Rita Santos-Rocha

Polytechnic Institute of Santarém · Escola Superior de Desporto de Rio Maior (Sport Sciences School of Rio Maior)

O presente estudo tem como objetivo identificar as tendências do Fitness para 2023 em Portugal, caracterizando-as e confrontando-as com as mundiais, e comparando-as entre tipos de título profissional (Técnico de exercício físico, Diretor técnico ou Sem título), entre quem está ou não a exercer funções como Profissional de Fitness (PF), entre género...

Introduction: The exercise professional's role is to provide proper exercise prescription and selection, regular feedback, positive reinforcement, and behavioral strategies to enhance adherence. Thus, knowing the preferences of the consumers will enhance pedagogical skills. Objective: To characterize pregnant women's preferences regarding the fi...

From this article, the reader should be able to (i) identify top 20 fitness trends for Australia, Brazil, Europe, Mexico, Portugal, Spain, and the United States, (ii) recognize individual and unique fitness trends represented within the seven aforementioned regions, and (iii) identify top five trends for each region during the last 3 years.

Background In recent years high intensity interval training (HIIT) has grown in popularity. However, it rarely represents training interventions in experimental studies in pregnant populations. Therefore, in this study we aimed to assess changes in depressive symptoms, fear of childbirth, fear of Covid-19 and quality of life after an 8-week supervi...

We aimed to assess the effects of an 8-week, online high-intensity interval training (HIIT) program on the parameters related to the anaerobic threshold (AT), body weight, and body composition in pregnant women. A total of 69 Caucasian women with an uncomplicated singleton pregnancy (age: 31 ± 4 years; gestational age: 22 ± 5 weeks; mean ± standard...

Conferência

The aim of the study was to describe the characteristics and factors related to pain perception in pregnant women, such as optimism, personality traits, and fear of developing COVID-19 consequences. Sixty-six pregnant women aged 23 to 42 years participated in the study, and the comparison group consisted of n = 59 non-pregnant female students aged...

A presente publicação objetiva a promoção da atividade física, do exercício físico, e do desporto, como comportamentos enquadrados no estilo de vida saudável nas fases de gravidez e de pós-parto. Foi concebido por uma equipa multidisciplinar de profissionais do exercício físico, da saúde e da nutrição. Dirige-se a todos os profissionais de saúde qu...

There are several guidelines supporting the benefits of exercising during pregnancy and postpartum. Scientific research conducted in the last decades has markedly changed the perception of prenatal physical activity, overlapping the conservative approach presented in the first publications. However, those guidelines contain very general recommendat...

There are several guidelines supporting the benefits of exercising during pregnancy. Those documents contain very general recommendations on physical activity and exercise during pregnancy, such as general guidelines for health screening and prescription of aerobic exercise and strength training. They also include examples of safe physical activiti...

Currently, there is consensus that maintaining light to moderate physical activity during an uncomplicated pregnancy has several benefits for the health of the woman and the fetus. Pregnancy provides good opportunities for promoting women’s health and an active lifestyle. The purpose of this chapter is to provide exercise and healthcare professiona...

Physical exercise should be part of an active lifestyle during pregnancy and the puerperium, as shown by growing evidence on its benefits for the health of pregnant women and newborns. Appropriate exercise testing and exercise prescription are needed to tailor effective and safe exercise programs. Exercise testing and prescription in pregnancy is t...

Physical activity is associated with health benefits during pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period. The last three decades produced an increasing amount of scientific evidence on the positive effects of the prenatal physical activity on the maternal and fetal health, as well as in pregnancy outcomes. However, authors from different countrie...

During pregnancy, women experience several changes in the body’s physiology, morphology, and hormonal system. These changes may affect the balance and body stability and can cause discomfort and pain. The adaptations of the musculoskeletal system due to morphological changes during pregnancy are not fully understood. Few studies clarify the biomech...

This guide aims to provide healthcare professionals with a basic understanding of the importance of an active and healthy lifestyle during the different stages of pregnancy and postpartum and cues to promote and tailor physical activity and specific exercise programs in daily life. Funded by: Swiss-Portuguese Seed Money CCISP – Conselho Coordenador...

A presente publicação objetiva a promoção da atividade física, do exercício físico, e do desporto, como comportamentos enquadrados no estilo de vida saudável nas fases de gravidez e de pós-parto. Foi concebido por uma equipa multidisciplinar de profissionais do exercício físico, da saúde e da nutrição. Dirige-se a todos os profissionais de saúde qu...

