Browsing by Author "Melo, Cristina"
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- Abdominal muscle activity during breathing in different postural sets in healthy subjectsPublication . Mesquita Montes, António; Gouveia, Sara; Crasto, Carlos; Melo, Cristina; Carvalho, Paulo; Santos, Rita; Vilas-Boas, João PauloThis study aims to evaluate the effect of different postural sets on abdominal muscle activity during breathing in healthy subjects. Twenty-nine higher education students (20.86 ± 1.48 years; 9 males) breathed at the same rhythm (inspiration: 2 s; expiration: 4 s) in supine, standing, tripod and 4-point-kneeling positions. Surface electromyography was performed to assess the activation intensity of rectus abdominis, external oblique and transversus abdominis/internal oblique muscles during inspiration and expiration. During both breathing phases, the activation intensity of external oblique and transversus abdominis/internal oblique was significantly higher in standing when compared to supine (p ≤ 0.001). No significant differences were found between tripod position and 4-point-kneeling positions. Transversus abdominis/internal oblique activation intensity in these positions was higher than in supine and lower than in standing. Postural load and gravitational stretch are factors that should be considered in relation to the specific recruitment of abdominal muscles for breathing mechanics.
- Abdominal muscle activity during breathing in different postures in COPD “Stage 0” and healthy subjectsPublication . Mesquita Montes, António; Maia, Joana; Crasto, Carlos; Melo, Cristina; Carvalho, Paulo; Santos, Rita; Pereira, Susana; Vilas-Boas, João PauloThis study aims to evaluate the effect of different postures on the abdominal muscle activity during breathing in subjects "at risk" for the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and healthy. Twenty-nine volunteers, divided in "At Risk" for COPD (n=16; 47.38±5.08years) and Healthy (n=13; 47.54±6.65years) groups, breathed at the same rhythm in supine, standing, tripod and 4-point-kneeling positions. Surface electromyography was performed to assess the activation intensity of rectus abdominis, external oblique and transversus abdominis/internal oblique (TrA/IO) muscles, during inspiration and expiration. From supine to standing, an increased activation of all abdominal muscles was observed in "At Risk" for COPD group; however, in Healthy group, TrA/IO muscle showed an increased activation. In both groups, the TrA/IO muscle activation in tripod and 4-point kneeling positions was higher than in supine and lower than in standing. Subjects "at risk" for the development of COPD seemed to have a specific recruitment of the superficial layer of ventrolateral abdominal wall for the synchronization of postural function and mechanics of breathing.
- Abdominal muscle activity during breathing with and without inspiratory and expiratory loads in healthy subjectsPublication . Mesquita Montes, António; Baptista, João; Crasto, Carlos; Melo, Cristina; Santos, Rita; Vilas-Boas, João PauloCentral Nervous System modulates the motor activities of all trunk muscles to concurrently regulate the intra-abdominal and intra-thoracic pressures. The study aims to evaluate the effect of inspiratory and expiratory loads on abdominal muscle activity during breathing in healthy subjects. Twenty-three higher education students (21.09±1.56years; 8males) breathed at a same rhythm (inspiration: two seconds; expiration: four seconds) without load and with 10% of the maximal inspiratory or expiratory pressures, in standing. Surface electromyography was performed to assess the activation intensity of rectus abdominis, external oblique and transversus abdominis/internal oblique muscles, during inspiration and expiration. During inspiration, transversus abdominis/internal oblique activation intensity was significantly lower with inspiratory load when compared to without load (p=0.009) and expiratory load (p=0.002). During expiration, the activation intensity of all abdominal muscles was significantly higher with expiratory load when compared to without load (p<0.05). The activation intensity of external oblique (p=0.036) and transversus abdominis/internal oblique (p=0.022) was significantly higher with inspiratory load when compared to without load. Transversus abdominis/internal oblique activation intensity was significantly higher with expiratory load when compared to inspiratory load (p<0.001). Transversus abdominis/internal oblique seems to be the most relevant muscle to modulate the intra-abdominal pressure for the breathing mechanics.
