No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

The overall aim of this thesis is to contribute to the development and implementation of evidence-based physical activity promotion strategies for people with acquired brain injury (ABI). A randomized controlled trial (RCT) will furnish the highest level of evidence regarding the efficacy of a given intervention, but the immaturity of this area of research means that, currently, an RCT is not an appropriate research design. Therefore the purpose of the program of research presented in this thesis was to strategically contribute to the evidence base required to justify the conduct of a well designed RCT of an intervention promoting physical activity for people with ABI. By increasing participation in free-living, moderate intensity walking, people with ABI may reduce the oxygen cost of walking, thereby improving everyday functioning. The first study (presented in Chapter 3) evaluated a novel over-ground walking protocol in which a third party assists participants with ABI to reproduce previously self-selected comfortable and brisk walking speeds. Such a protocol could be used in conjunction with a portable indirect calorimetry to evaluate changes in oxygen cost of self-selected walking speeds over time. Thirteen people with ABI and related gait pattern impairment (age 31 + 8 yrs) completed two familiarization and two testing sessions. The first testing session used a self-paced (SP) protocol in which participants walked for 6 minutes at two self-selected speeds – comfortable and brisk paces. The second, conducted one week later, used an externally-paced (EP) protocol in which participants were instructed to walk at the pace indicated by the test administrator, who verbally and visually guided the participant to walk at their previous self-selected comfortable and brisk paces. In each testing session participants wore a portable indirect calorimeter (Cosmed K4b2). Measures obtained were oxygen cost of walking (l.min-1) and distance walked (m). Analysis demonstrated that the EP protocol reproduced distances walked at comfortable and brisk speeds with a high degree of accuracy and that agreement between measures of oxygen cost obtained during the SP and EP protocols were acceptable. Steady-state oxygen uptake is characteristic of a constant workload and was elicited during both EP walking trials, indicating that walking speeds were constant throughout the walk trials. It was concluded that the EP protocol described is a valid means of assisting people with ABI to reproduce overground walking speeds and that the protocol would be useful for evaluating changes in the oxygen cost of those walking speeds that may occur over the course of an intervention. The purpose of the second study (presented in Chapter 4) was to evaluate the validity of a uniaxial accelerometer (MTI Actigraph) for measuring physical activity in people with acquired brain injury (ABI) using portable indirect calorimetry (Cosmed K4b2) as a criterion measure. Fourteen people with ABI and related gait pattern impairment (age 32 + 8 years), wore an MTI Actigraph that measured activity (counts.min-1) and a Cosmed K4b2 that measured oxygen consumption (ml.kg-1.min-1) during four activities – quiet sitting (QS), comfortable paced (CP), brisk paced (BP) and fast paced (FP) walking. MET levels were predicted from Actigraph counts using a published equation and compared with Cosmed measures. Predicted METs for each of the 56 activity bouts (14 participants x four bouts) were classified (light, moderate, vigorous or very vigorous intensity) and compared with Cosmed-based classifications. Results indicated that Actigraph counts provide a valid index of activity across the intensities investigated in this study. For light to moderate activity, Actigraph-based estimates of METs are acceptable for group-level analysis and are a valid means of classifying activity intensity. The Actigraph significantly underestimated higher intensity activity although, in practice, this limitation will have minimal impact on activity measurement of most community-dwelling people with ABI as higher intensity activity is likely to be rare in this group. In the third study (presented in Chapter 5), 18 community-dwelling adults with acquired brain injury and a related gait pattern impairment (32.3 + 7.5 yrs) participated in an 8-week intervention promoting lifestyle physical activity. The aims were threefold: to evaluate the physical and psychosocial effects of the intervention; to assess whether the intervention increased the physical activity of participants; and to qualitatively evaluate the perceived effectiveness and