Physiological indicators like heart rate (HR) and its variability (HRV) from ECG (electrocardiograms), and frontal lobe alpha power asymmetry (AA) and frontoparietal connectivity from EEG (electroencephalograms), can elucidate the role of the nervous system and other visceral organs and their effects on behavioral measures of cognitive and emotional self-regulation. Knowledge of the intergenerational transmission of cardiac and cerebral physiology can provide insight as to the developmental patterns of the organization and stabilization of these physiological processes in children and their mothers. The current study addresses a key question: Is there a developmental shift from 3-9 years of age in the overall pattern of EEG and ECG similarity between children and their mothers? The hypothesis was that there would be increasing child-mother similarity with age. EEG and ECG physiology was examined during a resting-state baseline period, during completion of cognitive tasks, and as baseline-to-task changes in EEG AA and frontoparietal coherence, and ECG HR and HRV in children and their mothers. A socioeconomically diverse longitudinal sample of 171 mothers with their children at ages 3, 6, and 9 years completed questionnaires and laboratory visits. Results indicated that there was some evidence to suggest the presence of mother-child similarity. Twenty of the seventy-two estimated intraclass correlations were significant. Furthermore, of the 20 significant correlations overall, none were present at child age 3 years, 6 were significant at child age 6 years, and 14 were significant at child age 9 years. Thus, overall, there was evidence that by age 6 years, child-mother similarity in physiological indicators of SR had begun to emerge. Additionally, consistent with the study hypothesis, there was some evidence of a pattern of increasing similarity for certain physiological indicators. Of the 72 estimated age-difference Fisher tests for increasing similarity, 17 were significant and in the hypothesized direction. The greatest number were seen during the task condition for ages 6 and 9, and particularly for the frontoparietal EEG variables. Findings are interpreted in light of social learning and behavioral genetics theories.

No description available.

The last advancements in technology leads to an easy acquisition and spreading of multi-dimensional multimedia content, e.g. videos, which in many cases depict human faces. From such videos, valuable information describing the intrinsic characteristic of the recorded user can be retrieved: the features extracted from the facial patch are relevant descriptors that allow for the measurement of subject's emotional status or the identification of synthetic characters. One of the emerging challenges is the development of contactless approaches based on face analysis aiming at measuring the emotional status of the subject without placing sensors that limit or bias his experience. This raises even more interest in the context of Quality of Experience (QoE) measurement, or the measurement of user emotional status when subjected to a multimedia content, since it allows for retrieving the overall acceptability of the content as perceived by the end user. Measuring the impact of a given content to the user can have many implications from both the content producer and the end-user perspectives. For this reason, we pursue the QoE assessment of a user watching multimedia stimuli, i.e. 3D-movies, through the analysis of his facial features acquired by means of contactless approaches. More specifically, the user's Heart Rate (HR) was retrieved by using computer vision techniques applied to the facial recording of the subject and then analysed in order to compute the level of engagement. We show that the proposed framework is effective for long video sequences, being robust to facial movements and illumination changes. We validate it on a dataset of 64 sequences where users observe 3D movies selected to induce variations in users' emotional status. From one hand understanding the interaction between the user's perception of the content and his cognitive-emotional aspects leads to many opportunities to content producers, which may influence people's emotional statuses according to needs that can be driven by political, social, or business interests. On the other hand, the end-user must be aware of the authenticity of the content being watched: advancements in computer renderings allowed for the spreading of fake subjects in videos. Because of this, as a second challenge we target the identification of CG characters in videos by applying two different approaches. We firstly exploit the idea that fake characters do not present any pulse rate signal, while humans' pulse rate is expressed by a sinusoidal signal. The application of computer vision techniques on a facial video allows for the contactless estimation of the subject's HR, thus leading to the identification of signals that lack of a strong sinusoidality, which represent virtual humans. The proposed pipeline allows for a fully automated discrimination, validated on a dataset consisting of 104 videos. Secondly, we make use of facial spatio-temporal texture dynamics that reveal the artefacts introduced by computer renderings techniques when creating a manipulation, e.g. face swapping, on videos depicting human faces. To do so, we consider multiple temporal video segments on which we estimated multi-dimensional (spatial and temporal) texture features. A binary decision of the joint analysis of such features is applied to strengthen the classification accuracy. This is achieved through the use of Local Derivative Patterns on Three Orthogonal Planes (LDP-TOP). Experimental analyses on state-of-the-art datasets of manipulated videos show the discriminative power of such descriptors in separating real and manipulated sequences and identifying the creation method used. The main finding of this thesis is the relevance of facial features in describing intrinsic characteristics of humans. These can be used to retrieve significant information like the physiological response to multimedia stimuli or the authenticity of the human being itself. The application of the proposed approaches also on benchmark dataset returned good results, thus demonstrating real advancements in this research field. In addition to that, these methods can be extended to different practical application, from the autonomous driving safety checks to the identification of spoofing attacks, from the medical check-ups when doing sports to the users' engagement measurement when watching advertising. Because of this, we encourage further investigations in such direction, in order to improve the robustness of the methods, thus allowing for the application to increasingly challenging scenarios.

