O presente estudo investigou o efeito de diferentes intensidades do treinamento de força (TF), aplicadas com volume total de treino (VTT) equalizado, nos ganhos de força dinâmica máxima (1RM) e massa muscular dos membros superiores e inferiores. Trinta voluntários do sexo masculino, com idade entre 18 e 30 anos, participaram de 12 semanas de TF com uma frequência semanal de duas sessões. Foi utilizado um protocolo de treinamento unilateral com um dos lados do corpo realizando o exercício com intensidade equivalente a 20% 1RM (G20) e o lado contralateral utilizando uma das três intensidades 40%, 60% ou 80% 1RM (G40, G60 e G80, respectivamente). O grupo G20 realizava três séries compostas de repetições até a falha concêntrica e o VTT era calculado e replicado para os demais grupos. A força dinâmica máxima e a área de secção transversa (AST) dos músculos flexores do cotovelo e do vasto lateral foram avaliadas nos momentos pré, 6 semanas e pós-treinamento. Os resultados demonstraram que os grupos G40, G60 e G80 apresentaram ganhos similares de AST (25%, 25,1% e 25%, flexores do cotovelo e 20,5%, 20,4% e 19,5% vasto lateral, respectivamente, p<0,05). Somente o grupo G80 demonstrou diferença significante com o grupo G20 na comparação do período pós-treinamento (25% e 14,4%, respectivamente para os flexores do cotovelo e 19,5% e 7,9%, respectivamente para vasto lateral, p<0,05). Para os ganhos de 1RM o grupo G80 demonstrou maiores aumentos após 12 semanas de TF para a flexão unilateral do cotovelo na posição em pé (54,2% p<0,05) e para o leg press 45º os grupos G60 e G80 demonstraram os maiores aumentos (55,4% e 45,7%, respectivamente, p<0,05). Assim, quando o VTT foi equalizado entre diferentes intensidades (40, 60 e 80% 1RM) os ganhos da AST tanto dos flexores do cotovelo quanto o vasto lateral foram semelhantes e a intensidade de 20% 1RM não causou aumento significante da AST. No que diz respeito a força muscular as intensidades mais elevadas (60% e 80% 1RM) foram superiores em promover ganhos de força do que as demais intensidades utilizadas. Esses dados sugerem que ao equalizar o VTT os ganhos de massa muscular são semelhantes para as intensidades de treinamento entre 40- 80% 1RM. Além disso, a intensidade de 20% 1RM, mesmo com o VTT equalizado com as intensidades maiores, não promove aumentos de massa muscular para ambos os segmentos corporais. Por outro lado, intensidades altas de treinamento produzem os maiores ganhos de força máxima em membros superiores e inferiores / The present study investigated the effect of different resistance training (RT) intensities, with equal total training volume (TTV), on maximal dynamic strength (1RM) and upper and lower limbs muscle cross sectional area (CSA). Thirty men engaged in a twice a week training period for 12 weeks. The study was carried out with a within subject design. Thus, one leg and one arm were set at 20% 1RM (G20) for all subjects and the contralateral side was randomly assigned to one of three possible groups (i.e. G40, G60 and G80, 40%, 60% and 80% 1RM, respectively). The leg and arm that were set at 20% 1RM always started the resistance training session and performed 3 sets to concentric muscle failure. TTV (sets x repetition x mass) was recorded and replicated to other groups. The maximal dynamic strength and elbow flexors and vastus lateralis CSA were assessed at pre, 6 weeks and post intervention. The main results showed similar increases in CSA for G40, G60 and G80 groups (25%, 25,1% and 25%, elbow flexors and 20,5%, 20,4% and 19,5% vastus lateralis, respectively, p<0,05). Only the G80 group showed significant difference from G20 group after 12 weeks of resistance training (25% and 14,4%, respectively for elbow flexors and 19,5% and 7,9%, respectively for vastus lateralis, p<0,05). Regarding 1RM the G80 group showed the greatest increase post 12 weeks of resistance training for elbow flexion (54.2% p<0,05) and for leg press 45º the groups G60 and G80 showed the greatest increases (55.4% e 45.7%, respectively, p<0,05). In summary, when different RT intensities (40, 60 and 80% 1RM) performed the same TTV gains of CSA for elbow flexors and vastus lateralis muscles are similar between them and intensities of 20% 1RM did not result a significant increase in CSA. For muscle strength the highest intensities (60% and 80% 1RM) seemed to be superior to promote strength gains than other intensities. These findings indicate that intensities between 40-80% 1RM with equal TTV can elicit significant increase in muscle hypertrophy in upper and lower limbs; however, high intensities are superior to augment strength adaptations in upper and lower limbs