acceptability of the intervention. Data were collected at six time points over 28 weeks: three pre-intervention, one each at 12 weeks prior (T1), 11 weeks prior (T2) and immediately pre-intervention (T3); and three post-intervention at immediately after (T4), four weeks after (T5) and eight weeks after (T6) the intervention. Physical outcomes measured were oxygen cost of comfortable and brisk-paced walking and maximum distance walked in three minutes. Psychosocial outcomes measured were SF-36, Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and the Barriers to Health Activities for Disabled Persons (BHADP). Physical activity was sampled 6 days at T3, T4 and T6 and two measures were obtained – Actigraph counts per day and total minutes of activity greater than or equal to moderate intensity. Semi-structured interviews were used to evaluate the perceived effectiveness and acceptability of the intervention. The intervention comprised weekly, home-based, interactive problem-solving sessions designed to identify and overcome barriers to activity and to promote walking, together with facilitation of a community based leisure activity of the participant’s choice. Results indicated that the intervention improved important aspects of physical and psychosocial health for community-dwelling people with ABI. Compared with mean baseline measures, improvements in oxygen cost of brisk walking and self-esteem occurred that were both clinically and statistically significant at T6 (p < 0.01). Significant changes in two subscales of the SF-36 and the SWLS also occurred, although they were not sustained at T6. Measures of physical activity increased but not to an extent that was statistically significant. Qualitative data were principally positive, with 100% of participants and their significant others indicating they would recommend the program to another person with ABI. Given the particularly low levels of physical activity in the ABI population, and the correspondingly large individual and community benefits of that will be accrued if their physically active behavior can be increased, the promising results from this program of research indicate that there is a strong justification for allocating the resources necessary to conduct a sufficiently powered, randomized controlled trial of a lifestyle physical activity intervention for people with ABI.

The overall aim of this thesis is to contribute to the development and implementation of evidence-based physical activity promotion strategies for people with acquired brain injury (ABI). A randomized controlled trial (RCT) will furnish the highest level of evidence regarding the efficacy of a given intervention, but the immaturity of this area of research means that, currently, an RCT is not an appropriate research design. Therefore the purpose of the program of research presented in this thesis was to strategically contribute to the evidence base required to justify the conduct of a well designed RCT of an intervention promoting physical activity for people with ABI. By increasing participation in free-living, moderate intensity walking, people with ABI may reduce the oxygen cost of walking, thereby improving everyday functioning. The first study (presented in Chapter 3) evaluated a novel over-ground walking protocol in which a third party assists participants with ABI to reproduce previously self-selected comfortable and brisk walking speeds. Such a protocol could be used in conjunction with a portable indirect calorimetry to evaluate changes in oxygen cost of self-selected walking speeds over time. Thirteen people with ABI and related gait pattern impairment (age 31 + 8 yrs) completed two familiarization and two testing sessions. The first testing session used a self-paced (SP) protocol in which participants walked for 6 minutes at two self-selected speeds – comfortable and brisk paces. The second, conducted one week later, used an externally-paced (EP) protocol in which participants were instructed to walk at the pace indicated by the test administrator, who verbally and visually guided the participant to walk at their previous self-selected comfortable and brisk paces. In each testing session participants wore a portable indirect calorimeter (Cosmed K4b2). Measures obtained were oxygen cost of walking (l.min-1) and distance walked (m). Analysis demonstrated that the EP protocol reproduced distances walked at comfortable and brisk speeds with a high degree of accuracy and that agreement between measures of oxygen cost obtained during the SP and EP protocols were acceptable. Steady-state oxygen uptake is characteristic of a constant workload and was elicited during both EP