The aim of the study is to analyze the reliability and validity of the Portuguese version of the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) among postmenopausal Portuguese women.
A total of 184 postmenopausal ...women completed the Portuguese MRS. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were studied. Construct, convergent, and concurrent validity were assessed. The 10-item Cervantes Scale and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were used to determine convergent and concurrent validity, respectively. The ability and accuracy of the Portuguese MRS to discriminate between women with and without anxiety and depression cases were evaluated, and a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used.
The Portuguese MRS showed an appropriate level of internal consistency (Cronbach α, 0.84 for MRS total score) and test-retest reliability (MRS total score; intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.92; 95% confidence interval, 0.85-0.96). Factor analysis (construct validity) revealed a 3-factor structure (explained variance of 62.08%). The MRS total score and its 3 factors showed good convergent (10-item Cervantes Scale) and concurrent (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale anxiety and depression) validity (all P < 0.001). The Portuguese MRS total score was significantly able to discriminate between postmenopausal women with and without anxiety (P < 0.001) and depression (P = 0.001), with a cutoff point of 15.50 (80.00% sensitivity and 63.70% specificity) for detecting depression and a cutoff point of 16.50 (82.35% sensitivity and 78.57% specificity) for identifying anxiety.
The Portuguese MRS has been shown to be a valid and reliable questionnaire for assessing the severity of menopausal symptoms and discriminating among postmenopausal women with and without anxiety and depression.
Objective
To analyze the association of the severity of the menopausal symptoms with musculoskeletal pain in Portuguese postmenopausal women.
Methods
A cross‐sectional, observational study was ...conducted on 167 women (63.85 ± 9.36 years). The Menopause Rating Scale was used to evaluate the menopausal symptoms severity, while the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was employed to assess the localization of the musculoskeletal pain, and multi‐located pain was determined if two or more body regions were affected. Depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), age, body mass index (BMI) and physical activity level were considered as potential confounders.
Results
A greater severity of the somato‐vegetative menopausal symptoms was related to the prevention from usual activities because of pain in the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists/hands and knees (R2 of Nagelkerke = 0.064, 0.043, 0.074, 0.045 and 0.045, respectively). Associations were also observed between greater age and pain in the knees, ankles and feet (R2 of Nagelkerke = 0.036 and 0.034, respectively), and being physically inactive with upper back pain (R2 of Nagelkerke = 0.060). Higher depressive symptoms were linked to pain in the hip/thighs and knees (R2 of Nagelkerke = 0.067 and 0.085, respectively), as well as being physically inactive was related ton in the neck (R2 of Nagelkerke = 0.053). Only a greater BMI was related to multi‐located pain in the last 7 days (R2 of Nagelkerke = 0.041).
Conclusions
The findings of our study showed that, taking into account possible confounders, greater severity of the menopausal symptoms at a somatic‐vegetative level was associated with more anatomical regions with musculoskeletal pain.
Menopause is one of the stages in a woman's life that affects her psychological health, the most frequent being anxiety and depression. In addition, another problem related to this stage is the lack ...of sleep that causes a decrease in the quality of sleep. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to analyze the effectiveness of a Qigong exercise program on sleep quality, anxiety, and depression in Spanish postmenopausal women.
A total of 125 women were randomly assigned to an experimental group (EG) (n = 63) that carried out a Qigong exercise program for 12 weeks, or a control group (CG) (n = 62), which did not perform any type of intervention. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and anxiety and depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).
Women who underwent an intervention program experienced significant improvements for all measured variables, except for the use of sleeping medication and daytime dysfunctions that did not show any significant effect with respect to the group and group × time interaction.
After an intervention based on a BaDuanJin Qigong exercise program for 12 weeks, improvements were observed in sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, the total score of the PSQI, anxiety and depression in postmenopausal Spanish women.
Introdução: O confinamento imposto pela pandemia COVID-19 resultou na alteração da vida dos idosos, o que poderá ter afetado a sua qualidade de vida e saúde. Objetivo: Descrever a qualidade de vida ...relacionada com a saúde e verificar a sua associação com a ocorrência de quedas e a mobilidade funcional de idosos portugueses, durante a pandemia COVID-19. Método: Estudo transversal descritivo. Participaram 182 idosos, com idade > 65 anos (85.7% do sexo feminino; idade 72.7 ± 6.7 anos), do Baixo Alentejo, Portugal. A qualidade de vida foi avaliada através do questionário SF-36 e exploramos as relações entre os seus domínios e a ocorrência de quedas e a mobilidade funcional (Timed Up & Go). Resultados: Verificaram-se associações significativas entre a qualidade de vida com o género, ocorrência de quedas e a mobilidade. A análise das dimensões SF-36 revelou que uma perceção mais positiva da SM (73.1%) surge associada ao género feminino. Uma perceção de FF (73.1%), DC (53.3%), FS (74.7%), DE (45.1%) e SM (72.5%) mais positiva surge associada à não ocorrência de quedas e verificou-se que perceções mais positivas da FF (82.3%) e DE (53.2%) estão associadas a uma boa mobilidade. Conclusão: Verificou-se que uma melhor perceção da FF, FS, DE, SN e DC estão relacionadas com a não ocorrência de quedas. Uma boa perceção sobre a FF e DE relacionam-se com uma boa mobilidade. As conclusões deste estudo destacam a relação positiva entre a boa perceção de qualidade de vida, a não ocorrência de quedas e a boa mobilidade em idosos.