O presente estudo investigou o efeito de diferentes intensidades do treinamento de força (TF), aplicadas com volume total de treino (VTT) equalizado, nos ganhos de força dinâmica máxima (1RM) e massa muscular dos membros superiores e inferiores. Trinta voluntários do sexo masculino, com idade entre 18 e 30 anos, participaram de 12 semanas de TF com uma frequência semanal de duas sessões. Foi utilizado um protocolo de treinamento unilateral com um dos lados do corpo realizando o exercício com intensidade equivalente a 20% 1RM (G20) e o lado contralateral utilizando uma das três intensidades 40%, 60% ou 80% 1RM (G40, G60 e G80, respectivamente). O grupo G20 realizava três séries compostas de repetições até a falha concêntrica e o VTT era calculado e replicado para os demais grupos. A força dinâmica máxima e a área de secção transversa (AST) dos músculos flexores do cotovelo e do vasto lateral foram avaliadas nos momentos pré, 6 semanas e pós-treinamento. Os resultados demonstraram que os grupos G40, G60 e G80 apresentaram ganhos similares de AST (25%, 25,1% e 25%, flexores do cotovelo e 20,5%, 20,4% e 19,5% vasto lateral, respectivamente, p<0,05). Somente o grupo G80 demonstrou diferença significante com o grupo G20 na comparação do período pós-treinamento (25% e 14,4%, respectivamente para os flexores do cotovelo e 19,5% e 7,9%, respectivamente para vasto lateral, p<0,05). Para os ganhos de 1RM o grupo G80 demonstrou maiores aumentos após 12 semanas de TF para a flexão unilateral do cotovelo na posição em pé (54,2% p<0,05) e para o leg press 45º os grupos G60 e G80 demonstraram os maiores aumentos (55,4% e 45,7%, respectivamente, p<0,05). Assim, quando o VTT foi equalizado entre diferentes intensidades (40, 60 e 80% 1RM) os ganhos da AST tanto dos flexores do cotovelo quanto o vasto lateral foram semelhantes e a intensidade de 20% 1RM não causou aumento significante da AST. No que diz respeito a força muscular as intensidades mais elevadas (60% e 80% 1RM) foram superiores em promover ganhos de força do que as demais intensidades utilizadas. Esses dados sugerem que ao equalizar o VTT os ganhos de massa muscular são semelhantes para as intensidades de treinamento entre 40- 80% 1RM. Além disso, a intensidade de 20% 1RM, mesmo com o VTT equalizado com as intensidades maiores, não promove aumentos de massa muscular para ambos os segmentos corporais. Por outro lado, intensidades altas de treinamento produzem os maiores ganhos de força máxima em membros superiores e inferiores / The present study investigated the effect of different resistance training (RT) intensities, with equal total training volume (TTV), on maximal dynamic strength (1RM) and upper and lower limbs muscle cross sectional area (CSA). Thirty men engaged in a twice a week training period for 12 weeks. The study was carried out with a within subject design. Thus, one leg and one arm were set at 20% 1RM (G20) for all subjects and the contralateral side was randomly assigned to one of three possible groups (i.e. G40, G60 and G80, 40%, 60% and 80% 1RM, respectively). The leg and arm that were set at 20% 1RM always started the resistance training session and performed 3 sets to concentric muscle failure. TTV (sets x repetition x mass) was recorded and replicated to other groups. The maximal dynamic strength and elbow flexors and vastus lateralis CSA were assessed at pre, 6 weeks and post intervention. The main results showed similar increases in CSA for G40, G60 and G80 groups (25%, 25,1% and 25%, elbow flexors and 20,5%, 20,4% and 19,5% vastus lateralis, respectively, p<0,05). Only the G80 group showed significant difference from G20 group after 12 weeks of resistance training (25% and 14,4%, respectively for elbow flexors and 19,5% and 7,9%, respectively for vastus lateralis, p<0,05). Regarding 1RM the G80 group showed the greatest increase post 12 weeks of resistance training for elbow flexion (54.2% p<0,05) and for leg press 45º the groups G60 and G80 showed the greatest increases (55.4% e 45.7%, respectively, p<0,05). In summary, when different RT intensities (40, 60 and 80% 1RM) performed the same TTV gains of CSA for elbow flexors and vastus lateralis muscles are similar between them and intensities of 20% 1RM did not result a significant increase in CSA. For muscle strength the highest intensities (60% and 80% 1RM) seemed to be superior to promote strength gains than other intensities. These findings indicate that intensities between 40-80% 1RM with equal TTV can elicit significant increase in muscle hypertrophy in upper and lower limbs; however, high intensities are superior to augment strength adaptations in upper and lower limbs

The topic of this work is to qualify an efficiency of regular exercise on thoracic spine, hip joint and ankle improvement. There was a qualitative research used for achieving the main goal (by using questionaries and tests, created by myself, to test the mobility of these selected body segments. A positive influence of this regular exercise on mobility was found out in this resrearch, although bigger differences have been expected in individual segments. A possitive impact on mental health was also shown, as was on physical health. Some health issues, which have apeared in the beginnig of this exercise, also dissapeared after a completion of this program.

Ergonomic assessments to determine risks of work-related musculoskeletal disorders as well as to compare designs of work-tasks and workstations, are imperative for high sustainability and productivity in any given industry. Hence, assessment tools that can objectively and reliably capture postures, joint angles and muscle activities play very important role in properly determining risks relating to work and various tasks. The introduction of direct measurement instruments/tools has been helping and continue to help improve upon observational assessment methods to attain objectivity and reliability. This project aimed at contributing to future improvements of industrial risk assessment measures in ergonomics by identifying and testing direct measurement instruments/tools that can enhance observational risk assessment methods and introduce a new way of signal processing, hence, reducing assessment time while increasing objectivity and reliability. Several candidate instruments were identified and out of the identified, ten were selected as potential candidates. Two out of the ten, Wergonic and ErgoHandMeter were then selected and tested on common observation risk assessment factors that could be measured and answers provided directly or by analyses. The Wergonic instrument was modified to enhance its measuring capability from one fully and partially two factors to six factors. New algorithms were also employed to analyse measurements of the ErgoHandMeter in order to answer questions regarding repetitive movements. The two instruments tested, are able to measure and provide results for six commonly and one rarely assessed biomechanical risk factors. By combining selected potential candidates, many of the commonly targeted biomechanical risk factors in observational instruments can be measured by the selected direct measurement instruments. However, some factors especially force measurement remain a challenge for measuring by direct wearable sensor instruments.