Rafael Baptista

• Ph.D in Human Movement Sciences (Neuromechanics)
• Professor (Full) at Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul

Background There is a paucity of available biomechanical kinetic data comparing shod and barefoot conditions in children. Research question Do children wearing footwear have comparable gait velocity, ground reaction forces (GRF), spatiotemporal parameters, propulsive and braking impulses when compared to children walking barefoot? Methods Seventy...

Gait is a complex motor skill. However, most falls in humans occur during gait, and people with lower limb amputation have an increased risk of falls. Thus, this study evaluated the stability of persons with unilateral amputation by quantifying the margin of stability (MoS) during gait, to contribute to understanding the strategies adopted by these...

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different vertical positions of an asymmetrical load on the anticipatory postural adjustments phase of gait initiation. Sixty-eight college students (32 males, 36 females; age: 23.65 ± 3.21 years old; weight: 69.98 ± 8.15 kg; height: 1.74 ± 0.08 m) were enrolled in the study. Ground reacti...

In healthy adults, Nordic walking (NW) is known to increase the external mechanical energy fluctuations, though the external work is unaltered due to an improved pendulum‐like recovery in comparison to free walking (FW). We aimed to compare mechanical, pendulum‐like, and spatiotemporal parameters of gait at different speeds with and without NW pole...

Introduction In 2015, the World Health Organization introduced intrinsic capacity, a health indicator encompassing five domains aimed at promoting healthy aging. Multicomponent exercise programs are recommended to maintain and optimize intrinsic capacity; however, evidence on their effects in robust older adults is limited. This study aimed to eval...

Objetivo: Protocolo para avaliar os efeitos de exercícios multicomponentes na capacidade intrínseca de idosos. Metodologia: Pessoas idosas (≥ 60 anos) cadastradas em um programa de treinamento multicomponente de Porto Alegre (RS) serão selecionados para avaliação da capacidade intrínseca nos seus cinco domínios: vitalidade (teste de força de preens...

Objective: This is a protocol for assessing the effects of multicomponent exercise on the intrinsic capacity of older adults. Methods: Older adults (≥ 60 years old) will be selected for a multicomponent training program in Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil to evaluate the 5 domains of intrinsic capacity: vitality (handgrip strength, body mass index, and nut...

Physical capacity changes during the aging process and some of these changes are present in the daily lives of older people, such as decreased muscle mass, which can cause gait disorders and consequently increase the risk of falls. Age-related health issues contribute to a higher incidence of falls among older adults. This study investigated the ef...

Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify how generalized fatigue along with hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle affects trunk variability and local dynamic stability during gait. Methods General fatigue was induced by an incremental test on a treadmill, and the menstrual cycle was divided into three phases: follicular, ovulato...

Introduction Physical exercise has proven efficacy in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, and its anti-inflammatory effect has been evaluated as a potential preventive factor in the progression of periodontal disease, in addition to improving physiological parameters. Methods To test this hypothesis regarding its preventive factor, w...

The purpose of this study was to compare gait ground reaction forces (GRF) between children, adults, and older adults. Twenty-five children (6.13 ± 1.86 years), 30 adults (34.37 ± 5.67 years), and 33 older adults (70.45 ± 6.92 years) walked on force platforms. Velocity, GRF, and impulses were calculated. Gait velocity was higher in children compare...

ABSTRACT Objective: Prolonged microgravity exposure induces physiological de-conditioning that is partially mitigated by aerobic exercise. De-conditioning is also anticipated during partial gravity habitation (e.g., Moon or Mars). However, the relationship between gravity, resultant running speed, associated biomechanics, and the cardiorespiratory...

In human aging, there are physiological and biomechanical changes that can be related to impairments in physical health, and motor control deficits of older adults. Alterations in the nervous system, muscle-tendon unit, and joint and bone structure and function may affect posture and movement in older adults, starting with mild functional impairmen...

Aims: to evaluate the effects of 12 weeks of Pilates training (Classical Method) on cardiorespiratory fitness and heart rate responses of healthy sedentary women. Method: fifteen women (average age 29±4) performed 12 weeks of Pilates training for 60 minutes, three times per week (Pilates Group). Thirteen women (average age 29±5) as controls maintai...