Palavras-chave: SF-36; quedas; mobilidade; TUG; envelhecimento saudável.
O medo de cair é apontado como consequência psicológica proveniente da perda de funcionalidade e equilíbrio inerentes ao envelhecimento. Manter bons níveis de aptidão física poderá ser a chave para ...preservar a qualidade de vida e independência dos idosos. Este estudo tem como objetivo verificar qual a relação do medo de cair com a aptidão física de idosos inseridos em programas de exercício físico. A amostra contemplou 308 idosos, com idade ³ 65 anos (86.8% do sexo feminino; idade 74.78 ± 5.72 anos, altura 1.56 ± 0.08 m, peso 67.13 ± 12.14 kg), do Baixo Alentejo, Portugal. Avaliaram-se as características sociodemográficas, histórico de quedas, medo de cair (FES-I Portugal); nível de atividade física (IPAQ-E – versão curta) e indicadores de aptidão física funcional (Protocolo de Rikli & Jones, 2013). Verificaram-se associações significativas entre o medo de cair e as variáveis de aptidão física. Baixo medo de cair parece estar relacionado com melhor força dos membros inferiores (p < .001), agilidade e equilíbrio dinâmico (p < .001) e aptidão cardiorrespiratória (p < .001). Os resultados revelam que um baixo medo de cair está relacionado melhor capacidade funcional. No sentido de contribuir para a manutenção e desenvolvimento de capacidades físicas essenciais e evitar uma diminuição de qualidade de vida, reforçamos a importância de programas de exercício físico que incluam o treino de força, agilidade, equilíbrio e aptidão cardiorrespiratória, integrados em intervenções multifatoriais. Estas estratégias poderão, através da promoção e manutenção das capacidades funcionais, criar uma maior perceção de competência e consequentemente reduzirem o medo de cair.
Abstact. The fear of falling is pointed out as a psychological consequence resulting from the loss of functionality and balance inherent to aging. Maintaining good levels of physical fitness may be the key to preserve the quality of life and independence of the older adult. This study aims to verify the relationship of fear of falling with the physical fitness of older adults inserted in a community physical exercise program. The sample included 308 older adults, aged ³ 65 years (86.8% female; age 74.78 ± 5.72 years, height 1.56 ± 0.08 m, weight 67.13 ± 12.14 kg), from Baixo Alentejo, Portugal. The study involved collecting indicators on the participants' sociodemographic characteristics, the history of falls, fear of fall (FES-I Portugal scale); level of physical activity (IPAQ-E - short version) and physical fitness indicators (Rikli & Jones, 2013). There were significant associations between fear of falling and physical fitness variables. Low fear of falling seems to be related to better lower strength (p <.001), agility and dynamic balance (p <.001), and cardiorespiratory fitness (p <.001). reporting a relationship of increased fear of falling and decreased physical fitness levels. The results reveal that a low fear of falling is related to better functional capacity. In order to contribute to the maintenance and development of essential physical capacities and avoid a decrease in quality of life, we reinforce the importance of physical exercise programs that include strength, agility, balance and cardiorespiratory fitness, integrated in multifactorial interventions. These strategies can, through the promotion and maintenance of functional capacity, create a better perception of competence and consequently reduce the fear of falling in older adults.