The potential to track changes in training status and fitness levels of especially team sport participants by making use of more time efficient and accessible methods such as heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate recovery (HRR) cannot be overlooked and needs to be considered. However, studies that have investigated this aspect in team sport participants are scarce. It is against this background that the main objectives of this study were firstly, to determine the relationships between HRV and HRR as well as the fitness levels of a cohort of university-level rugby players. The second objective was to determine the validity of the BioForce Heart Rate Variability System to determine the HRV of a cohort of university-level rugby players. Twenty-four university-level rugby players (age: 20.1 ± 0.41 years; body stature: 182.7 ± 6.2 cm; body mass: 89.7 ± 12.7 kg) of a South African university’s Rugby Institute participated in the first part of the study. During the test day players’ fasting baseline HRV (baseline HRV) values were taken. This was followed by the measurement of the post-breakfast HRV (Pre-Yo-Yo IR1 HRV). Players were then required to perform the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1) while they were fitted with a portable Cosmed K4b2 gas analyser apparatus and a Fix Polar Heart Rate Transmitter Belt. After completion of the test, HRR was taken on 1 and 3 minutes and followed by the measurement of HRV (Post-Yo-Yo IR1 HRV). For the second part of the study a group of twenty u/21 university-level rugby players (age: 20.06 ± 0.40 years; body stature: 181.8 ± 5.5 cm; body mass: 91.1 ± 10.7 kg) of a South African university’s Rugby Institute were recruited to participate in this study. HRV was measured simultaneously by the Actiheart monitor system as well as the BioForce Heart Rate Variability System over three times periods: during the morning in a fasting state just after players had woken up (baseline); in the morning just after the players ate breakfast (pre-anaerobic); after completion of a high-intensity anaerobic training session (post-anaerobic) and after completion of a 20 min recovery session (post-recovery). Significant correlations (p ≤ 0.05) were found between Pre-Yo-Yo IR1 HRV and heart rate (HR) at the respiratory compensation point (RCP-HR (bpm)) (r = -0.468) as well as oxygen uptake at the RCP (RCP- 2max VO (% of 2max VO )) (r = 0.476), respectively. A forward stepwise regression analysis showed that HR at ventilatory threshold 1 (VT1-HR (bpm)) contributed significantly (p ≤ 0.05) to the post-Yo-Yo IR1 HRV with a variance of 39.8%. Final Yo-Yo IR1 level also contributed significantly (p ≤ 0.05) to 3 minute post-Yo-Yo IR1 HRR with a variance of 16.5%. For the second part of the study the majority of significant relationships (p < 0.05) between the Actiheart and Bioforce obtained HRV results were observed for the post-recovery period (Mean RR, SDNN, RMSSD and Peak LF power), followed by the pre-anaerobic period (Mean R-R and SDNN) and the baseline period (LF:HF ratio). No significant relationships were observed between the HRV results of the two apparatuses during the post-anaerobic period. In conclusion, HRV and HRR may have the potential to act as affordable and easy measurement tools of team sport participants’ fitness levels. However, the study results suggested that the BioForce Heart Rate Variability System that is used to obtain team sport participants’ HRV is especially valid to determine HRV after recovery periods that follow hard training sessions. The results do however cast a shadow of doubt over the accuracy of this apparatus when used directly after hard training sessions. / MSc (Sport Science), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The electro-optic technique of measuring the cardiovascular pulse wave known as photoplethysmography (PPG) is clinically utilised for noninvasive characterisation of physiological components by dynamic monitoring of tissue optical absorption. There has been a resurgence of interest in this technique in recent years, driven by the demand for a low cost, compact, simple and portable technology for primary care and community-based clinical settings, and the advancement of computer-based pulse wave analysis techniques. PPG signal provides a means of determining cardiovascular properties during the cardiac cycle and changes with ageing and disease. This thesis focuses on the photoplethysmographic signal for cardiovascular assessment. The contour of the PPG pulse wave is influenced by vascular ageing. Contour analysis of the PPG pulse wave provides a rapid means of assessing vascular tone and arterial stiffness. In this thesis, the parameters extracted from the PPG pulse wave are examined in young adults. The results indicate that the contour parameters of the PPG pulse wave could provide a simple and noninvasive means