Search

To determine the cardiorespiratory and metabolic demand of the Six-Minute Pegboard and Ring Test (6PBRT) in healthy young adults and its association with maximal arm cycle ergometer test (arm CET). Volunteers were randomized to performed the 6PBRT test or arm CET. The second test was performed after 48 h. Oxygen consumption (VO 2), heart rate (HR), dyspnea and upper limb fatigue were assessed during the tests. Demographic data, body composition, level of physical activity, arm strength and endurance were also evaluated. During 6PBRT, VO 2 values increased from 5.8 to 11.1 mL kg−1.min−1 (p < 0.001). VO 2peak, HR Mean and HR max at 6PBRT were 47.2% and close to 65% respectively of those achieved during the arm CET. There was a positive correlation between the score on 6PBRT and VO 2mean and VO 2peak achieved at arm CET (r = 0.268; p = 0.003 and r = 0.247; p = 0.046 respectively). No correlation was found between the HR mean , HR peak, level of physical activity or strength with 6PBRT (p > 0.05). Handgrip endurance had a positive correlation with score on 6PBRT (r = 0.237; p = 0.054). Body Mass Index, body fat and fat mass were negatively correlated with the score on 6PBRT (r = 0.301; p = 0.014, 0.329; p = 0.007 and r = 0.427; p = 0.001). The 6PBRT test showed a moderate cardiorespiratory and metabolic demand in healthy individuals in comparison of arm CET. BMI, body fat and fat mass correlated with the score on 6PBRT. • The 6PBRT is a simple, fast, low-cost method that imitates some daily activities. • The 6PBRT evaluates the functional capacity of upper limbs. • It can be used in the functional assessment of individuals with cardiorespiratory symptoms and/or who have limitations of upper limbs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the cardiorespiratory responses to the 6-min pegboard and ring test (6PBRT) and to assess its reproducibility in healthy adolescents. It was a cross-sectional study with 52 healthy adolescents (11–18 years old of both genders). The 6PBRT was performed twice on two different days by the same examiner. Intra-rater reliability, percentage of the minimal difference chance (MDC%) and agreement of the number of moving rings were analyzed. Also, cardiopulmonary parameters were collected before and after tests. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for the number of rings moved was 0.87 (95%CI 0.69–0.93). The mean number of moved rings during the second test was higher. The MDC% with a 95 % confidence interval was greater than acceptable values. Bland-Altman analysis did not show agreement between measurements (bias = 30.1); with upper and lower limits of agreement of −67.8 to 127.9, respectively. There was a significant increase in dyspnea, fatigue and HR values at the end of the tests (p < 0.0001). In both tests, participants reached HR equivalent to 48 % of the maximum predicted. Together, the results suggest that the 6PBRT is not a reliable measure for a population of healthy adolescents, which indicates the necessity to perform more than one test. The 6PBRT is suggested to be a submaximal test for this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the validity of the 30-seconds sit-to-stand test (STS-30) and its reliability in hemodialysis patients. Patients receiving hemodialysis treatment three times a week for at least six months were evaluated using STS-30, Incremental Shuttle Walking Test, and health-related quality of life by KDQOL-SF questionnaire. The data obtained from the Incremental Shuttle Walking Test were divided into tertiles, and the STS-30 results were compared among tertiles. The accuracy of the STS-30 to identify low exercise capacity was evaluated. A second STS-30 was performed after 6 to 8-weeks for the reliability analyses using Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). Minimal detectable change scores were calculated. Sixty-three individuals (66.7% men) aged 48.3 years (95%CI 44.6–51.9) were evaluated. There were significant correlations between STS-30, exercise capacity (r = 0.72), and physical domains of health-related quality of life (0.30 ≤ r ≤ 0.51). Tertile 1 of the Incremental Shuttle Walking Test was different from tertiles 2 and 3 for STS-30 [difference of 3.4 repetitions (95%CI 1.5–5.4) and 4.7 repetitions (95%CI 2.8–6.7), respectively]. The value of 12 repetitions was the cut-off points for stratification of individuals with low exercise capacity. The STS-30 had a high test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.93) and the minimal detectable change was 2.1 repetitions. The STS-30 is a reliable test, associated with exercise capacity and physical domains of health-related quality of life. Thus, is a valid method for functional evaluation in hemodialysis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of an exercise program based on the Pilates Matwork method on sedentary volunteers who self-reported changes in their sleep quality and quality of life. This was a prospective clinical study, in which the variables (level of sleepiness and quality of life) were compared before and after applying a protocol of 12 weeks of an exercise program (2 sessions per week). The level of sleepiness showed significant improvement between before and after the intervention (p: 0.04). Quality of life improved based on all of the emotional components and the physical components (p < 0.05) with the exception of the physical domain (p: 0.09). The results of this study indicate that the sedentary population who participated in this 12 week Pilates program experienced improvements in sleep quality and quality of life. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]