Resumen. El miedo a caer se señala como una consecuencia psicológica resultante de la pérdida de funcionalidad y equilibrio inherente al envejecimiento. Mantener buenos niveles de aptitud física puede ser la clave para preservar la calidad de vida y la independencia de los mayores. Este estudio tiene como objetivo verificar la relación del miedo a caer con la aptitud física de mayores inscriptos en programas de ejercicio físico. La muestra incluyó 308 mayores, con edad ³ 65 años (86.8% mujeres; edad 74.78 ± 5.72 años, altura 1.56 ± 0.08 m, peso 67.13 ± 12.14 kg), del Baixo Alentejo, Portugal. Se evaluarán características sociodemográficas, historial de caídas, miedo a caer (FES-I Portugal), nivel de actividad física (IPAQ-E - versión corta) y indicadores de capacidad física (Rikli & Jones, 2013). Se observaron relaciones significativas entre el miedo a caer y las variables de aptitud física. Bajo medo a caer parece estar relacionado con una mejor fuerza de los miembros inferiores (p < .001), agilidad y equilibrio dinámico (p < .001) y aptitud cardiorrespiratoria (p < .001). Los resultados revelan que un bajo medo a caer está relacionado con una mejor capacidad funcional. Con el fin de contribuir al mantenimiento y desarrollo de la aptitud física y evitar una disminución de la calidad de vida, reforzamos la importancia de los programas de ejercicio físico que incluyen fuerza, agilidad, equilibrio y aptitud cardiorrespiratoria, integrados en intervenciones multifactoriales. Estas estrategias pueden, a través de la promoción y el mantenimiento de las capacidades funcionales, crear una mayor percepción de competencia y, en consecuencia, reducir el miedo a caer.
(1) Background: The goal of this study was to analyze the reliability and validity of the Portuguese version of the SARC-F in older adults. (2) Methods: A total of 100 participants (77.1 ± 7.36 ...years, 73% women) were included in the study. In a first phase, the Portuguese SARC-F was adapted following the standardized forward–backward translation procedure, and internal consistency as well as inter-rater and test–retest reliability of the Portuguese SARC-F were analyzed. Secondly, clinical validation was evaluated by comparing the SARC-F total score with five operational definitions of sarcopenia and with other sarcopenia-related measurements. Discriminant validity, with respect to low muscle mass and strength and physical function were analyzed. (3) Results: The Portuguese SAR-F showed acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach α = 0.82), excellent inter-rater reliability (total score), and substantial to excellent test–retest reliability (ICC = 0.891 for the total score). Specificity ranged from 72.5% (FNIH) to 73.4 (IGWS), and negative predictive values went from 91.8% (EWGSOP1) to 97.3% (FNIH), but low sensitivity and positive predictive value were observed. The Portuguese SARC-F showed a moderate ability to discriminate people with low muscle strength (AUC = 0.78) and gait speed (AUC = 0.89). (4) Conclusions: The Portuguese SARC-F is a valid and reliable tool for ruling out sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults and can discriminate between people with low handgrip strength and gait speed.
In the present study, we aimed to determine the effects of a Qigong exercise program on the muscle strength and postural control in middle-aged and older postmenopausal women. This is a randomized ...clinical trial (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03989453) conducted on 125 women who were initially assigned to either an experimental group (
= 63) that performed a Qigong exercise program for 12 weeks or to a control group (
= 62) that did not receive any intervention. Muscle strength (dynamometer) and postural control (stabilometric platform) were evaluated before and immediately after an intervention period. The main findings of this study suggest that the women in the experimental group had improvements in muscle strength, mean velocity of the displacement of the center of pressure (CoP) with both eyes open and closed, and the surface sway area covered by the CoP, as well as the mediolateral and anteroposterior oscillations of the CoP, only with eyes open. The results of the present study determined that a 12 week Qigong exercise program has beneficial effects on muscle strength and postural control of middle-aged and older postmenopausal Spanish women.
The aim of the present study was to determine the associations between the severity of the menopausal symptoms and postural balance and functional mobility in middle-aged postmenopausal women. A ...cross-sectional study was performed (171 participants, 57.18 ± 4.68 years). Severity of the menopausal symptoms (on the Menopause Rating Scale), postural balance (stabilometric platform) with eyes open and closed, and functional mobility (timed up and go test) were determined. A multivariate linear regression was performed, with body mass index, waist to hip ratio, age and fall history as possible confounders. Our findings showed that a greater severity of the menopausal symptoms at a psychological level was associated, under both eyes open and closed conditions, with worse postural control assessed by the length of the stabilogram (adjusted R
= 0.093 and 0.91, respectively), the anteroposterior center of pressure displacements (adjusted R
= 0.051 and 0.031, respectively) and the center of pressure velocity (adjusted R
= 0.065 for both conditions). Older age was related to greater mediolateral displacements of the center of pressure with eyes open and closed (adjusted R
= 0.45 and 0.58, respectively). There were no associations between the menopausal symptoms' severity and functional mobility. We can conclude that a greater severity of psychological menopausal symptoms was independently associated with worse postural balance in middle-aged postmenopausal women.
The aim of the present study was to analyze the association of the level of physical fitness with variables of cognitive
performance such as memory, mathematical calculation, speed of linguistic ...reasoning, and creativity. The sample consisted of 163
adolescents (78 girls and 85 boys) aged 13.9 ± 1.4 years old. Memory was evaluated through an own adaptation based on the RIAS test.
