Musculoskeletal fitness, as assessed by SRT, was a significant predictor of mortality in 51-80-year-old subjects. Application of a simple and safe assessment tool such as SRT, which is influenced by muscular strength and flexibility, in general health examinations could add relevant information regarding functional capabilities and outcomes in non-hospitalized adults.

Post-exercise cardiac vagal reactivation is well-investigated; however, the effect of water intake during this period has not been well studied. Therefore, our aim was to assess the influence of water intake on the cardiac vagal reactivation after 30 min of a submaximal cycling exercise. Ten healthy subjects (eight men) aged 23-35 years were evaluated. A 3-day testing cycle duration, subjects were randomly chosen to drink either 500 ml (experimental visit) or 50 ml (control visit) of water immediately after the 30-min cycling exercise at a workload representing 80% of a previously measured anaerobic threshold. A cardiac vagal index (CVI) was obtained using the 4-s exercise test measured before and after (10 and 30 min) exercise at each testing day. Data analysis (2 x 3 ANOVA for repeated measures) showed higher cardiac vagal activity at the 30-min post-exercise period when 500 ml of water was ingested. CVI values for the 500 and 50 ml trials were 1.55 +/- 0.04 vs. 1.49 +/- 0.04, P = 0.003 (mean +/- SEM), respectively. Heart rate and blood pressure values were relatively the same. In conclusion, water intake of about 500 ml immediately after 30 min of cycling exercise accelerates post-exercise cardiac vagal reactivation. These results suggest that post-exercise hydration might be beneficial not only for thermoregulation, but also for vagal reactivation.

Background: At the maximal Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET), several ventilatory variables are analyzed, including the ventilatory equivalent for oxygen (VE/VO2). The minimum VE/VO2 value reflects the best integration between the respiratory and cardiovascular systems and may be called "Cardiorespiratory Optimal Point (COP)".

The reciprocal of the ponderal index and ectomorphy are stronger and are more mathematically logical than body mass index; in addition, they may be applied with the same cut points for normal from the age of 5 years on.

Previous studies have shown that resting heart rate variability (HRV) is modified by different phases of the menstrual cycle in nonusers of oral contraceptive pills (OCP); however, the effect of OCP on autonomic control of the heart remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate HRV during the low hormone (LH-not taking OCP) and during the high hormone (HH-active OCP use) phases of the menstrual cycle in young women. Seventeen healthy women (19-31 years) taking OCP for at least 6 consecutive months were enrolled in this study. Plasma estradiol and progesterone were verified at each visit. HRV was assessed by using one-lead electrocardiography in time and frequency domains, in which participants rested in the supine position for a 20-min period with a breathing rate of 15 cycles/min. In addition, resting heart rate, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were obtained. Both plasma estradiol (LH: 19.8 ± 4.2 pg/mL vs. HH: 12.4 ± 1.5 pg/mL; p > .05) and progesterone (LH: 0.247 ± 0.58 ng/mL vs. HH: 0.371 ± 0.08 ng/mL; p > .05) (mean ± SE) levels were similar in both phases. No significant difference was obtained for any component of HRV, heart rate, or blood pressure between the LH and HH phases (p > .05). These results provide preliminary evidence that use of OCP does not affect HRV during the menstrual cycle in healthy women.