Aims: to evaluate the effects of 12 weeks of Pilates training (Classical Method) on cardiorespiratory fitness and heart rate responses of healthy sedentary women. Method: fifteen women (average age 29±4) performed 12 weeks of Pilates training for 60 minutes, three times per week (Pilates Group). Thirteen women (average age 29±5) as controls maintai...

Editorial on the Research Topic Biomechanics, aging, exercise and other interventions Physiological and biomechanical changes observed during human aging are related to several factors, but alterations in physical health and deficits in motor control are among the most frequent. In this Research Topic we collected some investigations describing the...

The 180° turn phase of the test may better differentiate the oldest-old regarding their history of falls. This is a case-control study designed to detect the ability of the 180° turn timed up and go (TUG) phase to detect a history of falls in the oldest-old. Sixty people aged 85 years and older were assessed in their homes. The single-task and dual...

This study analyzes the working profile of physical therapists from the states of Rio de Janeiro (RJ) and Rio Grande do Sul (RS) in the management of people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A total of 256 responses were obtained to a questionnaire sent via the electronic address of the Regional Councils of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy (C...

This study analyzes the working profile of physical therapists from the states of Rio de Janeiro (RJ) and Rio Grande do Sul (RS) in the management of people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A total of 256 responses were obtained to a questionnaire sent via the electronic address of the Regional Councils of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy (C...

Aims: whilst Nordic Walking (NW) practice is spreading worldwide, few studies have addressed the issue of intersubjectivity and the perception of PD individuals practicing NW and its possible impact on their daily life across different countries and cultures. This pilot study sought to explore the possible relationship between the habit of practici...

Objective The objective of this study is to evaluate post-acute symptoms in patients with confirmed severe and critical coronavirus disease 2019 infections. Methods We evaluated patients with confirmed severe and critical coronavirus disease 2019 infections. Post-acute symptoms were defined as symptoms persisting 4 weeks after the onset of the sym...

Introduction: There is evidence that patients with posterior crossbite (PXB) have neuromuscular changes in the masticatory muscles. However, up to the present time, the relationship among these changes on the electromyographic activity of the masticatory muscles is still unclear. Objective: To systematic review the available literature on the el...

Since its beginning, artificial intelligence (AI) had as a strategy to mimic human cognition. In the area of physical rehabilitation, studies include AI to process, estimate and classify the level of physical activity to improve professional-patient relationship. This work aimed at developing and comparing Sugeno (FLS) and Mamdani (FLM) Fuzzy Logic...

This study aimed to compare the anterior–posterior ground reaction forces (GRF) between children and older women during gait. Twenty-five girls (6.39 ± 1.88 years) and thirty-three elderly women (70.48 ± 6.66 years) took part in this study. Participants were asked to walk along a 6.0 m walkway with 8 force platforms. The GRF was sampled at 1000 Hz...

Clinical gait analysis is essential to measure and interpret biomechanical parameters related to locomotion. It may assist health professionals while choosing the most appropriate interventions. This study aims to compare biomechanical parameters of the gait of children of different ages and to contrast these findings with the literature. Gait data...

Real-world walking requires shifting attention from different cognitive demands to adapt gait. This study aims to evaluate the effect of dual tasking on spatiotemporal gait parameters of older adults. Participants were asked to perform a primary complex single-walking task, consisting of a fast-paced linear and a curved gait. Primary task was perfo...

IntroductionThe purpose of this study is to present a novel approach for gait assessment called gait proficiency index (GPI) using only ground reaction forces (GRF)-derived parameters.Material and methodsBarefoot gait from 51 healthy children was evaluated with the GPI in this study. The participants walked at their self-selected speed along a 6-m...

Objective: To review the literature about electromyography and masticatory muscles in patients with posterior crossbite (PC). Methodology: Electronic search was carried out in the PubMed database, using the descriptors “posterior crossbite” 'and "electromyography”. The search was limited to articles published in peer-reviewed journals in the last 1...

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different vertical positions of an asymmetrical load on the anticipatory postural adjustments phase of gait initiation. Sixty-eight college students (32 males, 36 females; age: 23.65 ± 3.21 years old; weight: 69.98 ± 8.15 kg; height: 1.74 ± 0.08 m) were enrolled in the study. Ground reacti...

