Introduction: It is common for postmenopausal women to receive a vitamin D supplementation prescription to assist in preventing future falls and to maintain bone health. However, the association between vitamin D supplementation and physical fitness components has not been studied in older women with diabetes. Objective: We examined the influence of 12 months of vitamin D supplementation on the components of physical fitness in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: Thirty-five postmenopausal women (62.48 ± 7.67 years; 154.6 ± 5.11 cm; 73.93 ± 15.43 kg; 31.13 ± 5.82 BMI) with a diagnosis of T2DM participated in this longitudinal study where participants were supplemented with 1000 IU/day of vitamin D over 12 months. Subjects performed fasting blood samples, anthropometric assessments, body composition, clinical exams, and physical tests at 6-month intervals (P0, P6, and P12). Results and Conclusion: Vitamin D supplementation alone was effective in postmenopausal women in increasing serum vitamin D levels, altering muscle strength levels, promoting improvements in muscle function, as well as preventing and controlling fragility caused by T2DM and aging.

Introduction: After the spread of new coronavirus (COVID-19) around the world, some sanitary measures were adopted to reduce the transmission rate. Social distancing and the use of masks are one of them. Therefore, after months of pandemic situation, levels of infection and mortality began to decline in some regions of Brazil. As a result, some states and municipalities started to relax their quarantines allowing access to some community places like gyms. To access these places is obligatory the use of masks. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the efficiency of the use of masks in closed environments, particularly in situations with increased production of body fluid, like in physical exercise. Objective: To overview the use of masks and the inefficiency in reducing the transmission risk of new coronavirus during physical activity practice at gyms. Conclusion: Despite the extreme necessity of using masks to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, there is no evidence of its efficacy in closed environments during physical exercise so far. In addition, the use of masks negatively affect the performance of physical activity. The only plausible requirement in the current pandemic context would be to present the COVID-19 test result to practice activity indoors.

Objectiveː The aim was to evaluate the effects of four weeks of resistance training and sexual dimorphism on Manual reaction time in apparently healthy subjects. Methods: The subjects of the sample were randomly allocated in two groups, as follow: Control (CTRL) - kept 4 weeks without any systematized physical activity (Nmales= 8, age= 24±3 yrs., body weight= 76.9±15.4 kg; Nfemales= 8, age= 22.5±4 yrs., body weight= 70.8±17.5 kg); Experimental (EXP) - 4 weeks of resistance training (Nmales= 8, age= 23±3 yrs., weight= 69.6±11 kg; Nfemales= 8, age= 22.5±1 yrs., body weight= 59.77±6.8 kg). The resistance training consisted of 4 exercises for upper limbs (3 sets x 8-12 reps) and 4 exercises for lower (3 sets x 12-15 reps). Manual reaction time was evaluated in a manufactured Arduino-based reaction time device connected to a computer. Results: For men, there was a significant decrease in Manual reaction time after resistance training within EXP (p<0.0001) and between groups (p<0.0001). Women showed the same results within EXP (p<0.0001) and between groups (p<0.0001). Additionally, there was no sexual dimorphism before or after four weeks of resistance training. Conclusion: The results suggest that just four weeks of resistance training was sufficient to improve Manual reaction time, regardless of sexual dimorphism. Therefore, resistance training inclusion in the training periodization seems essential to improve or rehabilitate the fast voluntary motor response, especially for activities or sports that require it.

Introduction: Systemic arterial hypertension has been growing worldwide, causing thousands of deaths and large expenses in this condition treatment. Currently, resistance training (RT) is widely prescribed as a non-pharmacological option for blood pressure control, but there are some individuals with intolerance to high load of RT. Hence, blood flow restriction is a method created to stimulate high level of physiological adaptations with low resistive load. However, there are uncertainties about safety and efficacy of this method. Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of blood flow restriction training in hypertensive individuals. Material and method: The research was carried out through a systematic review within the criteria established by the PRISMA statement. Only studies about blood flow restriction in subjects with arterial hypertension were selected in the following databases: MEDLINE/PUBMED, Web of Science, SCOPUS and SPORTDiscus. Results: Five studies (4 acute and 1 chronic effects ) met the requirements for the present review, with 77 hypertensive individuals. Only one study presented levels of blood pressure above to the recommended for hypertensive subjects. Conclusion: Even though the number of studies is still insufficient to conclude about the efficacy, the results allow concluding that resistance training with blood flow restriction is a safe alternative of exercise method to hypertensive subjects, especially for those with intolerance to high training loads.