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Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease characterised by inflammation of the spine and the sacroiliac joints and stiffness, which leads to a progressive decline in the quality of life of individuals. Bath indices are considered the principal functional outcome measure and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) are the most widely used biomarkers in AS to assess disease activity. To characterise individuals with AS and to examine the association between functional parameters and biomarkers. Thirty-one patients were recruited from the National Association of Ankylosing Spondylitis (ANEA) – Centre of northern region of Portugal, between February 2014 and June 2015, to be included in the present study. The Bath indices [Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI)], the Neck Disability Index (NDI), the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and laboratory parameters such as ESR and CRP were analysed. The participants’ mean age was 42.77 (±14.37) years, with 18 (58.1%) women and 13 (41.9%) men. The mean scores were 3.55 (BASDAI), 2.78 (BASFI) and 2.58 (BASMI). The final mean scores were 25.81± 18.36 (NDI) and 23.29±15.32 (ODI). We found a negative association between ESR and BASDAI (β=-0.038, p=0.025), and between ESR and BASFI (β=-0.044, p=0.013). As to CRP, there was no statistically significant association between Bath indices. This cross-sectional study in AS patients demonstrated that, on the one hand, this sample had a high education level, having been diagnosed with AS for more than 15 years, with a moderate disability and, on the other hand, with the adjustment of education level and years since diagnosis, there was an association between ESR and BASDAI and BASFI scores.

The aim of the present study was to analyze the acute effect of a resistance exercise session on cardiovascular and perceptual responses using the slow movement speed compared to the traditional movement speed in hypertensive elderly women. Experimental research was carried out with eleven elderly women (66.5± 4.8 years) active and with medication-controlled hypertension in the city of Tabuleiro do Norte, Ceará, Brazil. The elderly women were randomly submitted to a RE session with 60% of 1 RM with slow movement speed or traditional. Systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, mean blood pressure, and double product were measured before exercise and after sessions for one hour. The post-exercise analysis showed a more marked reduction in systolic blood pressure, heart rate, mean blood pressure, and double product values (p< 0.05) in slow movement speed compared to baseline values, however, there were no significant differences in post-exercise hypotension between contraction speeds (p> 0.05). Differences were found in the rating of perceived exertion (p= 0.007). Slow movement speed and traditional movement speed promoted post-exercise hypotension in elderly hypertensive women on medication. Keywords: aging, resistance training, post-exercise hypotension, hypertension, O objetivo do presente estudo foi analisar o efeito agudo de uma sessão de exercício resistido nas respostas cardiovasculares e perceptivas utilizando a velocidade de movimento lenta em comparação com a velocidade de movimento tradicional em idosas hipertensas. Pesquisa experimental desenvolvida com onze mulheres idosas (66,5± 4,8 anos) ativas e com hipertensão controlada por medicamentos na cidade de Tabuleiro do Norte, Ceará, Brasil. As idosas foram submetidas aleatoriamente para uma sessão de ER com 60% de 1 RM com velocidade de movimento lenta ou tradicional. Pressão arterial sistólica, pressão arterial diastólica, frequência cardíaca, pressão arterial média e duplo produto foram mensuradas pré exercício e após as sessões durante uma hora. A análise pós exercício mostrou redução mais acentuada nos valores de pressão arterial sistólica, frequência cardíaca, pressão arterial média e duplo produto (p< 0,05) na velocidade de movimento lenta em comparação com os valores de linha de base, no entanto, não houve diferenças significativas na hipotensão pós exercício entre as velocidades de contração (p> 0,05). Foram encontradas diferenças na percepção subjetiva de esforço (p= 0,007). A velocidade de movimento lenta e velocidade de movimento tradicional promoveram hipotensão pós exercício em mulheres idosas hipertensas sob medicação. Palavras-chave: envelhecimento, treinamento de resistência, hipotensão pós exercício, hipertensão.