- Acta Pediátrica PortuguesaPublication . Alexandrino, Ana Silva; Santos, Ana Rita; Melo, Cristina; Costa, Daniel; Tomé, David; Mesquita Montes, AntónioAs infeções respiratórias agudas são a principal causa de mortalidade e morbilidade em crianças até aos 3 anos, em parte devido às características anatómicas e fisiológicas próprias desta faixa etária mas também muito por conta dos factores de risco a que são expostas A promoção de saúde assume assim vital importância no que concerne a capacitação e empowerment dos cuidadores face a este contexto O objectivo deste estudo foi analisar a influência de uma sessão de educação acerca da prevenção de infeções respiratórias, ministrada a cuidadores de crianças até aos 3 anos, na condição de saúde da criança (nº de infeções respiratórias das vias aéreas superiores (IVAS) e inferiores (IVAI), uso de antibióticos, recurso a serviços de saúde, absentismo das crianças ao infantário e absentismo laboral) metodologia: Estudo quasi-experimental com uma amostra de 57 cuidadores de crianças até aos 3 anos, aprovado pela Comissão de ética da Reitoria da Universidade do Porto Os cuidadores do grupo experimental (GE=35) assistiram a uma sessão de educação acerca da prevenção das infeções respiratórias, desenhada de acordo com as necessidades sentidas dos mesmos Os cuidadores do Grupo de Controlo (GC=22) não assistiram a esta sessão Foi realizado um follow- -up durante 2 meses de Inverno, ao longo do qual os cuidadores de ambos os grupos responderam a um Diário de Registos Online, com uma periodicidade de 15 dias, acerca da condição de saúde das crianças. Resultados: 15 dias após a sessão de educação o GE teve menos IVAS (GE=31% vs GC=64%; p=0,038), menos recurso a serviços de saúde (GE=20% vs GC= 50%; p=0,036) e menos dias totais de absentismo das crianças ao infantário (GE=4 dias vs GC=20 dias; p=0,032), comparativamente com o GC. Após os 2 meses de follow-up ainda se continuaram a verificar diferenças significativas entre os grupos para o recurso a serviços de saúde (GE=25% vs GC= 33%; p=0,039) e verificou-se ausência de IVAI no GE comparativamente ao GC que teve uma incidência de 5% (p=0,035). A sessão de educação acerca da prevenção de infeções respiratórias teve uma influência positiva na diminuição do nº de IVAS e IVAI, no recurso a serviços de saúde e no absentismo das crianças ao infantário.
- Acute effects of physical exercise with microcurrent in the adipose tissue of the abdominal region: A randomized controlled trialPublication . Noites, Andreia; Moreira, Anabela; Melo, Cristina; Faria, Miriam; Vilarinho, Rui; Freitas, Carla; Monteiro, Pedro; Carvalho, Paulo; Adubeiro, Nuno; Sousa, Maria; Santos, Rubim; Nogueira, LuisaIncreased abdominal fat and sedentary lifestyles contribute to cardiovascular disease risk. Low-intensity electrical current (microcurrent) on the abdominal region, associated with physical exercise, appears to be an innovative method to increase the lipolytic rate of abdominal adipocytes, in order to reduce abdominal fat. This study aimed to analyze the acute effects of microcurrent associated with an aerobic exercise program in healthy subjects in lipolysis. A double-blinded, randomized controlled trial was developed and conducted in a higher education school. Eighty-three healthy subjects, aged between 18 and 30 years old and with a 18.5 to 29.9 kg/m2 body mass index were randomly assigned either to an experimental or to a placebo group. Subjects received a trans-abdominal microcurrent stimulation for 40 min with (experimental group) or without (placebo group) electrical current, followed by a single aerobic exercise session (60 min at 45–55% VO2max intensity). Lipolytic activity (serum glycerol), abdominal fat (waist circumference, abdominal skinfold, ultrasonography), and serum lipid profile (serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) were evaluated in all subjects. Physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire) and dietary intake (food-frequency questionnaire) questionnaires were applied. After the intervention, lipolytic rate was significantly higher (p = 0.003) in the experimental group (mean = 0.15) than in the placebo group (mean = 0.09). Glycerol results showed a statistically significant increase between baseline and after the intervention for both experimental group (p = 0.001) and the placebo group (p = 0.001). Combined use of microcurrent and physical aerobic exercise had an acute effect enhancing lipolytic rate comparing to exercise alone, in young healthy subjects.