walking trials, indicating that walking speeds were constant throughout the walk trials. It was concluded that the EP protocol described is a valid means of assisting people with ABI to reproduce overground walking speeds and that the protocol would be useful for evaluating changes in the oxygen cost of those walking speeds that may occur over the course of an intervention. The purpose of the second study (presented in Chapter 4) was to evaluate the validity of a uniaxial accelerometer (MTI Actigraph) for measuring physical activity in people with acquired brain injury (ABI) using portable indirect calorimetry (Cosmed K4b2) as a criterion measure. Fourteen people with ABI and related gait pattern impairment (age 32 + 8 years), wore an MTI Actigraph that measured activity (counts.min-1) and a Cosmed K4b2 that measured oxygen consumption (ml.kg-1.min-1) during four activities – quiet sitting (QS), comfortable paced (CP), brisk paced (BP) and fast paced (FP) walking. MET levels were predicted from Actigraph counts using a published equation and compared with Cosmed measures. Predicted METs for each of the 56 activity bouts (14 participants x four bouts) were classified (light, moderate, vigorous or very vigorous intensity) and compared with Cosmed-based classifications. Results indicated that Actigraph counts provide a valid index of activity across the intensities investigated in this study. For light to moderate activity, Actigraph-based estimates of METs are acceptable for group-level analysis and are a valid means of classifying activity intensity. The Actigraph significantly underestimated higher intensity activity although, in practice, this limitation will have minimal impact on activity measurement of most community-dwelling people with ABI as higher intensity activity is likely to be rare in this group. In the third study (presented in Chapter 5), 18 community-dwelling adults with acquired brain injury and a related gait pattern impairment (32.3 + 7.5 yrs) participated in an 8-week intervention promoting lifestyle physical activity. The aims were threefold: to evaluate the physical and psychosocial effects of the intervention; to assess whether the intervention increased the physical activity of participants; and to qualitatively evaluate the perceived effectiveness and acceptability of the intervention. Data were collected at six time points over 28 weeks: three pre-intervention, one each at 12 weeks prior (T1), 11 weeks prior (T2) and immediately pre-intervention (T3); and three post-intervention at immediately after (T4), four weeks after (T5) and eight weeks after (T6) the intervention. Physical outcomes measured were oxygen cost of comfortable and brisk-paced walking and maximum distance walked in three minutes. Psychosocial outcomes measured were SF-36, Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and the Barriers to Health Activities for Disabled Persons (BHADP). Physical activity was sampled 6 days at T3, T4 and T6 and two measures were obtained – Actigraph counts per day and total minutes of activity greater than or equal to moderate intensity. Semi-structured interviews were used to evaluate the perceived effectiveness and acceptability of the intervention. The intervention comprised weekly, home-based, interactive problem-solving sessions designed to identify and overcome barriers to activity and to promote walking, together with facilitation of a community based leisure activity of the participant’s choice. Results indicated that the intervention improved important aspects of physical and psychosocial health for community-dwelling people with ABI. Compared with mean baseline measures, improvements in oxygen cost of brisk walking and self-esteem occurred that were both clinically and statistically significant at T6 (p < 0.01). Significant changes in two subscales of the SF-36 and the SWLS also occurred, although they were not sustained at T6. Measures of physical activity increased but not to an extent that was statistically significant. Qualitative data were principally positive, with 100% of participants and their significant others indicating they would recommend the program to another person with ABI. Given the particularly low levels of physical activity in the ABI population, and the correspondingly large individual and community benefits of that will be accrued if their physically active behavior can be increased, the promising results from this program of research indicate that there is a strong justification for allocating the resources necessary to conduct a sufficiently powered, randomized controlled trial of a lifestyle physical activity intervention for people with ABI.