Introduction: A one-day workshop on promotion of physical activity in pregnancy for exercise professionals was delivered during 2021, to 137 participants. The main aim of this workshop was to motivate and prepare exercise professionals for promoting physical activity and implementing prenatal exercise programs, in their respective private or publi...

O American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) publica anualmente um estudo com as tendências mundiais do fitness. Em 2021 foi publicado o primeiro estudo com as tendências do fitness em Portugal. Neste estudo foi reproduzida a metodologia do ACSM e caracterizadas as tendências do fitness em Portugal para 2022 bem como comparadas as tendências 2021 e...

*Lifelong Learning Standard (LLL) definition describes the essential, knowledge, skills, responsibility and autonomy written as Learning Outcomes, required to work in the European Fitness and Physical Activity Sector as a professional qualified in the relevant field e.g. pregnancy and postpartum exercise. Qualification against a Lifelong Learning S...

The “Exercise in Pregnancy and Postpartum” LLL Standard is a modified version of the EuropeActive Standards for Pregnancy and Postnatal Exercise Specialist published in 2016. This update is a response to recent scientific evidence and official guidelines in the field of preand postnatal physical activity.

Background: In recent years high intensity interval training (HIIT) has grown in popularity, however it rarely represent training interventions in experimental studies in pregnant populations so far. Therefore, in this study we aimed at assessing the changes in depressive symptoms, fear of childbirth, fear of Covid-19, quality of life after an 8-we...

Physical activity during pregnancy is a public health issue. In the view of reproducibility and the successful implementation of exercise interventions, reporting the quality of such study design must be ensured. The objective of this study was to develop and validate a physical exercise program promoting fitness and health during pregnancy. A qual...

Current scientific evidence supports the recommendation to initiate or continue physical exercise in healthy pregnant women. Group exercise programs have positive effects on improving health, well-being, and social support. In 2015, a systematic review was provided to evaluate the evidence on the effectiveness of group exercise programs in improvin...

There is strong scientific evidence that prenatal physical activity of moderate-to-high intensity is a prerequisite of the proper course of pregnancy, childbirth and fetus development. However, to date little data have been available on high intensity interval training (HIIT) performed during pregnancy. Following the PRISMA guidelines, this systema...

Introduction: Body composition is one of the main variables of interest in clinical practice in cancer patients. Specific markers from bioelectrical impedance analysis, such as phase angle (PhA), have been assuming increasing relevance in this population. The aim of the present systematic review was to study and systematise the effect of exercise...

Background: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women worldwide. The treatments may also cause neuromuscular and skeletal disorders; therefore, the aim of this study was to verify the existence of a relationship between heart rate variability and different functional fitness parameters in women survivors of breast cancer. Methods:...

O GUIA DA GRAVIDEZ ATIVA objetiva a promoção da atividade física, do exercício físico, e do desporto, como comportamentos enquadrados no estilo de vida saudável nas fases de gravidez e de pós-parto. Foi concebido por uma equipa multidisciplinar de profissionais do exercício físico, da nutrição, e da saúde (medicina, enfermagem e fisioterapia) com l...

A presente publicação GRAVIDEZ ATIVA – MANUAL DO PROGRAMA DE EXERCÍCIO FÍSICO objetiva descrever e estruturar o programa de exercício físico, com base em atividades que podem ser realizadas em grupo ou em contexto de treino personalizado (ou online), de acordo com uma sessão-tipo: aquecimento, treino aeróbio, treino de equilíbrio e postura, treino...

The aims were: (1) to determine the accuracy and time-consuming of the automatic digitalization feature of 3D motion analysis systems; and (2) to determine the reliability of the 3D position when a football player performed a hard kick with spin. Four high-speed cameras (Casio ZR200 (512x384)) with a 240 Hz field rate were used. Automatic scanning...

O American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) publica anualmente um estudo com as tendências mundiais do fitness para o ano seguinte. O presente estudo reproduziu a metodologia do estudo das tendências do ACSM e caracterizou as tendências do fitness em Portugal para 2021 segundo os profissionais, os estudantes e os praticantes do setor, confrontando...

Accurate predictive tools are key factors for cancer care. Phase angle (PhA) has been proposed as a marker of cellular health, particularly of cell-membrane integrity. Cutoff values have been proposed, including for cancer survivors. This study aimed to assess the usefulness of the proposed PhA cutoff, as a marker of bioelectrical impedance analysi...

A CADERNETA DA ESCOLA ATIVA é uma publicação destinada à promoção da atividade física e estilos de vida saudáveis de crianças em idade escolar, decorrente do Programa Escola Ativa da Escola Superior de Desporto de Rio Maior do Instituto Politécnico de Santarém, apoiado pelo Programa Nacional do Desporto para Todos 2018 do Instituto Português do Des...