to study the characteristic change relating to arterial stiffness. The pulsatile component of the PPG signal is due to the pumping action of the heart, and thus could reveal the circulation changes of a specific vascular bed. Heart rate variability (HRV) represents one of the most promising quantitative markers of cardiovascular control. Calculation of HRV from the peripheral pulse wave using PPG, called pulse rate variability (PRV), is investigated. The current work has confirmed that the PPG signal could provide basic information about heart rate (HR) and its variability, and highly suggests a good alternative to understanding dynamics pertaining to the autonomic nervous system (ANS) without the use of an electrocardiogram (ECG) device. Hence, PPG measurement has the potential to be readily accepted in ambulatory cardiac monitoring due to its simplicity and comfort. Noncontact PPG (NPPG) is introduced to overcome the current limitations of contact PPG. As a contactless device, NPPG is especially attractive for physiological monitoring in ambulatory units, NICUs, or trauma centres, where attaching electrodes is either inconvenient or unfeasible. In this research, a prototype for noncontact reflection PPG (NRPPG) with a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) as a light source and a high-speed PiN photodiode as a photodetector is developed. The results from physiological experiments suggest that NRPPG is reliable to extract clinically useful information about cardiac condition and function. In summary, recent evidence demonstrates that PPG as a simple noninvasive measurement offers a fruitful avenue for noninvasive cardiovascular monitoring. Key words: Photoplethysmography (PPG), Cardiovascular assessment, Pulse wave contour analysis, Arterial stiffness, Heart rate (HR), Heart rate variability (HRV), Pulse rate variability (PRV), Autonomic nervous system (ANS), Electrocardiogram (ECG).

L’objectif de la présente thèse était de caractériser le sommeil d’un groupe clinique d’enfants et d’adolescents ayant un trouble d’anxiété comme diagnostic primaire et le comparer à un groupe témoin. Dans un premier temps, nous avons vérifié si le profil de la fréquence cardiaque nocturne des enfants et des adolescents pouvait être regroupé selon le diagnostic. Pour ce faire, la fréquence cardiaque nocturne de 67 adolescents anxieux et 19 sujets non anxieux a été enregistrée à l’aide d’un équipement ambulatoire. Les résultats de cette étude montrent que le profil de la fréquence cardiaque nocturne chez les enfants anxieux varie selon le diagnostic. Alors que les adolescents non anxieux montrent un profil de la fréquence cardiaque nocturne plat, on retrouve les associations suivantes chez les adolescents ayant un trouble anxieux : a) un profil croissant de la fréquence cardiaque chez les adolescents ayant un trouble d’anxiété de séparation; b) un profil décroissant de la fréquence cardiaque chez les adolescents ayant un trouble d’anxiété généralisé; c) un profil en forme de U chez les adolescents ayant un trouble d’anxiété sociale. De plus, une association significative a été observée entre le diagnostic et la présence de fatigue matinale. L’association d’un profil de la fréquence cardiaque nocturne avec un diagnostic d’anxiété suggère la présence d’une dysrégulation de la modulation chronobiologique du système nerveux autonome. Étant donné que le profil de la fréquence cardiaque nocturne s’exprime différemment selon le diagnostic, qu’en est-il de l’architecture du sommeil? Dans un deuxième temps, nous avons enregistré le sommeil en laboratoire d’un groupe clinique de 19 jeunes ayant un trouble d’anxiété comme diagnostic primaire, avec comorbidités et médication et comparé à 19 jeunes non anxieux. Les résultats de cette étude ont montré que les participants du groupe anxieux ont une latence au sommeil plus longue, une latence au sommeil paradoxal plus longue et une durée d’éveil plus longue lorsque comparé au groupe témoin. L’évaluation subjective de la qualité du sommeil chez le groupe d’adolescents anxieux montre que leur auto-évaluation reflète les valeurs enregistrées en laboratoire. Nous avons également observé chez le groupe anxieux une fréquence cardiaque moyenne plus élevée et un index plus élevé d’apnée-hypopnée, bien que non pathologique. Nous avons également observé une association positive entre l’anxiété de trait et l’indice d’apnée-hypopnée et la latence au sommeil, ainsi qu’une association positive entre l’anxiété manifeste et la latence au sommeil paradoxal. Ces résultats suggèrent que le sommeil chez cette population est altéré, que des signes d’hypervigilance physiologique sont présents et qu'une association existe entre ces deux paramètres. Finalement, dans la troisième étude de cette thèse, nous avons analysé l’activité cardiaque pendant le sommeil en utilisant les paramètres temporels et fréquentiels de la