The overall aim of this thesis is to contribute to the development and implementation of evidence-based physical activity promotion strategies for people with acquired brain injury (ABI). A randomized controlled trial (RCT) will furnish the highest level of evidence regarding the efficacy of a given intervention, but the immaturity of this area of research means that, currently, an RCT is not an appropriate research design. Therefore the purpose of the program of research presented in this thesis was to strategically contribute to the evidence base required to justify the conduct of a well designed RCT of an intervention promoting physical activity for people with ABI. By increasing participation in free-living, moderate intensity walking, people with ABI may reduce the oxygen cost of walking, thereby improving everyday functioning. The first study (presented in Chapter 3) evaluated a novel over-ground walking protocol in which a third party assists participants with ABI to reproduce previously self-selected comfortable and brisk walking speeds. Such a protocol could be used in conjunction with a portable indirect calorimetry to evaluate changes in oxygen cost of self-selected walking speeds over time. Thirteen people with ABI and related gait pattern impairment (age 31 + 8 yrs) completed two familiarization and two testing sessions. The first testing session used a self-paced (SP) protocol in which participants walked for 6 minutes at two self-selected speeds – comfortable and brisk paces. The second, conducted one week later, used an externally-paced (EP) protocol in which participants were instructed to walk at the pace indicated by the test administrator, who verbally and visually guided the participant to walk at their previous self-selected comfortable and brisk paces. In each testing session participants wore a portable indirect calorimeter (Cosmed K4b2). Measures obtained were oxygen cost of walking (l.min-1) and distance walked (m). Analysis demonstrated that the EP protocol reproduced distances walked at comfortable and brisk speeds with a high degree of accuracy and that agreement between measures of oxygen cost obtained during the SP and EP protocols were acceptable. Steady-state oxygen uptake is characteristic of a constant workload and was elicited during both EP walking trials, indicating that walking speeds were constant throughout the walk trials. It was concluded that the EP protocol described is a valid means of assisting people with ABI to reproduce overground walking speeds and that the protocol would be useful for evaluating changes in the oxygen cost of those walking speeds that may occur over the course of an intervention. The purpose of the second study (presented in Chapter 4) was to evaluate the validity of a uniaxial accelerometer (MTI Actigraph) for measuring physical activity in people with acquired brain injury (ABI) using portable indirect calorimetry (Cosmed K4b2) as a criterion measure. Fourteen people with ABI and related gait pattern impairment (age 32 + 8 years), wore an MTI Actigraph that measured activity (counts.min-1) and a Cosmed K4b2 that measured oxygen consumption (ml.kg-1.min-1) during four activities – quiet sitting (QS), comfortable paced (CP), brisk paced (BP) and fast paced (FP) walking. MET levels were predicted from Actigraph counts using a published equation and compared with Cosmed measures. Predicted METs for each of the 56 activity bouts (14 participants x four bouts) were classified (light, moderate, vigorous or very vigorous intensity) and compared with Cosmed-based classifications. Results indicated that Actigraph counts provide a valid index of activity across the intensities investigated in this study. For light to moderate activity, Actigraph-based estimates of METs are acceptable for group-level analysis and are a valid means of classifying activity intensity. The Actigraph significantly underestimated higher intensity activity although, in practice, this limitation will have minimal impact on activity measurement of most community-dwelling people with ABI as higher intensity activity is likely to be rare in this group. In the third study (presented in Chapter 5), 18 community-dwelling adults with acquired brain injury and a related gait pattern impairment (32.3 + 7.5 yrs) participated in an 8-week intervention promoting lifestyle physical activity. The aims were threefold: to evaluate the physical and psychosocial effects of the intervention; to assess whether the intervention increased the physical activity of participants; and to qualitatively evaluate the perceived effectiveness and acceptability of the intervention. Data were collected at six time points over 28 weeks: three pre-intervention, one each at 12 weeks prior (T1), 11 weeks prior (T2) and immediately pre-intervention (T3); and three post-intervention at immediately after (T4), four weeks after (T5) and eight weeks after (T6) the intervention. Physical outcomes measured were oxygen cost of comfortable and brisk-paced walking and maximum distance walked in three minutes. Psychosocial outcomes measured were SF-36, Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and the Barriers to Health Activities for Disabled Persons (BHADP). Physical activity was sampled 6 days at T3, T4 and T6 and two measures were obtained – Actigraph counts per day and total minutes of activity greater than or equal to moderate intensity. Semi-structured interviews were used to evaluate the perceived effectiveness and acceptability of the intervention. The intervention comprised weekly, home-based, interactive problem-solving sessions designed to identify and overcome barriers to activity and to promote walking, together with facilitation of a community based leisure activity of the participant’s choice. Results indicated that the intervention improved important aspects of physical and psychosocial health for community-dwelling people with ABI. Compared with mean baseline measures, improvements in oxygen cost of brisk walking and self-esteem occurred that were both clinically and statistically significant at T6 (p < 0.01). Significant changes in two subscales of the SF-36 and the SWLS also occurred, although they were not sustained at T6. Measures of physical activity increased but not to an extent that was statistically significant. Qualitative data were principally positive, with 100% of participants and their significant others indicating they would recommend the program to another person with ABI. Given the particularly low levels of physical activity in the ABI population, and the correspondingly large individual and community benefits of that will be accrued if their physically active behavior can be increased, the promising results from this program of research indicate that there is a strong justification for allocating the resources necessary to conduct a sufficiently powered, randomized controlled trial of a lifestyle physical activity intervention for people with ABI.