Ad hoc tests were used for mathematical calculation and linguistic reasoning, and the CREA test for creativity. The analyses showed that
youth’s cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with better levels of memory (p = ,027), mathematical calculation (p = ,035), linguistic
reasoning (p = ,014), and creativity (p =,005) regardless of age, sex, and body mass index. However, better levels of speed-agility,
strength, and flexibility were not related with improvements in any of the dependent variables analyzed (all p > ,05). Cardiorespiratory
fitness is the physical fitness component with the highest relation with cognitive abilities in youngsters. We suggest the implementation
of specific programs aimed at increasing cardiorespiratory fitness levels through Physical Education, especially employing systematic
physical activity practices during the extracurricular period.
El objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar la asociación del nivel de condición física con variables de rendimiento cognitivo
como memoria, cálculo matemático, velocidad de razonamiento lingüístico y creatividad. La muestra estaba formada por 163 adolescentes
(78 chicas y 85 chicos) de 13,9 ±1,4 años. La memoria se evaluó mediante una adaptación propia basada en la prueba RIAS. Para el cálculo
matemático y el razonamiento lingüístico se usaron tests ad hoc y para la creatividad el test CREA. Los análisis mostraron que la
resistencia cardiorrespiratoria de los jóvenes se asocia a mejores niveles de memoria (p = ,027), cálculo matemático (p = ,035),
razonamiento lingüístico (p = ,014) y creatividad (p = ,005), independientemente de la edad, sexo e índice de masa corporal de los jóvenes.
Sin embargo, mejores niveles de velocidad-agilidad, fuerza y flexibilidad no se relacionaron con mejoras en ninguna de las variables
dependientes analizadas (todos p > ,05). Se concluye que la resistencia cardiorrespiratoria es el componente de la condición física que en
mayor medida se relaciona con altas capacidades cognitivas de los jóvenes. Se sugiere, que desde la Educación Física se implementen
programas específicos para incrementar el nivel de capacidad cardiorrespiratoria, con prácticas sistemáticas especialmente durante el
periodo extraescolar.
El objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar la posible asociación de la fuerza muscular de tren inferior, abdominal y manual con la atención, el comportamiento hiperactivo-desatento en el aula, el ...cálculo matemático y el razonamiento lingüístico en niños y niñas diagnosticados con Trastorno del Déficit de Atención e Hiperactividad (TDAH). La muestra estaba formada por 94 estudiantes TDAH (50 niñas y 44 niños, 53% y 47% respectivamente) de 9.48 ± 2.10 años. La atención se midió con el test d2, para el comportamiento hiperactivo-impulsivo en el aula se utilizó la prueba EDAH y para evaluar el cálculo matemático y razonamiento lingüístico se emplearon dos test ad hoc. Los resultados han mostrado que en niños existe una asociación negativa entre el nivel de fuerza abdominal y manual con la presencia de comportamiento hiperactivo-desatento en el aula (p=.001 y p=.009, respectivamente). En niñas, una mayor fuerza de tren inferior se asoció con mayores niveles de atención (p=.042) y la fuerza manual se relacionó positivamente el razonamiento lingüístico (p=.019). Se concluye que una mayor fuerza muscular se asocia con una mejor cognición y comportamiento hiperactivo-impulsivo en el aula en escolares diagnosticados con TDAH, independientemente de su edad e IMC. Se recomienda implementar programas de actividad física dirigidos a mejorar la fuerza muscular ya que podría beneficiar el proceso de aprendizaje en estudiantes diagnosticados con TDAH.
Palabras clave: aprendizaje, cognición, condición física, conducta, escolares, funciones ejecutivas.
Abstract. The aim of the present study was to analyze the possible association of lower body, abdominal and manual muscle strength with attention, hyperactive-attentive behavior in the classroom, mathematical calculation and linguistic reasoning in boys and girls diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The sample consisted of 94 ADHD students (50 girls and 44 boys, 53% and 47% respectively) aged 9.48 ± 2.10 years. Attention was measured with the d2 test, the EDAH test was used for hyperactive-impulsive behavior in the classroom and two ad hoc tests were used to evaluate mathematical calculation and linguistic reasoning. The results have shown that in boys there is a negative association between the level of abdominal and manual strength with the presence of hyperactive-attentive behavior in the classroom (p=.001 and p=.009, respectively). In girls, greater lower body strength was associated with higher levels of attention (p=.042) and manual strength was positively related to linguistic reasoning (p=.019). It is concluded that greater muscle strength is associated with better cognition and hyperactive-impulsive behavior in the classroom in schoolchildren diagnosed with ADHD, regardless of their age and BMI. It is recommended to implement physical activity programs aimed at improving muscle strength as it could benefit the learning process in students diagnosed with ADHD.
Keywords: learning, cognition, physical condition, behavior, schoolchildren, executive functions.