Efeitos da isquemia pré-condicionante no desempenho físico e percepção subjetiva de esforço de indivíduos saudáveis

Abstract

Introduction: Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) is a method that has been widely used to acutely improve physical performance and prevent muscle fatigue in different exercise modalities. However, evidence on the effects of IPC is conflicting. Some studies suggest that IPC improves neuromuscular function and could alter perceptual responses while others suggest that IPC is not superior to sham. Objectives: This thesis aimed to investigate the effects of IPC on rate of perceived effort (RPE) and physical performance (neuromuscular and functional) and in healthy individuals (athletes and non-athletes). Methods: In this thesis, the application of IPC locally and in healthy individuals (athletes and non-athletes) was considered. The thesis was divided into three parts: introduction, chapters (1 and 2) and final considerations. Each chapter consists of two articles, one being the protocol and the other the respective study itself. Chapter 1, composed of the protocol and its clinical trial that investigates the effects of IPC on physical performance (neuromuscular and functional) and perceptual responses (rate of perceived effort and affective responses) in amateur football players. Chapter 2 involves a systematic review with meta-analysis with its respective protocol that investigated the effects of IPC on RPE during physical tests in different types of exercise (subdivided into aerobic and anaerobic exercises; athletes and non-athletes). Results: Chapter 1 showed that there was no significant difference between the IPC and sham groups for any of the variables (neuromuscular and functional tests or perceptual responses) (p>0.05). Chapter 2 pointed out that there was no difference in RPE between the IPC group and the comparison, regardless of the exercise modality or level of physical conditioning. Conclusions: The use of IPC was not better to control (sham or no intervention) in improving the physical performance (functional or neuromuscular) of amateur football players or in attenuating the subjective perception of exertion in healthy individuals (athletes and non-athletes) and in different types of exercise.