Introduction Mobility significantly depends on the ankle muscles’ strength which is particularly relevant for the performance of daily activities. Few tools are available, to assess ankle strength with all of the measurement properties tested. The purpose of this study is to test the responsiveness of Calf-Raise Senior Test (CRS) in a sample of eld...

Santos-Rocha, R (coord.). GUIA da GRAVIDEZ ATIVA - Atividade Física, Exercício Físico, Desporto e Saúde na Gravidez e Pós-Parto [Active Pregnancy Guide. Physical Activity, Exercise, Sport and Health in Pregnancy and Post-partum; Portuguese]. Escola Superior de Desporto de Rio Maior – Instituto Politécnico de Santarém, 2020, 78 pp. ISBN 978-989-8768...

Aim: To develop and validate a physical exercise programme aimed at delaying the functional decline in frail older adults. Design: The revised guideline of Criteria for Reporting the Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions in health care was followed. Methods: The physical exercise programme was designed and validated by exercise s...

Background: Approximately 75% of breast cancer survivors (BCS) are diagnosed with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer, which is typically treated with aromatase inhibitors (AI). AI improves disease-free survival but have several adverse side effects, often resulting in premature AI discontinuation. Physical activity (PA) has been shown to effec...

Background: Older adults experience physical and psychological declines affecting independency. Adapted and structured combined interventions composed of cognitive stimulation and physical exercise contribute to comorbidities' reduction. Methods: Multicenter single-blinded two-arm cluster randomized controlled trial conducted to assess effectivene...

Social facilities such residential structures and day-centres increasingly seek integrated, structured, adapted, creative, dynamic and economic strategies to prevent frailty. The arising need of an aged and frail population requires innovative interventions and products to prevent cognitive and physical decline. The interregional MIND&GAIT project...

Social facilities such residential structures and day-centres increasingly seek integrated, structured, adapted, creative, dynamic and economic strategies to prevent frailty. The arising need of an aged and frail population requires innovative interventions and products to prevent cognitive and physical decline. The interregional MIND&GAIT project...

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease, promoted by abnormal chronic mechanical loading over the joint, for instance, due to excessive body mass. Patients frequently report pain, fatigue, and limitations in specific functional daily activities. Regarding the treatment of OA, two nonpharmacological options are available. However, it is not cl...

The aim of the present review was to highlight some of the available processes for cartilage repair and regeneration. Considering the high impact that cartilage degeneration has in the quality of life, in an aging society, efforts to promote better treatments are crucial. The current available processes have advantages and drawbacks, that should be...

Aim This paper describes the design and rationale of multicenter practice‐based research that aims to develop and evaluate an innovative mobile health (mHealth) intervention program directed to promote healthy behaviors and prevent adolescent obesity. Design This study is designed as a nonrandomized controlled trial with a three‐arm structure. Me...

This clinically and practice oriented, multidisciplinary book is intended to fill the gap between evidence-based knowledge on the benefits of physical activity and exercise during pregnancy and the implementation of exercise programmes and related health promotion measures in pregnant women. It will provide medical, sports, and fitness professional...

O presente manual de apoio diz respeito a um Programa de Exercício Físico estruturado e adaptado à pessoa idosa com fragilidade. O seu desenvolvimento dá cumprimento ao disposto em candidatura aprovada, inerente ao projeto POCI-01-0145-FEDER-023822 (MIND&GAIT - Promoção da autonomia de idosos frágeis através da melhoria da cognição e capacidade de...

Physical activity is associated with many health benefits during pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period. The last two decades produced an increasing amount of scientific evidence on the positive effects of the prenatal physical activity on the maternal and fetal health, as well as in pregnancy outcomes. However, authors from different count...

Physical exercise should be part of an active lifestyle during pregnancy and the puerperium, as shown by growing evidence on its benefits for the health of pregnant women and newborns. Appropriate exercise testing and exercise prescription are needed to tailor effective and safe exercise programs. Exercise testing and prescription in pregnancy is t...

During pregnancy, women experience several changes in the body’s physiology, morphology, and hormonal system. These changes may affect the balance and body stability and can cause discomfort and pain. The adaptations of the musculoskeletal system due to morphological changes during pregnancy are not fully understood. Few studies clarify the biomech...

