The aim of this study was to estimate the effect of being overweight or underweight on proprioception at rest and after muscle damaging eccentric exercise. Twelve lean, 12 overweight, and 8 underweight female participants performed an eccentric exercise session using the knee extensor muscles of the dominant leg. Muscle damage indices and proprioception were assessed up to 3 days postexercise. The results indicated that proprioception at baseline of the lean individuals was superior to that of the other 2 groups. The overweight individuals exhibited a smaller knee joint reaction angle to release than did the lean group, whereas the underweight individuals exhibited a larger reaction angle to release than did the lean group. After eccentric exercise, proprioception was affected more in the overweight and the underweight groups than in the lean group. The greater exercise-induced muscle damage appeared in the overweight group, and the deficient muscle mass of the underweight participants could explain in part the greater disturbances that appeared in proprioception in these 2 groups than for the lean counterparts. In conclusion, deviating from the normal body mass is associated with significant disturbances in the proprioception of the legs at rest and after participation in activities involving eccentric actions.

A 12-month moderate resistance training program increases muscle strength, but it does not change immune phenotypic and functional parameters of previously sedentary, clinically healthy, elderly women.

OBJECTIVE:The purpose of this study was to compare aerobic function [anaerobic threshold (%V˙O2-AT), respiratory compensation point (%V˙O2-RCP) and peak oxygen uptake (V˙O2peak)] between physically active patients with HIV/AIDS and matched controls and to examine associations between disease status, poor muscle strength, depression (as estimated by the profile of mood states questionnaire) and the aerobic performance of patients.METHODS:Progressive treadmill test data for %V˙O2-AT (V-slope method), RCP and (V˙O2peak) were compared between 39 male patients with HIV/AIDS (age 40.6±1.4 years) and 28 male controls (age 44.4±2.1 years) drawn from the same community and matched for habitual physical activity. Within-patient data were also examined in relation to CD4+ counts (nadir and current data) and peak isokinetic knee torque.RESULTS:AT, RCP and (V˙O2peak) values were generally similar for patients and controls. Within the patient sample, binary classification suggested that AT, RCP and (V˙O2peak) values were not associated with either the nadir or current CD4+ count, but treadmill test variables were positively associated with peak isokinetic knee torque.CONCLUSION:The aerobic performance of physically active patients with HIV/AIDS is generally well conserved. Nevertheless, poor muscle strength is observed in some HIV/AIDS patients, which is associated with lower anaerobic power and (V˙O2peak), suggesting the possibility of enhancing the aerobic performance of patients with weak muscles through appropriate muscle-strengthening activities.

Este estudo teve como objetivo verificar o efeito da interrupção de um programa de exercícios com pesos livres sobre a força muscular de mulheres idosas através do teste de uma repetição máxima (1-RM). Para tanto, a amostra foi constituída por oito mulheres idosas saudáveis (x: 64,3 ± 7,6 anos) que foram envolvidas, previamente à interrupção, em um programa de exercícios com pesos livres durante 12 semanas, três vezes por semana, três séries de 10 repetições a 50% 1-RM para seis tipos de exercícios para os membros superiores e inferiores. O teste 1-RM foi realizado imediatamente após a interrupção do programa e subseqüentemente a cada quatro semanas (4ª, 8ª e 12ª semanas). Os valores demonstraram decréscimo estatisticamente significativo na força muscular de ambas as extremidades corporais, principalmente após a 8ª semana de pausa. O decréscimo percentual na 12ª semana variou de 27,5% a 35,1% para a força muscular de membros inferiores e superiores, respectivamente; aconteceu, principalmente, nos membros superiores. Os membros inferiores preservaram mais a capacidade de manutenção da força muscular após a interrupção do treinamento (22,9% a 71,9%) que os membros superiores (-14,8% a 16,1%) quando os valores absolutos finais do período de destreinamento foram comparados com os valores iniciais do treinamento. Esses resultados permitem concluir que a interrupção de um programa de exercícios com pesos livres produz efeito negativo na força muscular de mulheres idosas, especialmente após a 8ª semana.

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