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Percorrer por autor "Coelho, Raquel"

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  • Acute effects of commercial group exercise classes on arterial stiffness and cardiovagal modulation in healthy young and middle-aged adults : a crossover randomized trial
    Publication . Melo, Xavier; Lopes, Adma; Coelho, Raquel; Simão, Bruno; Oliveira, Isabel; Marôco, João L.; Laranjo, Sérgio; Fernhall, Bo; Santa-Clara, Helena
    Background: Arterial stiffness and cardiac autonomic function are crucial indicators of cardiovascular health. Acute exercise and age impact these parameters, but research often focuses on specific exercise activities, lacking ecological validity. Methods: We examined the acute effects of commercially available group fitness classes (indoor cycling, resistance training, combined exercise) on arterial stiffness and vagal-related heart rate variability (HRV) indices in twelve young and twelve middle-aged adults. Participants attended four sessions, including exercise and control conditions, with measurements taken at rest and during recovery. Results: Middle-aged, but not young adults, showed reductions in central and peripheral systolic blood pressure 20-min into recovery across all exercise modalities (range: -7 to -8 mmHg p < 0.05). However, arterial stiffness remained unchanged. Similarly, vagal-related HRV indices (range: -0.51 to -0.90 ms, p < 0.05) and BRS (-4.03, p < 0.05) were reduced immediately after exercise, with differences persisting 30 min into recovery only after indoor cycling. Resistance and combined exercise elicited similar cardiovagal modulation and delayed baroreflex sensitivity recovery to cycling exercise, despite higher energy expenditure during indoor cycling (+87 to +129 kcal, p < 0.05). Conclusion: Acute group fitness classes induce age-dependent alterations in blood pressure, but not in arterial stiffness or cardiovagal modulation. While the overall cardiovascular effects were generally consistent, differences in autonomic recovery were observed between exercise modes, with prolonged effects seen after indoor cycling. This suggests that exercise prescription should consider both age and exercise modality, as well as recovery time. The findings also emphasize the importance of ecological validity in exercise interventions, highlighting that acute effects on cardiovascular health in real-world settings may differ from those observed in controlled laboratory environments (ID: NCT06616428).
    2025-03Contributo em revista Acesso aberto Ver mais
  • Effects of kettlebell swing training on cardiorespiratory and metabolic demand to a simulated competition in young female artistic gymnasts
    Publication . Melo, Xavier; Arrais, Inês; Marôco, João Luís; Ribeiro, Pedro Neto; Nabais, Sara; Coelho, Raquel; Reis, Joana; Angarten, Vítor; Fernhall, Bo; Santa-Clara, Helena
    We examined the effects of adding a Kettlebell Swing training program (KB) to the regular skill-training protocol (REGULAR) on cardiorespiratory fitness, cardiorespiratory/metabolic demand, and recovery to a simulated competition of female artistic gymnastics. Nine gymnasts (13±2 years) had their REGULAR complemented with a 4-week kettlebell training (REGULAR+KB), consisting of 3 sessions/week of 12x30” swings x 30” rest with ¼ of their body weight, while 9 aged-matched gymnasts acted as a comparison group. Peak oxygen uptake () during routines was estimated from the O2 recovery curve using backward extrapolation and off-kinetics parameters were modeled through a mono-exponential function. Heart rate (HR) was monitored continuously and capillary blood lactate (BLa-) was measured before and after each routine (1st and 3rd min). Cardiorespiratory fitness () was evaluated using a ramp cycle ergometer test. A training-by-time interaction effect was observed for (p = 0.009) as increments were only observed after REGULAR+KB (M = 8.85, SD = 9.67 ml.kg.min-1). No training-by-time interactions were observed for HRpeak (p = 0.39), (p = 0.07), or La-post3 (p = 0.25), both training protocols reduced HRpeak (M = -12; SD = 11 b.min-1) and BLa-post1 (M = -0.70; SD = 1.29 mmol.L-1) during the simulated competition, but not relative . No training-by-time interaction was observed for the off-transient time constant (p = 0.38). recovery was slower (M = 5; SD = 10 s) after both protocols. Both training protocols improved cardiorespiratory and metabolic demands and recovery kinetics to a simulated competition of female artistic gymnastics, although increases in cardiorespiratory fitness were only observed in REGULAR+KB.
    2023-04Contributo em revista Acesso aberto Ver mais