IntroductionPower output can be used to control training load. However, it is important to know if different power meters are reliable, because variations in their measures have direct repercussions on the training program. The aim of this study was to verify the reliability of the power output during two different pedaling protocols (incremental a...

Aging-related neuromuscular and neurocognitive decline induces unsmooth movements in daily functional mobility. Here, we used a robust analysis of linear and angular spectral arc length (SPARC) in the single and dual task instrumented timed up-and-go (iTUG) test to compare functional mobility smoothness in fallers and non-fallers aged 85 and older....

Walking is often utilized as an exercise method to improve cardiorespiratory fitness. Although critical speed (CS) has been recognized as a practical marker of training intensity, biomechanical and energetic responses in different percentages of CS on walking are poorly explored. The aim of the present study was to compare oxygen consumption (VO2),...

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a relação entre bem-estar psicológico e a presença de sintomas depressivos em idosos saudáveis. Os instrumentos utilizados foram: ficha de dados sociodemográficos, EDEP e BDI-II. Os dados foram analisados com o auxílio do SPSS, por meio de frequências, média, desvio padrão e correlações de Spearman. A amostra f...

Purpose Stair negotiation is among the basic tasks performed by older adults. This daily activity characterized by climbing and descending stairs represents a complex challenge due to alteration of motor control by aging. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of stair negotiation on elderly gait kinetics. Methods Thirty-three physi...

Resumo-A detecção automática de ativações musculares é de extrema importância para o desempenho de próteses elétricas. Nesses dispositivos, para que ocorra a análise de sinais mioelétricos e detecção dos mesmos, é necessário que métodos de Processamento Digital de Sinais sejam implementados, como o Operador de Energia de Teager-Kaiser e Sample Entr...

Kinematic and electromyographic analyses of gait of gait require the attachment of markers and skin electrodes on the subjects, making them time-consuming procedures. The evaluation of force-time curves from ground reaction forces allows for immediate visual inspection of trials and is a relatively simple method that obtains the magnitudes of these...

O objetivo desse estudo foi analisar as forças de reação com o solo na marcha de crianças através de testes estáticos e dinâmicos.

Objective: To compare muscle thickness and subcutaneous fat in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and healthy controls using ultrasonography (US), and to correlate US findings with nutritional, clinical and functional variables. Methods: Patients aged 6 to 18 years old with a diagnosis of CF and healthy controls were included. Participants underwent an...

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between physical activity and phase angle. Design: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Data sources: Electronic searches of MEDLINE (via PUBMED), EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, The Cochrane Library), SciELO, LILACS, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, and Web of Science from inception...

Brown E, Russomano T, Bueno B, Bandeira L, Disiuta L, Lamadrid I, da Rosa M, de Lima JCM, Baptista RR, da Luz Dias R. The Metabolic Cost of Walking in Simulated Martian Gravity and its Implications. JEPonline 2018;21(1):25-35. Lower body positive pressure (LBPP) is an effective way of simulating hypogravity. This study measured the submaximal VO 2...

O remo é uma modalidade de resistência, onde os atletas apresentam grandes produções de força e de potênciamuscular. A produção de forçamuscular, por parte dos remadores, é influenciada por aspectos fisiológicos e biomecânicos, como tipos de fibras musculares, grupos musculares acionados, a forma como a força é aplicada, entre outras questões. Pouc...

Introdução: O Ângulo de Fase da Bioimpedância, calculado com o arco tangente da resistência sobre a reatância, reflete a saúde e integridade da parede celular e tem sido postulado como fator prognóstico em pacientes graves (Reis De Lima, Porto Sabino Pinho et al., 2014). Níveis adequados de Atividade Física podem melhorar a saúde em todas as popula...

This study aimed to develop a working prototype of a low-cost Ground Reaction Force Measurement System (GRFMS). The GRFMS is comprised of a force plate, polycarbonate-coated base in which resistive load transducers are inserted, electronic circuit with instrumentation amplifiers for signal conditioning of the load transducers, data acquisition devi...

