Background: Police officers are subjected to high work-related stress. This scenario of irregular and insalubrious working conditions may be related to an increase in psychiatric disorders and overweight. In particular, low levels of physical activity and high work stress levels may predispose police officers to obesity, poor lifestyles, and, consequently, major risk of psychological disorders. Thus, our aim was to profile the anxiety/depression symptoms and habitual physical activity (HPA) levels of Brazilian elite police officers classified by body mass index (BMI). Patients and methods: Eighty-seven male police officers classified as normal-weight (NG, BMI =18.5–24.9 kg/m², n=34) and excess-weight (EG, BMI ≥25 kg/m², n=53) completed (before work routine time) the questionnaires: Baecke (HPA levels), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (anxiety), and Beck Depression Inventory (depression). Results: There was a slight trend (despite did not reach statistical significance) of the EG group (which have a significantly [P=0.0369] higher mean [8.8±7.6] of military service time [in years] when compared to NG group [5.8±6.0]) presenting higher values of anxiety-trait (+5.0%) and depression (+16.0%) and lower levels of leisure time HPA (–3.7%) than NG group. Conclusion: Although our hypothesis was not ratified, our findings have clinical relevance because we profiled the anxiety and depression symptoms and HPA levels of elite police officers. Moreover, it is possible to suppose that the military service time (years) is a relevant factor, that it needs to be studied in depth, and that it may impact the predisposition for mood disorders and low levels of physical activity of police officers.

Introduction: The use of dietary supplements and ergogenic aids (DSEA) is popular among physical activity enthusiasts. Particularly, resistance training (RT) practitioners represent important DSEA consumers due to its easy access and the appeal of claims related to muscle hypertrophy, aesthetics, and physical performance improvements. Methods: Our aim was to study knowledge, prevalence, and profile of DSEA used by Brazilian recreational RT practitioners. For this, RT practitioners of both sexes (n=129, female=58 and male=71) answered a paper-based questionnaire. The questionnaire was specifically created for the studied population to assess different aspects of the DSEA used and sociodemographic variables. Results: Seventy-seven percent of the participants (n=99) declared that they had already used DSEA. The majority (53%) searched the internet to obtain information about DSEA. Whey protein (66%) was the most used followed by branched chain amino acids (48%). Conclusion: The use of DSEA, before coronavirus outbreak, was popular among RT practitioners; protein and amino acids were the most used DSEA. Most users used internet to obtain information about DSEA. The results suggest the need for appropriate attitude and guidance by health professionals who deal with this population, especially dietitians, nutritionists, and physical training professionals in order to promote best and security practices.

Background and objectives: There are studies showing that exercise counseled by health professionals can improve physical fitness. However, less is known about the effects of exercise counseling on quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate health-related quality of life of older adults who received or did not receive physical exercise counseling by sport and exercise professionals or physicians. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that investigated quality of life of older adults who did or did not receive exercise counseling from health professionals. Older adults who were physically active took part in this study: 45 participants performed exercise advised by sport and exercise professionals (SEPCG), 19 participants performed exercise advised by physicians (PCG), and 26 participants performed exercise without counseling (NCG). Participants answered the SF-36 to estimate quality of life. Results: Analysis revealed that responses on all SF-36 subscales were higher in those participants who received counseling by sport and exercise professionals (Functioning capacity, β = −26.283, p < 0.001 and β = −26.482, p < 0.001, Role limitations due to physical problems, β = −43.372, p < 0.001 and β = −45.177, p < 0.001, Pain, β = −17.634, p < 0.001 and β = −16.015, p < 0.001, General health perceptions, β = −38.008, p < 0.001 and β = −32.529, p < 0.001, Vitality, β = −18.573, p < 0.001 and β = −16.406, p = 0.001, Social functioning, β = −37.963, p < 0.001 and β = −29.224, p < 0.001, Role limitations due to emotional problems, β = −52.246, p < 0.001 and β = −40.173, p < 0.001, Mental health, β = −17.381, p < 0.001 and β = −12.121, p < 0.001, PCG and NCG respectively). Conclusions: The results showed that those older adults who were counseled by sport and exercise professionals presented better quality of life, possibly because these professionals counseled exercise based on current guidelines for exercise prescription.

Objetivo: O valgo dinâmico de joelho é uma disfunção de movimento muito comum entre os atletas de vôlei, sendo fator de risco para lesões nessa articulação, o que poderia impactar negativamente a produção de potência muscular. Dessa forma, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a influência da lateralidade do valgo dinâmico de joelho (uni- vs. bi-lateral) no desempenho do salto horizontal de atletas jovens de vôlei. Metodologia: Para tanto, foram selecionados 22 atletas de voleibol competitivos (oito do sexo masculino e 14 do feminino) que foram divididos nos grupos: valgo de joelho unilateral [VU - n=10, idade (anos): 13,7±1,4; massa corporal (kg): 56,9±12,9; estatura (cm): 163,5±9,2] e bilateral [VB - n=12, idade (anos): 13,6±2,3; massa corporal (kg): 52,8±13,8; estatura (cm): 165,91±8,65]. Os atletas realizaram três saltos horizontais e as distâncias horizontais obtidas (a melhor de três tentativas em cm) foram submetidas ao teste t para amostras independentes para verificar diferenças entre os grupos VU e VB. Resultados e discussão: Não foram observadas diferenças significativas entre os grupos VU vs. VB no teste de salto horizontal (VU: 166,2 ± 22,0 cm; VB: 162,6 ± 21,3 cm; p=0,703). Conclusão: Na casuística do presente estudo, a presença do valgo dinâmico de joelho/lateralidade não se mostrou um fator que pode influenciar no desempenho físico, particularmente da potência muscular de membros inferiores avaliada através de testes de salto horizontal, de atletas jovens de voleibol.