-blinded crossover design: anodal, cathodal and sham tDCS (2 mA for 20 minutes targeting the motor cortex bilaterally). Participants completed three CMJ tests before and after each experimental condition, with one-minute recovery interval between each test. The best CMJ in each moment was selected for analysis. Two-way (condition by moment) repeated measures ANOVA's were performed for CMJ height, flight time and muscular peak power. Effect sizes and interindividual variability of tDCS responses were also analyzed. There was a significant condition by moment interaction for all outcome measures, with a large pre-post increase in CMJ height, flight time and muscular peak power in the anodal condition. All the participants displayed CMJ performance improvements after the anodal condition. There were no significant differences in both cathodal and sham conditions. Anodal tDCS may be a valuable tool to enhance muscle power related tasks performance, which is extremely relevant for sports that require vertical jumping ability. Anodal tDCS may also be used to support strength training, enhancing its effects on performance-oriented outcome measures.

Background:Physical activity level (PAL) is known to play an important role in reducing risk factors associated with sedentarism, in addition to improving the mental health and health-related quality of life (HRQL).Objective: Investigate the relationship of PAL and their domains with HRQL, mood state (MS) and anxiety. Method: 140 Physical Education students (23.6 ± 3.7 years) were evaluated. The Baecke Habitual Physical Activity and Quality of Life (QOL-36) questionnaires, State-Trait Anxiety Inventories (STAI-S and STAI-T) and Profile of Mood States (POMS) scale were used to investigate PAL, HRQL and mental health indicators. Pearson’s correlation coefficient examined the association between PAL and both mental health and HRQL parameters.Results: There was a correlation between state anxiety and both the domain leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) (p = 0.013) and total PAL score (p = 0.010). In relation to MS, a negative correlation was found between LTPA and total mood disorder (TMD) (p = 0.004). However, there were positive correlations between the vigor subscale and both LTPA (p=0.001) and total PAL (p=0.019). With respect to HRQL, analysis of the relationship between LTPA and total PAL demonstrated positive coefficients with the physical component summary (PCS) (p=0.000; p = 0.005), mental component summary (MCS) (p = 0.000; p = 0.006) and total HRQL (p = 0.000; p = 0.003).Conclusion:The findings suggest that the rise in LTPA was related to an increase in HRQL and MS. However, PAL was positively related to anxiety.

BackgroundThe prevalence of body image dissatisfaction (BID) is currently high. Given that psychological well-being is associated with the body measurements imposed by esthetic standards, BID is an important risk factor for mental disorders.Objective Identify the prevalence of BID, and compare anthropometric and mental health parameters between individuals satisfied and dissatisfied with their body image.MethodA total of 140 university students completed the silhouette scale to screen for BID. Anthropometric measures, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and body fat percentage (BFP) were used. To investigate mental health, The State-Trait Anxiety Inventories (STAI-S and STAI-T), Profile of Mood States (POMS) scale and Quality of Life (QOL-36) questionnaire were used to investigate mental health. The Student’s t-test was applied to compare anthropometric and mental health parameters. Results67.1% of university students exhibited BID. There was a significant difference (p = 0.041) in BF and WC (p = 0.048) between dissatisfied and satisfied individuals. With respect to mood states, significant differences were observed for anger (p = 0.014), depression (p = 0.011), hostility (p = 0.006), fatigue (p = 0.013), mental confusion (p = 0.021) and total mood disturbance (TMD) (p = 0.001). The mental aspect of QOL was significantly higher (p = 0.001) in satisfied university students compared to their dissatisfied counterparts.Conclusion BID was high and it seems to be influenced by anthropometric measures related to the amount and distribution of body fat. This dissatisfaction may have a negative effect on the quality of life and mood state of young adults.

Background: There is an inverse association between cardiorespiratory fitness and general anxiety levels in adolescents. Obesity also is associated with a higher risk of anxiety in this population. However, little is known about the association between other health-related fitness elements with anxiety symptoms in this population. The authors explored the relationship between health-related fitness and anxiety symptoms in a large sample of Brazilian youth. Methods: This was an observational cross-sectional study with a sample comprised of 257 school adolescents, who were 136 girls (52.9%) and 121 boys (47.1%). The health-related fitness elements were evaluated by FitnessGram® test and anxiety levels by Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children - 39. Hierarchical regression analyses were used to determine the association between health-related fitness elements and anxiety symptoms in both sexes. Results: In male adolescents, only the cardiorespiratory fitness was significantly associated with anxiety symptoms (F(1, 119) = 6.472; P = 0.012; R2 = 0.052; adjusted R2 = 0.044). In turn, the anxiety symptoms showed an inverse small relationship with cardiorespiratory fitness (r = - 0.227; P < 0.01). However, in female adolescents, no association was found between health-related fitness elements and anxiety symptoms. Conclusion: The level of cardiorespiratory fitness may represent a marker of anxiety in male adolescents.

Background: For decades the literature has been investigating the ideal dose-response regarding the frequency, intensity and volume of training that optimize the increase in muscle strength and power in athletes and non-athletes. Objective: Evaluate the effects of strength training from a nonlinear (NLP) and non-periodized (NP) model on muscular peak power in soccer players. Methods: Twelve male junior football players from a professional team in Cabo Frio (Brazil) were recruited and randomly divided into two groups (6 in each group). The groups were randomly divided into: G1 - (Body mass: 64.7 ± 6.5 kg; Height: 172.3 ± 5.8 cm; % fat: 5.1 ± 2.7; Age: 17.5 ± 1.0 years) performed RT with NLP model; G2 - (Body mass: 66.1 ± 4.7; Height: 177.1 ± 6.1 cm; % fat: 5.1 ± 1.2, age: 17.6 ± 0.5 years) performed RT with NP model. Both groups are subjected to 12 weeks of training. PNL strength training consisted of weight training sessions on alternate days, 3 times a week, the rest intervals were 120s among the exercises and included 10 exercises. NLP distribution was as follows: Day 1 (3x4-6 maximum repetitions [RM] with rest intervals of 120 sec between sets); Day 2 (3x8-10RM with 60-90 rest intervals between sets); and day 3 (3x12-15RM with rest intervals of 60 sec between sets). NP training performed the same duration, weekly frequency, exercises and number of sets (3 sets 8-10RM and 60-90 sec rest intervals). Before and after NP and NLP training, muscle peak, speed and agility were evaluated. Results: The ANOVA with mixed model showed no significant interaction between group and moment (F(1,10) = 0.133; p=0.72), and no significant main effect for group (F(1,10) = 0.032; p=0.86) in muscular peak power. There was a significant main effect for moment (F(1,10) = 14.872; p=0.003), where were  showed that Post-training presented higher values of muscular peak power compared to Baseline (p= 0.003). Conclusion: It is concluded that both training organization models are effective and can be used to develop peak muscle power.