Modelos bioenergéticos de dois, três e quatro parâmetros podem ser usados para prescrever a velocidade crítica (VC) sendo que o último modelo melhor descreve a relação entre velocidade (v) e tempo de exaustão (tlim) em nadadores. O objetivo do presente estudo foi verificar as respostas metabólicas ao se nadar em intensidade equivalente à VC4par até exaustão e verificar a validade de predizê-la somente por meio de um teste de 400 m em nado crawl (T400). Para tal, esta pesquisa foi desenvolvida em duas etapas: na primeira, oito nadadores e quatro nadadoras classificados entre os oito melhores em suas provas no último Campeonato Brasileiro Juvenil de Natação (15,6 ± 0,9 anos, 63,0 ± 7,2 kg, 174,9 ± 8,3 cm de estatura, 180,7 ± 10,4 cm de envergadura, 280,2 ± 17,6 s nos 400 m nado crawl = 78,7 ± 3,3 % do recorde mundial para a prova em piscina de 25 m) realizaram testes máximos de 50, 100, 200, 400, 800 e 1500 m em ordem randomizada e com 24 h de intervalo para calcular a VC4par. Na segunda etapa, consumo de oxigênio (VO2), concentração de lactato sanguíneo ([La]), frequência cardíaca (FC) e esforço percebido (EP, escala de Borg de 6-15) foram mensurados no repouso, após o aquecimento, à cada 10 min e na exaustão em um teste retangular com velocidade controlada com duração máxima de 60 min correspondente à VC4par. Resultados: os nadadores suportaram nadar à 100% da VC4par entre 13 e 62 min. O VO2 se estabiliza a partir de, aproximadamente 10 min de teste, não atingindo seu valor máximo antes da exaustão (63,2 ± 10,5% do VO2max). [La] comportase entre uma faixa de estabilização a aumentos sem estabilização (7,2 ± 1,8 mmol·l-1 na exaustão). FC no momento exaustão situou-se em 93,0 ± 4,9da FCmax. EP aumenta sem estabilizar-se (18,3 ± 1,7 na exaustão). A relação entre a VC4par e a VN do T400 (V400) em nadadores de nível nacional é obtida pela equação VC4par = (0,9252 * V400) – 0,01. Conclusão: A VC4par situa-se no domínio de intensidade muito pesado, próxima ao limite inferior do mesmo e pode ser prescrita pelo T400. / Two, three and four bioenergetic parameter models can be used to prescribe the critical velocity (VC). The four-parameter model best describes the relationship between velocity (v) and time to exhaustion (tlim) in swimmers. The aim of this study was to determine the metabolic responses when swimming in intensity equivalent to VC4par until exhaustion and verify the validity of predicting it only through a test on 400 m front crawl (T400). To this end, this research was conducted in two stages: stage one, eight male swimmers and four female swimmers ranked among the top eight in their events at the last Brazilian Youth Swimming Championship (15.6 ± 0.9 years, 63.0 ± 7,2 kg, 174.9 ± 8.3 cm in height, 180.7 ± 10.4 cm of arm span, 280.2 ± 17.6 s in the 400 m freestyle = 78.7 ± 3.3% of world record short course) conducted maximum efforts of 50, 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1500 m in randomized order and with 24 hours of interval for calculating the VC4par. In the second stage, oxygen consumption (VO2), blood lactate concentration ([La]), heart rate (FC) and perceived exertion (EP, Borg scale 6-15) were measured at rest, after warm up, every 10 min and at exhaustion during a rectangular test with controlled speed, with a maximum duration of 60 min at 100%VC4par. Results: swimmers supported between 13 and 62 min at 100%VC4par. At this intensity VO2 stabilizes from approximately 10 minutes of testing, not reaching