variabilité cardiaque chez un groupe clinique de dix-sept enfants et adolescents ayant un trouble d’anxiété comme diagnostic primaire avec comorbidité et médication, et comparé à un groupe non anxieux. Les résultats ont montré que les participants du groupe anxieux, lorsque comparés au groupe non anxieux, présentent des intervalles interbattements plus courts, un indice temporel de la variabilité cardiaque représentant la branche parasympathique moindre, une activité des hautes fréquences normalisées moindre et un ratio basse fréquence sur haute fréquence augmenté. Plusieurs corrélations ont été observées entre les mesures cliniques de l’anxiété et les mesures de la variabilité cardiaque. Ces résultats viennent ajouter à la littérature actuelle un volet descriptif clinique à ce jour non documenté, soit l’impact de l’anxiété pathologique chez un groupe clinique d’enfants et d’adolescents sur le processus normal du sommeil et sur la régulation de la fréquence cardiaque. En résumé, les résultats de ces trois études ont permis de documenter chez un groupe clinique d’enfants et d’adolescents ayant de l’anxiété pathologique, la présence d’une altération circadienne du profil de la fréquence cardiaque, d’une architecture altérée du sommeil ainsi qu’une dysrégulation du système nerveux contrôlant l’activité cardiaque. / The aim of this thesis was to characterize, in a clinical group of children and adolescents with anxiety disorder as a primary diagnostic, the sleep period and to compare it to a control group. Firstly, we have verified if the nocturnal sleep pattern of children and adolescents could be grouped by psychiatric disorders. Sixty-seven children and adolescents with anxiety disorders and nineteen non anxious match controls were monitored using ambulatory recording equipment. Results showed that nocturnal heart rate pattern of anxious adolescents would vary accordingly with the diagnosis. While non anxious adolescents exhibit a flat nocturnal heart rate pattern through the night, anxious participants showed the following associations: a) increased nocturnal heart rate pattern associated with separation anxiety disorder; b) decreased nocturnal heart rate pattern associated with generalized anxiety disorder; and c) U shape nocturnal heart rate pattern associated with social phobia. Moreover, a significant association was found between anxiety diagnosis and presence of morning fatigue. The association between nocturnal heart rate patterns with anxiety suggests that the circadian modulation of heart rate is dysregulated, but what about the sleep macrostructure? Secondly, we have monitored in a sleep laboratory a clinical sample of nineteen adolescents with pathological anxiety, comorbidity and medication, and compared it to nineteen non anxious match controls. Results showed that anxious participants had longer sleep latency, longer REM sleep latency and longer awake period during sleep when compared to control participants. Compared to control participants, anxious patients subjectively reported sleep disturbances, manifested objective sleep disorders and presented no adaptation to the laboratory environment. Moreover, higher nocturnal heart rate and higher apnea-hypopnea index were observed in anxious group when compared to non anxious group. Significant positive associations were observed between Trait anxiety and apnea-hypopnea index as well as for sleep latency while manifest anxiety was associated to REM sleep latency. Results suggest that sleep of children and adolescents with pathological anxiety is altered, that signs of physiological hypervigilance are observed and that both are associated. Following previous results, we have analyzed in a third study heart rate variability during nocturnal sleep using both, times and frequency domains in a clinical sample group of seventeen children and adolescents with anxiety disorder as primary diagnostic with comorbidity and medication. Results showed that anxious when compared to non anxious, had a shorter interbeat interval, and had lower rMSSD values, less high frequency in normalized units and higher low frequency/high frequency ratio. Correlations were observed between clinical anxiety scores and time and frequency domains of heart rate variability. These results add to the growing body of literature that pathological anxiety in a clinical group of children and adolescents impact on sleep process and heart rate regulation during sleep. Overall findings add to the growing body of recent clinical literature, a sleep alteration description of a clinical sample of children and adolescents. From the three studies of this thesis, results showed that circadian heart rate pattern is altered, that sleep architecture is altered, and that the time and frequency domain of nocturnal heart rate variability is altered in a clinical group of children and adolescents with pathological anxiety.