INTRODUCTION: The LBNP box is widely used to study cardiovascular physiology, orthostatic intolerance and responses to exercise. An exercise multiplatform (ENTIRETY) was constructed for use in an LBNP box. The study evaluated physiological responses and perceived exertion (RPE) during 5 min of exercise using ENTIRETY in supine and standing position...

O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar a espessura muscular de crianças e adolescentes com fibrose cística (FC) e de crianças saudáveis como grupo controle, usando a ultrassonografia (US) e correlacionar os resultados obtidos com a US com marcadores pulmonares e nutricionais.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of eccentric vs. concentric 12-wk strength training program on the quadriceps properties of elderly men. Twenty-three subjects performed unilateral concentric knee extension on one side and eccentric knee flexion on the contralateral side at 80% of 5 RM. Both protocols increased knee extensor str...

INTRODUÇÃO Alterações na composição corporal podem ter um impacto relevante na saúde, podendo estar associada com aumento de risco de doenças crônicas não transmissíveis. No Brasil, em 25 anos, a prevalência da obesidade duplicou em mulheres e quadruplicou em homens deixando metade da população com excesso de peso; em crianças de 5 a 9 anos o exce...

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of body weight in the effectiveness of performing 4 sets of 30 external chest compressions (ECCs) over 1.5 min in accordance with the 2010 Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Guidelines, considering gender differences on Earth and a simulation of the hypogravity of Mars. Thirty males and 30 females...

The present study investigated the effects of pubertal status on peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), respiratory compensation point (RCP), and ventilatory threshold (VT) in young soccer players using different body size descriptors. Seventy-nine soccer players (14 prepubescent, 38 pubescent and 27 postpubescent) participated in this study. A maximal exer...

The purpose of this study was to compare the differences in gait between land (1G), Lunar (Lunar G), and Martian (Mars G) based ambulation. Nine subjects (mean age = 24.2 ± 3.4; weight = 69.88 ± 14.65kg; height = 163.22 ± 7.8cm; 5 male and 4 female) were placed in a Body Suspension Device (BSD) and had baseline oxygen consumption (VO2) measured alo...

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a series of resuscitation actions that improve the survival chances after a cardiac arrest, maintaining tissue perfusion through sternal compressions. The aim of this study was to clarify potential differences in upper body muscle activity related to CPR in microgravity and hypogravity (Mars gravitational fiel...

Objectives To compare body fat between CF and healthy children and adolescents and to correlate ultrasound and adipometer skinfold measurements. Methods CF children and adolescents, aged 6 to 18 years, followed at Hospital São Lucas da PUCRS, Brazil, outpatient clinics were included. Also, age and sex paired healthy individuals were included in th...

Profa. Laura Ancona Lopez Freire, antes de mais nada muito obrigado pela sua atenção. A senhora poderia falar um pouco sobre a sua trajetória acadêmica? Sou artista plástica, mestre em comunicação e douto-randa em artes visuais. Ainda na graduação iniciei atividade como monitora na Pinacoteca do Estado, a convite de um colega de classe. O trabalho...

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The purpose of this study was to compare the LBNP tolerance between genders. Twenty healthy subjects (8 men, 12 women) were exposed to 10 min of 45mmHg LBNP. Baseline was taken in the sitting and supine positions. Finger blood pressure and heart rate (HR) were recorded continuously. Stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO) and total peripheral resis...

This study aimed to describe the frequency of exercise and time spent in sedentary activities, evaluate the body mass index (BMI) and correlate it with the perception of body image by Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ). Data were collected from 336 students from Gravataí/RS. A significant correlation between BSQ and BMI (r = 0.39 P

O uso do equipamento lower body negative pressure Box (caixa de pressão negativa para membros inferiores) é de grande importância para a comunidade científica das ciências da saúde. Inicialmente utilizado para simulação de estresse ortostático em estudos sobre o comportamento fisiológico pelas agências espaciais, hoje já tem uma gama de aplicações...

www.thaisrussomano.com-www.pucrs.br/feng/microg RESULTS Weight was a strong predictor of D T during simulated 0.38G z (r=0.41, p=0.02), but not at +1G z (r=0.12)(Figure 1A). No variable was a significant predictor of D IRecoil or ECC rate. Weight was, again, a significant predictor of VO 2 during simulated 0.38G z and, in this case, also at +1G z (...

