Acute effect of a ballistic and a static stretching exercise bout on flexibility and maximal strength. Bacurau Reury Frank Pereira; Monteiro Gizele Assis; Ugrinowitsch Carlos; Tricoli Valmor; Cabral Leonardo Ferreira; Aoki Marcelo Saldanha.

J. of Strength and Conditioning Research, 2009;23(1):304-8.

Different stretching techniques have been used during warm-up routines. However, these routines may decrease force production. The purpose of this study was to compare the acute effect of a ballistic and a static stretching protocol on lower-limb maximal strength. Fourteen physically active women (169.3 +/- 8.2 cm; 64.9 +/- 5.9 kg; 23.1 +/- 3.6 years) performed three experimental sessions: a control session (estimation of 45 degrees leg press one-repetition maximum [1RM]), a ballistic session (20 minutes of ballistic stretch and 45 degrees leg press 1RM), and a static session (20 minutes of static stretch and 45 degrees leg press 1RM). Maximal strength decreased after static stretching (213.2 +/- 36.1 to 184.6 +/- 28.9 kg), but it was unaffected by ballistic stretching (208.4 +/- 34.8 kg). In addition, static stretching exercises produce a greater acute improvement in flexibility compared with ballistic stretching exercises. Consequently, static stretching may not be recommended before athletic events or physical activities that require high levels of force. On the other hand, ballistic stretching could be more appropriate because it seems less likely to decrease maximal strength.

Effects of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation on endurance exercise performance of pregnant rats. G.A. Monteiro, M.S. Aoki, C.B. Santos, A.G. Monteiro, A. Russo and I.C. Piçarro.

Science & Sports, 2009; 24(2):102-107.

Aims: The present study evaluated the effects of BCAA supplementation on exercise performance of pregnant rats. Methods: In order to assess these effects, Wistar rats were divided into four groups: sedentary not-supplemented (SNS, n = 8); sedentary supplemented (SS, n = 8); trained not-supplemented (TNS, n = 8) and trained supplemented (TS, n = 8). All groups were submitted to the endurance test until exhaustion (ET) and post-effort lactate (PEL) determination before pregnancy (ET-B and PEL-B) and at the 19th day of pregnancy (ET-19 and PEL-19). Results: The endurance training significantly increased the ET time to exhaustion (p < 0.05). Regardless of BCAA supplementation, both endurance trained groups (TS and TNS) showed a longer time to exhaustion, assessed by ET, compared with the sedentary groups (SS and SNS) (p < 0.05). In the TNS, ET-19 time to exhaustion decreased when compared with the period before pregnancy. On the other hand, ET-19 time to exhaustion was not affected in the TS at the end of the pregnancy period. In addition, TS showed a marked PEL-19 reduction when compared with PEL-B. The data presented herein suggest that BCAA supplementation plays an ergogenic role in the maintenance of exercise performance during pregnancy in rats.

Dor lombo-pélvica e exercício físico durante a gestação. Mann, L., Kleinpaul, J.F., Teixeira, C.S., Konopka, C.K. Fisioter. Mov. 2008, 21(2):99-105. dor-lombar-na-gestacao-revisao

Importância da Flexibilidade do Idoso. Gonçalves, N.P.D.N.; Pudo, M.A. flexibilidade-do-idoso

Aspectos da Imunologia da Gravidez. Sarafana, S., Coelho, R., Neves, A., Trindade, J.C. Acta Med Port 2007; 20: 355-358. aspectos-da-imunologia-da-gravidez

Incidência de lesões esportivas em atletas com e sem síndrome de hipermobilidade articular familiar. Lompa, P.A., Schio, C.L., Müller, L.M., Mallmann, L.F. Rev. Bras Ortop. Vol. 33, Nº 12, 1998. atletas_hipermobilidade_lesao