Currently there seems to be a consensus that maintaining light to moderate physical activity during an uncomplicated pregnancy has several benefits for the health of the woman and the fetus. Pregnancy provides good opportunities for promoting women’s health and an active lifestyle. The purpose of this chapter is to provide exercise and healthcare p...

There are several guidelines supporting the benefits of exercising during pregnancy. Those documents contain very general recommendations on physical activity and exercise during pregnancy, such as general guidelines for health screening and exercise prescription of aerobic exercise and strength training. They also include examples of safe physical...

The strategy creates assumptions that should reflect the organization and the surrounding environment. The difficulties in the operationalization of the strategy and the lack of resources for the nonprofit sports organization require effective approaches. This study uses the Business Process Management to support the strategy operationalization usi...

The purpose was to design a healthy lifestyle promotion program for postpartum women aiming at improving women's body composition and active lifestyle, and to analyze its feasibility regarding the methods and acceptability. It is important to understand which interventions focused on the reduction of weight gained during pregnancy are the safest, a...

The assessment of the plantar-flexors muscle strength in older adults (OA) is of the utmost importance since they are strongly associated with the performance of fundamental tasks of daily life. The objective was to strengthen the validity of the Calf-Raise-Senior (CRS) test by assessing the biomechanical movement pattern of calf muscles in OA with...

Background Gait ability in older adults has been associated with independent living, increased survival rates, fall prevention, and quality of life. There are inconsistent findings regarding the effects of exercise interventions in the maintenance of gait parameters. Objectives The aim of the study was to analyze the effects of a community-based p...

Resumo O papel da atividade física e do exercí-cio na promoção da saúde e prevenção da doença encontra-se amplamente docu-mentado na literatura. Porém, o reconheci-mento generalizado da sua importância não parece ser suficiente para mobilizar os cida-dãos, uma vez que a prevalência de seden-tarismo em Portugal se mantém elevada. A existência de uma...

O papel da atividade física e do exercí- cio na promoção da saúde e prevenção da doença encontra-se amplamente docu- mentado na literatura. Porém, o reconheci- mento generalizado da sua importância não parece ser suficiente para mobilizar os cida- dãos, uma vez que a prevalência de seden- tarismo em Portugal se mantém elevada. A existência de uma r...

Gender participation rates are different and the potential reasons are namely sports availability and stereotypes. In spite of gymnastics being recently considered as an " early specialization " sport, characterized by a higher number of female participants than male ones, it has been highlighted that there are much less published studies in female...

TThe aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of exercise training programs and detraining. Fifty-one aged women participated in two supervised exercise programs: a group of land-based exercise and a group of land-based exercise plus aquatic exercise, both being evaluated at the baseline after nine months of intervention and three months of det...

Purpose This study aimed to develop a new field test protocol with a standardized measurement of strength and power in plantar flexor muscles targeted to functionally independent older adults, the calf-raise senior (CRS) test, and also evaluate its reliability and validity. Patients and methods Forty-one subjects aged 65 years and older of both se...

A presente publicação foi apoiada pela Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, através do FUNDO DE APOIO À COMUNIDADE CIENTÍFICA – FACC-Edição de publicações Não Periódicas de Natureza Científica (processo 16 4 184).

Functional fitness (FF) and gait ability in older populations have been associated with increased survival rates, fall prevention and quality of life. One possible intervention for the improvement of FF is well-structured exercise programs. However, there are inconsistent findings regarding the effects of exercise interventions in the maintenance o...

Abstract Purpose: The kinematic analysis of gait during pregnancy provides more information about the anatomical changes and contributes for exercise and rehabilitation prescription. The purposes were to describe and quantify the spatial, temporal and kinematic parameters in the joints of the lower limb during gait at the end of the first, second a...

A presente publicação está enquadrada no programa ESCOLA ATIVA – promoção de atividade física e desportiva em contexto escolar, apresentado pela Escola Superior de Desporto de Rio Maior do Instituto Politécnico de Santarém, apoiado pelo Programa Nacional de Desporto para Todos do Instituto Português para o Desporto e Juventude (Contrato n.º 525/201...

Pregnancy leads to several changes in body composition and morphology of women. It is not clear whether the biomechanical changes occurring in this period are due exclusively to body composition and size or to other physiological factors. The purpose was to quantify the morphology and body composition of women throughout pregnancy and in the postpa...

This document supports the EuropeActive B1 Competence Framework and contains the essential Skills and Knowledge written as Learning Outcomes, based on job purposes, required to work as a Pregnancy and Postnatal Exercise Specialist in the European Health and Fitness Industry at the EQF-Fitness Level 5. At the 5 th International Standards Meeting, i...