Theoretical part of this thesis is focused on a heart rate, especially its parameters, measurement methods and regulation. Moreover describes maximal heart rate issue. Practical part was performed as an experimental measurement of maximal heart rate level of 40 healthy adult probands (20 men and 20 women) between the ages of twenty and forty. Maximal heart rate was measured by telemetry meter FT4 Polar ® in 3 types of exercise tests - running, ergometer cycling and swimming. Results were statistically processed. Study confirmed significant differences in maximal heart rate during running, ergometer cycling and swimming. Highest heart rate was reached while running for 95% of measured volunteers and the lowest heart rate was reached during swimming for 98% of probands. The objective of this thesis was a comparison of reached heart rates during different exercise tests and highlight the evidence of dissimilar maximal heart rate during different exercises. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

Introdução: O envelhecimento está associado com a diminuição de uma série de funções, incluindo a função pulmonar, a variabilidade da freqüência cardíaca, o barorreflexo espontâneo, a qualidade de vida e de sono, assim como com o aumento de níveis de estresse. Estudos recentes sugerem que os exercícios respiratórios do Yoga podem melhorar as funções respiratória e cardiovascular, além de aumentar a qualidade de vida e de sono e reduzir os sintomas de estresse em populações de pacientes com doença pulmonar. A hipótese testada no presente trabalho é de que o treinamento respiratório do Yoga pode melhorar a função respiratória, a variabilidade da freqüência cardíaca, a qualidade de vida e de sono e os sintomas de estresse de idosos saudáveis. Objetivo: Investigar os efeitos do treinamento de técnica respiratória do Yoga na função pulmonar, na variabilidade da freqüência cardíaca e no barorreflexo espontâneo, assim como na qualidade de vida, na qualidade de sono e nos sintomas de estresse de idosos saudáveis. Métodos: Vinte e nove voluntários idosos saudáveis (idade: 68±6 anos, homens: 34%, índice de massa corporal=25±3 kg/m2) foram aleatorizados para 4 meses de treinamento constituído por 2 aulas/semana, acrescidas de exercícios em casa 2 vezes por dia de alongamento (Controle, n=14) ou exercícios respiratórios (Yoga, n=15). Os exercícios respiratórios do Yoga (bhastrika) são constituídos de uma seqüência de exercícios que se iniciam por expirações rápidas e forçadas (kapalabhati), seguidas por inspiração pela narina direita, apnéia inspiratória com a geração de pressão negativa intratorácica e expiração pela narina esquerda (surya bedhana). Foram realizadas medidas de função pulmonar, pressões expiratória e inspiratória máximas (PEmax e PImax, respectivamente), variabilidade da freqüência cardíaca e da pressão arterial para a determinação do barorreflexo espontâneo no início do estudo (basal) e ao final, após 4 meses de treinamento (4 meses). Também foram aplicados questionários de qualidade de vida, qualidade de sono e sintomatologia de estresse no início e no final do estudo. Resultados: Os indivíduos de ambos os grupos foram semelhantes quanto aos parâmetros demográficos. As variáveis fisiológicas não se alteraram após 4 meses no grupo controle. No grupo Yoga, houve um aumento significante na PEmax (34%, p<0.0001) e na PImax (26%, p<0.0001), assim como também houve uma diminuição significante no componente de baixa freqüência (marcador da modulação simpática cardíaca) e uma diminuição significante da razão baixa freqüência/alta freqüência (marcador do equilíbrio simpatovagal) da variabilidade da freqüência cardíaca (40%, p<0.001). A sensibilidade do barorreflexo espontâneo não se alterou no grupo Yoga. Ocorreram aumentos marginais no grupo Yoga, que não atingiram significância estatística na qualidade de vida e nos sintomas de estresse. Não houve alteração da qualidade de sono. Conclusão: O treinamento respiratório do Yoga pode ser benéfico para a população idosa saudável, pois pode melhorar a fisiologia respiratória e o equilíbrio simpatovagal / Introduction: Aging is associated with a decline of many functions, including pulmonary function, heart rate variability, spontaneous baroreflex, quality of life, quality of sleep, and with the