its maximum value before the exhaustion (10.5 ± 63.2 %VO2max). [La] behaves within the range of stabilization increases without stabilization (7.2 ± 1.8 mmol · l-1 in the exhaustion). FC at exhaustion stood at 93.0 ± 4.9% FCmax. EP increases without stabilizing (18.3 ± 1.7 in the exhaustion). The relationship between VC4par and the swimming velocity of the T400 (V400) in swimmers of national level can be obtained by equation VC4par = (0.9252 * V400) - 0.01. Conclusion: VC4par lies to the very heavy intensity domain, near the lower limit, and can be prescribed by the T400.

Meditation, Tai Chi, and moderate aerobic exercise have been shown to positively affect executive attention. We compared the executive attention efficiency and aerobic capacity of long-term Tai Chi, meditation plus exercise, aerobic fitness, and sedentary participants. We hypothesized that because meditation and Tai Chi include moderate aerobic exertion and executive attention training, these groups would show significantly greater executive attention efficiency compared to aerobic exercisers or sedentary control groups. Our results support this. Tai Chi and meditation but not aerobic fitness practitioners significantly outperformed sedentary controls on key executive measures: percent switch costs and P3b ERP switch amplitude (Tai Chi, p = .001; p = .031, respectively; meditation, p = .006; p = .003, respectively). This suggests participation in chronic health practices requiring moderate aerobic exertion and attentional focus may offset declines in aerobic, neuromotor, and executive attention capacity often seen in normal aging.

Submitted by Vasti Diniz (vastijpa@hotmail.com) on 2017-09-11T14:11:43Z No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1903345 bytes, checksum: 793698986d564071389beaa6c4e038c0 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-09-11T14:11:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1903345 bytes, checksum: 793698986d564071389beaa6c4e038c0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-24 / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / Physical training imposes a physical and psychological stress on the athlete, who poorly recovered can progress to overreaching or even overtraining. Overtraining disorders are associated with physiological changes which in turn are accompanied by neurobehavioral reactions. This fact allows to raise the hypothesis of a possible association between physiological markers and the subjective perception reported by athletes through psychometric questionnaires used in the control of training loads. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship between the scores of the psychometric tests and the physiological measures used in the monitoring of training loads in recreational athletes. METHODS: A representative sample of 102 recreational athletes was evaluated for the psychometric variables (POMS, BRUMS, RESTQ-Sport and Overtraining Questionnaire) and Physiological variables (CK, LDH, MDA, TAC and Heart Rate Variability) in a single moment of the season for each athlete. Pearson and Spearman correlations were used to test associations. RESULTS: The complete sample showed significant correlations between Self- regulation and CK (r = 0.06), Fatigue and TAC (r = 0.32), Success and LDH (r = 0.02), Conflicts/pressure and LDH = -0.21), Physical simptoms and LDH (r = -0.21), Fatigue and LDH (r = -0.25), Self-efficacy and lnRMSSD x 20 (r = 0.27) and General stress and lnRMSSD (r = -0.21) in RESTQ-Sport. In the Overtraining Questionnaire, the correlation was between Recovery and LDH (r = -0.23). When the upper quartile (P75) of the psychometric tests were associated, other significant correlations appeared between the Fatigue and lnRMSSD x 20 (r = -0.38), Vigour and MDA (r = 0.42), Confusion and TAC (r = 0.48) in POMS and Depression and CK (r = -0.48) in BRUMS. In the RESTQ-Sport, the correlations were between Emotional stress and LF / HF (r = 0.35), Disturbed breaks and LF / HF (r = 0.34), Physical recovery and LF / HF (r = 0.39), Self-regulation and LF / HF (r = 0.40), Disturbed breaks and lnRMSSD x 20 (r = -0.38) and General well-being and Stress Scores (r = 0.43). There was still a significant correlation between the Recovery and TAC (r = -0.57) and Total and TAC (r = -0.51) in the Overtraining Questionnaire. CONCLUSION: Psychometric questionnaires correlate inconsistently with physiological variables. The index of parasympathetic activity lnRMSSD x 20 is a promising measure and needs to be better investigated in future studies. / O treinamento físico impõe um estresse físico e psicológico sobre o atleta, que mal recuperado pode progredir para overreaching ou até mesmo overtraining. Distúrbios do overtraining estão associados a alterações fisiológicas que por sua vez são acompanhados de reações neurocomportamentais. Este fato permite levantar a hipótese de uma possível associação entre marcadores fisiológicos e a percepção subjetiva relatada por atletas através de questionários psicométricos utilizados no controle das cargas de treino. OBJETIVO: Analisar a relação entre os escores dos testes psicométricos e as medidas fisiológicas utilizadas na monitoração das cargas de treino em atletas recreacionais. MÉTODOS: Uma amostra representativa de 102 atletas recreacionais foi avaliada para as variáveis psicométricas (POMS, BRUMS, RESTQ-Sport e Questionário de Overtraining) e Fisiológicas (CK, LDH, MDA, CAT e Variabilidade da Frequência Cardíaca) em um único momento da temporada para cada atleta. Correlações de Pearson e Spearman foram utilizadas para testar as associações. RESULTADOS: A amostra completa mostrou correlações significativas entre Auto Regulação e CK (r = 0,06), Fadiga e CAT (r = 0,32), Sucesso e LDH (r = 0,02), Conflito/Pressão e LDH (r = -0,21), Queixas Somáticas e LDH (r = -0,21), Fadiga e LDH (r = -0,25), Auto eficácia e lnRMSSD x 20 (r = 0,27) e Estresse Geral e lnRMSSD (r = -0,21) No RESTQ-Sport. Já no Questionário do Overtraining a correlação foi entre Recuperação e LDH (r = -0,23). Quando associados o quartil superior (P75) dos testes psicométricos, outras correlações significativas apareceram entre Fadiga e lnRMSSD x 20 (r = -0,38), Vigor e MDA (r = 0,42), Confusão e CAT (r = 0,48) no POMS e Depressão e CK (r = -0,48) No BRUMS. Já No RESTQ-Sport as correlações foram entre Estresse Emocional e LF/HF (r = 0,35), Falta de Energia e LF/HF (r = 0,34), Recuperação Física e LF/HF (r = 0,39), Auto Regulação e LF/HF (r = 0,40), Perturbação nos Intervalos e lnRMSSD x 20 (r = -0,38) e Bem estar Geral e Estresse Escore (r = 0,43). Encontrou-se ainda correlação significativa entre Recuperação e CAT (r = -0,57) e Total e CAT (r = -0,51) no Questionário do Overtraining. CONCLUSÃO: Questionários psicométricos se correlacionam de forma inconsistente com as variáveis fisiológicas. O índice da atividade parassimpática lnRMSSD x 20 é uma medida promissora e precisa ser melhor investigada nos estudos futuros.

