OBJECTIVE: Isometric exercise is characterized by promoting an overload on the cardiovascular system due to pulsatile contraction followed by a significant increase in muscle blood flow. The hemodynamic responses during exercise and during recovery from endurance exercise are well documented. However, there are few studies with hard data regarding the influence of isometric exercise on autonomic control, which can be obtained by analysis of heart rate variability. Thus, the object of this study was to analyze reports on cardiac autonomic regulation in isometric exercise. METHODS:The articles used in this study were selected from Pubmed, PEDro, Medline, Lilacs and SciELO. The search was made by crossing the following keywords: isometric exercise, autonomic nervous system, cardiovascular system, and heart rate variability, which were defined based on descriptors of Health Headings (MeSH). RESULTS: The search provided 17 articles in isometric exercise autonomic modulation characterized by decreased vagal modulation followed by increased sympathetic modulation and its reversal shortly after the end of the activity. CONCLUSION: During isometric exercise, increased sympathetic modulation and reduced vagal modulation of the sinus node have been reported.

BackgroundFlexible poles are tools used to provide rapid eccentric and concentric muscle contractions. It lacks in the literature studies that analyze acute cardiovascular responses in different exercises performed with this instrument. It was investigated the acute effects of exercise with flexible poles on heart period in healthy women.MethodsThe study was performed on 32 women between 18 and 25 years old. It was evaluated the heart rate variability (HRV) in the time (SDNN, RMSSD and pNN50) and frequency domain (HF, LF and LF/HF ratio). The subjects remained at rest for 10 minutes. After the rest period, the volunteers performed the exercises with the flexible poles. Immediately after the exercise protocol, the volunteers remained seated at rest for 60 minutes and HRV were analyzed.ResultsIt was observed no significance changes in the time domain (SDNN: p = 0.14; RMSSD: p = 0.8 and pNN50: p = 0.86) and frequency domain indices (LF (nu): 0.4; LF (ms2): p = 0.34; HF (nu): p = 0.4; HF (ms2): p = 0.8 and LF/HF ratio: p = 0.3) between before and after single bout of exercise with flexible pole.ConclusionA single bout of exercise with flexible pole did not significantly change cardiac autonomic regulation in healthy women.

ResumoIntrodução: A doença de Parkinson é uma doença crônica do sistema nervoso que leva a um quadro clínico de tremor de repouso, bradicinesia, rigidez muscular e instabilidade postural. Esses sintomas, por sua vez, influenciam diretamente na independência funcional do indivíduo. Objetivo: Analisar a influência do fortaAnalisar a influência do fortanalisar a influência do fortalecimento muscular na independência funcional de indivíduos parkinsonianos. Método: Fizeram parte do estudo dez sujeitos de ambos os gêneros. Avaliaramse a independência funcional, a força de membros inferiores, a força de preensão palmar e realizou-se o teste de uma repetição máxima. Após a avaliação foi realizado o programa de fortalecimento muscular por 12 semanas. Resultados: Verificou-se melhora na independência funcional (p=0,007), na força de membros inferiores (p=0,01), e houve aumento da força de preensão palmar, tanto da mão dominante (p=0,007) quanto da não dominante (p=0,02). Conclusão: O fortalecimento muscular proporcionou melhora da independência funcional de indivídu-os com doença de Parkinson.