increase of stress symptoms. Recent studies suggest that Yoga respiratory exercises may improve respiratory and cardiovascular function, increase quality of life, quality of sleep and decrease stress symptoms in patients with pulmonary disease. The hypothesis tested in the present study is that Yoga respiratory training may improve respiratory function, heart rate variability, quality of life, quality of sleep and stress symptoms in healthy elderly subjects. Objective: To investigate the effects of a respiratory Yoga training on respiratory function, heart rate variability and spontaneous baroreflex, as well as on quality of life, quality of sleep and stress symptoms in healthy elderly subjects. Methods: Twenty-nine healthy elderly volunteers (age: 68±6 years, males: 34%, body mass index=25±3 kg/m2) were randomized into a 4-month training program composed of 2 classes/week plus home exercises twice a day of either stretching (Control, n=14) or respiratory exercises (Yoga, n=15). Yoga respiratory exercises (bhastrika) are composed by a sequence of exercises which begins with rapid forced expirations (kapalabhati), followed by inspiration through the right nostril, inspiratory apnoea with generation of intrathoracic negative pressure, and expiration through the left nostril (surya bedhana). Pulmonary function test, maximum expiratory and inspiratory pressures (PEmax and PImax, respectively), heart rate and blood pressure variability for spontaneous baroreflex determination were measured at baseline and after 4 months. Quality of life, quality of sleep, and stress symptoms questionnaires were also applied in the beginning and at the end of the study. Results: Subjects from both groups were similar for demographic parameters. Physiological variables did not change after 4 months in the Control group. In the Yoga group, there was a significant increase in PEmax (34%, p<0.0001) and in PImax (26%, p<0.0001), and a significant decrease in the low-frequency component (marker of cardiac sympathetic modulation) and a significant decrease in low frequency/high frequency (marker of sympathovagal balance) of heart rate variability (40%, p<0.001). Spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity did not change in the Yoga group. There were only marginal increases in quality of life, and in stress symptoms in the Yoga group, with no statistical significance, and no changes in quality of sleep. Conclusion: Respiratory Yoga training may be beneficial to the elderly healthy population, for it may improve respiratory physiology and sympathovagal balance

Este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a modulação autonômica da freqüência cardíaca (FC) durante o repouso, nas posições supina e sentada, e durante teste de esforço físico dinâmico descontínuo do tipo degrau (TEFDD-D) em mulheres jovens e pós-menopausa sem (PMSRH) e com reposição hormonal (PMCRH); determinar o limiar de anaerobiose (LA) a partir da análise das respostas de FC e pela análise dos índices de RMSSD (raiz quadrada da média dos quadrados das diferenças entre os intervalos R-R normais sucessivos), em milissegundos (ms), e comparar o grau de correlação entre estas duas metodologias de análise. Foram estudadas 11 jovens (24 ± 2,77 anos), 13 PMSRH (57 ± 5,28) e 9 PMCRH (55 ± 5,40 anos). O TEFDD-D foi realizado em cicloergômetro, sendo iniciado com a potência de 15 W e com incrementos de 5 em 5 W. A FC (bpm) e os intervalos R-R (ms) foram captados em tempo real, por um período de 360s em repouso, em cada posição, e durante 60s em repouso sentado no cicloergômetro, 240s em exercício e 60s em recuperação, em cada potência do TEFDD-D. Foram calculados as médias da FC (bpm) e os índices de RMSSD dos intervalos R-R (ms) para as condições de repouso e durante 180s do exercício nas potências estudadas; cálculo da variação da FC (bpm) no início do exercício e do tempo (s) desta variação. A determinação do LA foi feita pelo ajuste do modelo matemático e estatístico semiparamétrico (SPM) aos dados de FC e pelos índices de RMSSD dos intervalos R-R (ms). Os testes estatísticos utilizados foram: Wilcoxon, Kruskall-Wallis, Friedman, Dunn e o teste de correlação de Spearman, nível de significância de 5%. Durante o repouso, as jovens apresentaram valores dos índices de RMSSD significativamente (p<0,05) superiores em relação aos outros 2 grupos. As variações da FC das jovens no início do exercício foram maiores que as dos grupos PMSRH e PMCRH, enquanto que o tempo de variação da FC foi similar entre os 3 grupos. Na transição do repouso para o exercício, a FC aumentou progressivamente, enquanto que a variabilidade da freqüência cardíaca (VFC) diminuiu. Na comparação intergrupo dos índices de RMSSD, obtidos em cada nível de potência, foi observada diferença significativa (p<0,05) apenas em 35W. Tanto pelo modelo SPM, como pela análise dos índices de RMSSD, as jovens atingiram o LA em potências superiores comparativamente as PMSRH e PMCRH. Os grupos PMSRH e PMCRH apresentaram resultados similares. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas (p>0,05) na comparação dos 2 métodos. O teste de correlação de Spearman mostrou uma associação significativa (p<0,05) entre os mesmos. Estes dados sugerem que após a menopausa ocorre uma diminuição da modulação vagal sobre o coração tanto em repouso como durante o exercício físico, decorrente do processo do envelhecimento e da redução da capacidade física. A terapia de reposição hormonal não teve nenhuma influência sobre os resultados. As duas metodologias de análise do LA se mostraram similares, sugerindo que a mudança de inclinação da resposta da FC ocorre em níveis de esforço em que a VFC se encontra significativamente reduzida. / The objectives of the present study were to assess the autonomic modulation of the heart rate (HR) at rest, in the supine and sitting position, and during a step type discontinuous dynamic physical effort (STDDPE) in young and postmenopausal women not receiving (PMWtHR) and receiving hormonal replacement treatment (PMWHR); to determine the anaerobiosis threshold (AT) based on the analysis of HR response and the RMSSD indices (square root of the mean squared differences of successive R-R intervals), in milliseconds (ms), and to compare the degree of correlation between these two analysis methodologies. The study was conducted on 11 young women (24 ± 2.77 years), 13 PMWtHR (57 ± 5.28) and 9 PMWHR (55 ± 5.40 years). The STDDPE was performed on a bicycle ergometer at an initial power of 15 W, followed by power increments of 5 W. HR (bpm) and R-R intervals (ms) were obtained in real time over a period of 360 s under resting conditions in each position, during 60 s in the sitting rest position on the bicycle ergometer, 240 s during exercise and 60 s during recuperation at each STDDPE power. Mean HR (bpm) and RMSSD indices of the R-R intervals (ms) were calculated for the resting condition and during 180 s of exercise in the powers studied; the HR variation (bpm) and its time (s) were also calculated in the beginning of exercise. AT was determined by the semiparametric mathematical and statistical model (PMS) and by the RMSSD indices of the R-R intervals (ms). Data were analyzed statistically by the Wilcoxon, Kruskal-Wallis, Friedman, Dunn and Spearman correlation tests, with the level of significance set at 5%. During rest, young women presented significantly higher RMSSD indices (p<0.05) than the other 2 groups. The HR variations in young women in the beginning of the exercise were higher than the ones from the PMWtHR and PMWHR groups, whereas HR variations time was similar for the 3 groups. During the transition from rest to exercise HR increased progressively and HRV decreased. Intergroup comparison of RMSSD indices, obtained in each level of power, showed a significant difference (p<0.05) only at 35 W power. On both PMS model and RMSSD indices analysis, young women reached AT at a higher power compared to PMWtHR and PMWHR groups. The PMWtHR and PMWHR groups presented similar results. No significant differences (p>0.05) were observed when the methods were compared. The Spearman correlation test showed a significant association (p<0.05) between methods. These data suggest that after menopause there is a decrease in vagal modulation of the heart both at rest and during physical exercise due to the aging process and the reduction in physical capacity. Hormonal replacement therapy had no effect on the results. Both methodologies of AT analysis were similar, suggesting that the change in the HR response occurs in levels of effort in which the HRV is significantly reduced.