- Age effect on kinematic variables of stepping after multidirectional disturbancesPublication . Silva, Nuno; Melo, Cristina; Mesquita Montes, António; Crasto, Carlos; Santos, RitaSystems with influence on postural control suffer structural and functional changes with aging. Therefore stepping strategies against external disturbances, may have different characteristics between individuals of different age groups. Objectives: To analyze step length, step average speed and step latency on forward-backward disturbances, as well as stepping strategies after lateral disturbances. The relationship between lower limb dominance and response limb was also analyzed.
- Age-related influence on reliability and learning effect in the assessment of lower limb strength using sit-to-stand tests: A cross-sectional studyPublication . Vilarinho, Rui; Montes, António Mesquita; Melo, Cristina; Mesquita Montes, AntónioDecreased muscle strength, especially in the muscles of lower limbs, is an important risk factor for early age‐related decline in physical function, morbidity, hospitalization, and mortality.1 This evidence should be a stimulus for healthcare professionals to include the assessment of muscular strength as a priority in the community due to its substantial value in predicting future health status.2 For this purpose, sit‐to‐stand tests represent one of the simple and valid options to quantify lower limb strength,3 and two of the most used are the 1‐min sit‐to‐stand (1MSTS)4 and the 5 times sit‐to‐stand (5TSTS).5 To standardize the use of 1MSTS and 5TSTS, it is important to explore whether a similar reliability and learning effect exist between adults and older adults in community settings. Since aging may cause a significant reduction in motor skill acquisition,6 it is important to carefully consider whether performances on these tests are the same for repeated measurement over time (test‐retest) and if a practice test is needed according to age. Another reason to establish the reliability and learning effect, before recommending the use of the sit‐to‐stand tests for adults and older adults, is because significantly different performances have been found between these populations.7,8 With this research, we aimed to determine the within‐day test‐ retest reliability and the learning effect of the 1MSTS and 5TSTS in adults (
- Auxiliares de marcha e forças de reação ao soloPublication . Melo, Cristina; Castro, C.; Montes, A.; Santos, RubimOs auxiliares de marcha são muitas vexes prescritos, em situações ortopédicas, com o intuito de reduzir a carga dos membros inferiores durante o período de recuperação. A influência de cada auxiliar de marcha e a forma como são utilizados, em especial no modo como influenciam as forças que atuam sobre o membro lesado, é um tema ainda pouco explorado na literatura, sendo fundamental no contexto clínico.
- Body mass index and visceral fat: correlation with serum lipid profile in healthy young adultsPublication . Moreira, Anabela; Noites, Andreia; Couto, Miriam; Vilarinho, Rui; Melo, Cristina; Sousa, Manuela; Monteiro, Pedro; Carvalho, Paulo; Adubeiro, Nuno; Nogueira, Luisa; Santos, RubimMetabolic and cardiovascular complications and obesity association is well described. Body mass index (BMI) is commonly used to assess obesity, but does not reflect body fat distribution. Abdominal obesity, namely visceral adipose tissue (VAT), is associated with greater risk for those metabolic impairments, including dyslipidemia, than adiposity in other regions of the body. Objective: To determine the correlation between serum lipid profile and anthropometric measures (BMI and VAT) in young healthy adults.
- Cardiovascular rehabilitation program: The influence on cognitive and executive function, kyphotic index, joint range of tibiotarsal and balancePublication . Vieira, Ágata; Noites, Andreia; Machado, Jorge; Melo, Cristina; Gabriel, Joaquim; Viamonte, SofiaCardiovascular disease arises from pathological changes, such as atherosclerosis, and continues to be the main cause of mortality, as coronary artery disease that is responsible for 20% of deaths each year. Cardiovascular rehabilitation programs have several phases, and the last one, the maintenance phase, which aims are to implement healthy lifestyles habits on people.