Modelos bioenergéticos de dois, três e quatro parâmetros podem ser usados para prescrever a velocidade crítica (VC) sendo que o último modelo melhor descreve a relação entre velocidade (v) e tempo de exaustão (tlim) em nadadores. O objetivo do presente estudo foi verificar as respostas metabólicas ao se nadar em intensidade equivalente à VC4par até exaustão e verificar a validade de predizê-la somente por meio de um teste de 400 m em nado crawl (T400). Para tal, esta pesquisa foi desenvolvida em duas etapas: na primeira, oito nadadores e quatro nadadoras classificados entre os oito melhores em suas provas no último Campeonato Brasileiro Juvenil de Natação (15,6 ± 0,9 anos, 63,0 ± 7,2 kg, 174,9 ± 8,3 cm de estatura, 180,7 ± 10,4 cm de envergadura, 280,2 ± 17,6 s nos 400 m nado crawl = 78,7 ± 3,3 % do recorde mundial para a prova em piscina de 25 m) realizaram testes máximos de 50, 100, 200, 400, 800 e 1500 m em ordem randomizada e com 24 h de intervalo para calcular a VC4par. Na segunda etapa, consumo de oxigênio (VO2), concentração de lactato sanguíneo ([La]), frequência cardíaca (FC) e esforço percebido (EP, escala de Borg de 6-15) foram mensurados no repouso, após o aquecimento, à cada 10 min e na exaustão em um teste retangular com velocidade controlada com duração máxima de 60 min correspondente à VC4par. Resultados: os nadadores suportaram nadar à 100% da VC4par entre 13 e 62 min. O VO2 se estabiliza a partir de, aproximadamente 10 min de teste, não atingindo seu valor máximo antes da exaustão (63,2 ± 10,5% do VO2max). [La] comportase entre uma faixa de estabilização a aumentos sem estabilização (7,2 ± 1,8 mmol·l-1 na exaustão). FC no momento exaustão situou-se em 93,0 ± 4,9da FCmax. EP aumenta sem estabilizar-se (18,3 ± 1,7 na exaustão). A relação entre a VC4par e a VN do T400 (V400) em nadadores de nível nacional é obtida pela equação VC4par = (0,9252 * V400) – 0,01. Conclusão: A VC4par situa-se no domínio de intensidade muito pesado, próxima ao limite inferior do mesmo e pode ser prescrita pelo T400. / Two, three and four bioenergetic parameter models can be used to prescribe the critical velocity (VC). The four-parameter model best describes the relationship between velocity (v) and time to exhaustion (tlim) in swimmers. The aim of this study was to determine the metabolic responses when swimming in intensity equivalent to VC4par until exhaustion and verify the validity of predicting it only through a test on 400 m front crawl (T400). To this end, this research was conducted in two stages: stage one, eight male swimmers and four female swimmers ranked among the top eight in their events at the last Brazilian Youth Swimming Championship (15.6 ± 0.9 years, 63.0 ± 7,2 kg, 174.9 ± 8.3 cm in height, 180.7 ± 10.4 cm of arm span, 280.2 ± 17.6 s in the 400 m freestyle = 78.7 ± 3.3% of world record short course) conducted maximum efforts of 50, 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1500 m in randomized order and with 24 hours of interval for calculating the VC4par. In the second stage, oxygen consumption (VO2), blood lactate concentration ([La]), heart rate (FC) and perceived exertion (EP, Borg scale 6-15) were measured at rest, after warm up, every 10 min and at exhaustion during a rectangular test with controlled speed, with a maximum duration of 60 min at 100%VC4par. Results: swimmers supported between 13 and 62 min at 100%VC4par. At this intensity VO2 stabilizes from approximately 10 minutes of testing, not reaching its maximum value before the exhaustion (10.5 ± 63.2 %VO2max). [La] behaves within the range of stabilization increases without stabilization (7.2 ± 1.8 mmol · l-1 in the exhaustion). FC at exhaustion stood at 93.0 ± 4.9% FCmax. EP increases without stabilizing (18.3 ± 1.7 in the exhaustion). The relationship between VC4par and the swimming velocity of the T400 (V400) in swimmers of national level can be obtained by equation VC4par = (0.9252 * V400) - 0.01. Conclusion: VC4par lies to the very heavy intensity domain, near the lower limit, and can be prescribed by the T400.