Introdução: O envelhecimento está associado com a diminuição de uma série de funções, incluindo a função pulmonar, a variabilidade da freqüência cardíaca, o barorreflexo espontâneo, a qualidade de vida e de sono, assim como com o aumento de níveis de estresse. Estudos recentes sugerem que os exercícios respiratórios do Yoga podem melhorar as funções respiratória e cardiovascular, além de aumentar a qualidade de vida e de sono e reduzir os sintomas de estresse em populações de pacientes com doença pulmonar. A hipótese testada no presente trabalho é de que o treinamento respiratório do Yoga pode melhorar a função respiratória, a variabilidade da freqüência cardíaca, a qualidade de vida e de sono e os sintomas de estresse de idosos saudáveis. Objetivo: Investigar os efeitos do treinamento de técnica respiratória do Yoga na função pulmonar, na variabilidade da freqüência cardíaca e no barorreflexo espontâneo, assim como na qualidade de vida, na qualidade de sono e nos sintomas de estresse de idosos saudáveis. Métodos: Vinte e nove voluntários idosos saudáveis (idade: 68±6 anos, homens: 34%, índice de massa corporal=25±3 kg/m2) foram aleatorizados para 4 meses de treinamento constituído por 2 aulas/semana, acrescidas de exercícios em casa 2 vezes por dia de alongamento (Controle, n=14) ou exercícios respiratórios (Yoga, n=15). Os exercícios respiratórios do Yoga (bhastrika) são constituídos de uma seqüência de exercícios que se iniciam por expirações rápidas e forçadas (kapalabhati), seguidas por inspiração pela narina direita, apnéia inspiratória com a geração de pressão negativa intratorácica e expiração pela narina esquerda (surya bedhana). Foram realizadas medidas de função pulmonar, pressões expiratória e inspiratória máximas (PEmax e PImax, respectivamente), variabilidade da freqüência cardíaca e da pressão arterial para a determinação do barorreflexo espontâneo no início do estudo (basal) e ao final, após 4 meses de treinamento (4 meses). Também foram aplicados questionários de qualidade de vida, qualidade de sono e sintomatologia de estresse no início e no final do estudo. Resultados: Os indivíduos de ambos os grupos foram semelhantes quanto aos parâmetros demográficos. As variáveis fisiológicas não se alteraram após 4 meses no grupo controle. No grupo Yoga, houve um aumento significante na PEmax (34%, p<0.0001) e na PImax (26%, p<0.0001), assim como também houve uma diminuição significante no componente de baixa freqüência (marcador da modulação simpática cardíaca) e uma diminuição significante da razão baixa freqüência/alta freqüência (marcador do equilíbrio simpatovagal) da variabilidade da freqüência cardíaca (40%, p<0.001). A sensibilidade do barorreflexo espontâneo não se alterou no grupo Yoga. Ocorreram aumentos marginais no grupo Yoga, que não atingiram significância estatística na qualidade de vida e nos sintomas de estresse. Não houve alteração da qualidade de sono. Conclusão: O treinamento respiratório do Yoga pode ser benéfico para a população idosa saudável, pois pode melhorar a fisiologia respiratória e o equilíbrio simpatovagal / Introduction: Aging is associated with a decline of many functions, including pulmonary function, heart rate variability, spontaneous baroreflex, quality of life, quality of sleep, and with the increase of stress symptoms. Recent studies suggest that Yoga respiratory exercises may improve respiratory and cardiovascular function, increase quality of life, quality of sleep and decrease stress symptoms in patients with pulmonary disease. The hypothesis tested in the present study is that Yoga respiratory training may improve respiratory function, heart rate variability, quality of life, quality of sleep and stress symptoms in healthy elderly subjects. Objective: To investigate the effects of a respiratory Yoga training on respiratory function, heart rate variability and spontaneous baroreflex, as well as on quality of life, quality of sleep and stress symptoms in healthy elderly subjects. Methods: Twenty-nine healthy elderly volunteers (age: 68±6 years, males: 34%, body mass index=25±3 kg/m2) were randomized into a 4-month training program composed of 2 classes/week plus home exercises twice a day of either stretching (Control, n=14) or respiratory exercises (Yoga, n=15). Yoga respiratory exercises (bhastrika) are composed by a sequence of exercises which begins with rapid forced expirations (kapalabhati), followed by inspiration through the right nostril, inspiratory apnoea with generation of intrathoracic negative pressure, and expiration through the left nostril (surya bedhana). Pulmonary function test, maximum expiratory and inspiratory pressures (PEmax and PImax, respectively), heart rate and blood pressure variability for spontaneous baroreflex determination were measured at baseline and after 4 months. Quality of life, quality of sleep, and stress symptoms questionnaires were also applied in the beginning and at the end of the study. Results: Subjects from both groups were similar for demographic parameters. Physiological variables did not change after 4 months in the Control group. In the Yoga group, there was a significant increase in PEmax (34%, p<0.0001) and in PImax (26%, p<0.0001), and a significant decrease in the low-frequency component (marker of cardiac sympathetic modulation) and a significant decrease in low frequency/high frequency (marker of sympathovagal balance) of heart rate variability (40%, p<0.001). Spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity did not change in the Yoga group. There were only marginal increases in quality of life, and in stress symptoms in the Yoga group, with no statistical significance, and no changes in quality of sleep. Conclusion: Respiratory Yoga training may be beneficial to the elderly healthy population, for it may improve respiratory physiology and sympathovagal balance