Background: The aging process causes alterations in body composition (decrease in lean mass and increase in fat mass), diminution of functionality (strength, mobility, and physical performance), and an increased prevalence of chronic diseases such as metabolic syndrome and obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of body co...

Background: Regular aerobic exercise in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) improves aerobic conditioning and delays disease progression, resulting in better quality of life. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of an aerobic exercise program based on verbal and written guidelines on maximum exercise capacity using a cardiopulmonary...

Introduction: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in microgravity is challenging. There are three single-person CPR techniques that can be performed in microgravity: the Evetts-Russomano (ER), Handstand (HS), and Reverse Bear Hug (RBH). All three methods have been evaluated in parabolic flights, but only the ER method has been shown to be effectiv...

Physiological deconditioning is a critical problem in space, especially during long-term missions. Resistance exercise, coupled with lower body negative pressure (LBNP), has been shown to be effective in counteracting some of the deconditioning related problems. This paper describes the development of a compact and effective resistance exercise mac...

Introduction: Studies were conducted to evaluate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in a simulated low gravitational field, such as Mars (hypoG), aimed at providing an insight into the performance of terrestrial CPR. Methods: Two studies were conducted to evaluate external chest compressions (ECC) depth and rate, as well as perceived exertion (RPE...

Background: This original study evaluated the electromyograph (EMG) activity of four upper body muscles: triceps brachii, erector spinae, upper rectus abdominis, and pectoralis major, while external chest compressions (ECCs) were performed in simulated Martian hypogravity using a Body Suspension Device, counterweight system, and standard full body...

Background: The impact of regular and irregular physical activity in body composition, muscle mass and strength of the elderly is not well studied yet. Objective: To compare anthropometric variables, muscle and fat thickness, mobility, handgrip and lower limb strength between regularly and irregularly active elderly classified by the International...

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a resistance exercise training versus an endurance training on the morpho-functional aspects of elderly men. The sample was made of 31 elderly men, divided into two groups, where 17 subjects (66.35±3.82 yrs) performed resistance exercise training (RET) and 14 subjects (69.21±6.90 yrs) perform...

Performance of efficient single-person cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is vital to maintain cardiac and cerebral perfusion during the 2-4 min it takes for deployment of advanced life support during a space mission. The aim of the present study was to investigate potential differences in upper body muscle activity during CPR performance at terre...

Introduction: The development of a wireless system for the measurement of ground reaction forces can provide important information about human physical performance and the health of the locomotor system, as well as the magnitude and form of application of these forces on different surfaces. However, the majority of commercially available force plat...

Current 2010 terrestrial (1Gz) CPR guidelines have been advocated by space agencies for hypogravity and microgravity environments, but may not be feasible. The aims of this study were to (1) evaluate rescuer performance over 1.5 min of external chest compressions (ECCs) during simulated Martian hypogravity (0.38Gz) and microgravity (μG) in relation...

Efficacy of an educational intervention of physical activity for children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis

ABSTRACT: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Pilates method in improving posture and flexibility in women with hyperkyphosis. A randomized controlled trial was performed with 41 women (mean age of 59 ± 9 years) randomized into two groups: 22 in the intervention group and 19 in the control group. Subjects undertook two equ...

MAXIMAL EXERCISE TEST IN PATIENTS WITH CYSTIC FIBROSIS

POSTURAL AND BAROPODOMETRIC EVALUATION IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH CYSTIC FIBROSIS

Background: The aim of the current study was to determine the allometric exponents for runners and rower’s metabolic cost, while also verifying the relation of performance with and without the allometric application. Methods: Eleven runners (age: 22.3±10.4 years; height: 174±8.8 cm; body mass: 61.7±9.3 kg; maximum oxygen uptake ( •VO2max): 56.3±3.9...

Background: The aim of the current study was to determine the allometric exponents for runners and rower's metabolic cost, while also verifying the relation of performance with and without the allometric application. Methods: Eleven runners (age: 22.3 +/- 10.4 years; height: 174 +/- 8.8 cm; body mass: 61.7 +/- 9.3 kg; maximum oxygen uptake (VO(2)ma...