The obese group presented higher BP and HR values at rest and autonomic impairment, characterized by a reduction in parasympathetic activity and relative predominance of sympathetic activity.

Functional training (FT) promotes benefits in various physical abilities; however, its effect on autonomic modulation, cardiorespiratory parameters and quality of life in the healthy adult population is unknown, and thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of  FT on these variables in healthy young women. The study consisted of 29 women, distributed into two groups: the FT Group (FTG; n = 13; 23 ± 2·51 years; 21·90 ± 2·82 kg m(-) ²) and the Control Group (CG; n = 16; 20·56 ± 1·03 years; 22·12 ± 3·86 kg m(-) ²). The FTG performed periodized FT for 12 weeks, three times a week. The following were evaluated: autonomic modulation (heart rate variability), cardiorespiratory parameters and quality of life (SF-36 Questionnaire). The Student's t-test for unpaired data or the Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the differences obtained between the final moment and the initial moment of the studied groups (P<0·05). The FTG demonstrated significant improvements in quality of life and autonomic modulation (P<0·05), but not in the cardiorespiratory parameters. Functional training was able to produce improvements in autonomic modulation and quality of life.

BackgroundGeometric methods provide an analysis of autonomic modulation using the geometric properties of the resulting pattern, and represent an interesting tool in the analysis of heart rate variability (HRV). The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of functional training on cardiac autonomic modulation in healthy young women using the geometric indices of HRV.MethodsData were analyzed from 29 women, and were stratified into a functional training group (FTG, n = 13; 23.00 ± 2.51 years; 21.90 ± 2.82 kg/m2) and a control group (CG, n = 16; 20.56 ± 1.03 years; 22.12 ± 3.86 kg/m2). The FTG received periodized functional training for 12 weeks. The cardiac autonomic modulation of both groups was evaluated before and after this training, and a qualitative analysis was performed using the Poincaré plot.ResultsThere was a significant increase in the difference of the triangular index (RRTri), SD1, SD2, and RR intervals in the FTG as compared to the CG, and the qualitative analysis from the Poincaré plot showed an increase in the dispersion of beat-to-beat and long-term RR intervals in the functional group after training. No changes were observed in the triangular interpolation of RR interval histogram (TINN) or SD1/SD2.ConclusionFunctional training had a beneficial impact on autonomic modulation, as characterized by increased parasympathetic activity and overall variability, thus highlighting the clinical usefulness of this type of training.

Objective Gather and describe general characteristics of different protocols of risk stratification for cardiac patients undergoing exercise. Methods We conducted searches in LILACS, IBECS, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and SciELO electronic databases, using the following descriptors: Cardiovascular Disease, Rehabilitation Centers, Practice Guideline, Exercise and Risk Stratification in the past 20 years. Results Were selected eight studies addressing methods of risk stratification in patients undergoing exercise. Conclusion None of the methods described could cover every situation the patient can be subjected to; however, they are essential to exercise prescription.

This study's aim is to analyze heart rate dynamics in subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by measures of heart rate variability (HRV). HRV is a simple and noninvasive measure of autonomic impulses. 38 adults were divided into two equal groups based on respiratory function: COPD and normal. HRV was monitored in the supine position for 30 minutes. After tests of normality, Kruskal-Wallis was used for the statistical analysis, with the level of significance set at P < 0.05. Principal component analysis identified two components representing 99.5% of total variance. Furthermore, it is suggested that the chaos forward parameter (CFP) which applies all three “chaotic globals” is the most influential, although others are statistically more significant. The COPD subjects exhibited a decrease in the CFP. COPD can be termed a dynamical condition, decreasing the chaotic response. The perceived benefits of such analysis include quantitative assessment and suitable pharmacological intervention in the respiratory condition, especially of other related dynamical diseases such as cardiac failure.