Health Professions, Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation, General Health Professions
Effects of different modalities of combat sports on the motor skills of children and adolescents Bruna Thamyres Ciccotti Saraiva, William Rodrigues Tebar, Amanda Barbosa Dos Santos, Ewerton Pegorelli Antunes, Stefany Carolaine Bezerra Silva, Débora Toshimi Furuta, Gerson Ferrari, Leandro Dragueta Delfino, Diego Giulliano Destro Christofaro BMC Pediatrics, 2025 PURPOSE: Motor skills are essential for carrying out daily tasks and the practice of physical activities can help to increase these skills. Being combat sports, it can be an alternative practice with this objective. However, it is not known which is the ideal modality. Therefore, the aim was to analyze the effects of nine months of practicing Muay Thai (MT) and Judo on the motor skills of children and adolescents. METHODS: A sample of 109 young people from a Philanthropic Institution was distributed into: control (n = 36), Judo (n = 29) and MT (n = 44). The following motor skills tests were carried out: balance on the beam, side jumps, single-leg jump and transfer onto the platform. The intervention lasted nine months, twice a week for one hour. RESULTS: After nine months, the Judo and Muay Thai groups showed increased values in lateral jumps (Judo p-value < 0.001; Muay Thai p-value < 0.001), and transfer platform (Judo p-value = 0.007; Muay Thai p-value < 0.001) from the pre-moment compared to the post-moment. In the single-leg jump, the Judo (p-value = 0.011) and MT (p-value < 0.001) groups were different compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: The practice of combat sports was effective in causing improvements in the motor skills of young.
Effects of high-intensity intermittent training on cardiac autonomic modulation of adolescents with obesity Bruna Thamyres Ciccotti Saraiva, Diego Giuliano Destro Christofaro, William Rodrigues Tebar, Paula Alves Monteiro, Claudia de Carvalho Brunholi, Diego Kanashiro Sonvenso, Jefferson de Souza Dias, Stefany Carolaine Bezerra Silva, Luiz Carlos Marques Vanderlei, Ismael Forte Freitas Júnior Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 2025
Parent–Child Associations of Eating Habits According to Domains of Parental Physical Activity (EPI-Family Health Study) Ewerton P. Antunes, William R. Tebar, Bruna T. C. Saraiva, Amanda Barbosa dos Santos, Stefany C. B. Silva, Débora T. Furuta, Vandrize Meneghini, Jorge Mota, Gerson Ferrari, Diego G. D. Christofaro Nutrients, 2025 Background: The family environment and physical activity (PA) levels are known to influence the eating habits of children and adolescents, but it is unclear how different domains of parental PA can affect parent–child associations with eating habits. Methods: This study included 473 participants: 192 children and adolescents (aged between 5 and 17 years), 163 mothers, and 118 fathers. Parental PA was assessed in occupational, sports, and leisure-time/commuting domains. Children’s and parents’ dietary intake was evaluated using a weekly food frequency questionnaire, covering healthy and unhealthy food groups. The mother–child and father–child associations were analyzed using multiple quantile regression. Results: Active mothers in occupational PA showed mother–child associations for fruits, vegetables, and dairy foods, whereas inactive mothers showed associations for fried foods and sweets. In the sports practice domain, active mothers showed mother–child associations for vegetables and red meat consumption, whereas active fathers showed associations for grains and salty snacks consumption. Active mothers in the leisure-time/commuting domain showed mother–child associations for fried foods and red meat consumption, while active fathers showed associations for fruits and salty snacks consumption. Conclusions: Mother–child associations were more consistent across PA domains than father–child associations. Overall, the healthy eating habits of physically active mothers were more strongly linked to the healthy eating patterns of their children.
Parent-child association of sedentary behavior according to parental physical activity level: The EPI-FAMILY health-study Amanda B. Santos, William R. Tebar, Gerson Ferrari, Isabella C. Leoci, Ewerton P. Antunes, David Ohara, Bruna T.C. Saraiva, Jeffer Sasaki, Luiz Carlos M. Vanderlei, Diego G.D. Christofaro Sports Medicine and Health Science, 2025 ABSTRACT The time spent in sedentary behavior (SB) has increased in children and adolescents, which may be positively associated with less time spent in physical activity and with an increase in health problems. Considering that the family environment can contribute to healthy and unhealthy habits, it is not known whether parental physical activity levels could mitigate the parent-child association of SB. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the parent-child association of SB according to parental physical activity level. The sample consisted of children/adolescents ( n = 182) aged between 6-17 years (mean± SD =[10.8 ± 3.4] years) and their parents [161 mothers (mean± SD = [41.0 ± 5.5] years) and 136 fathers (mean± SD = [43.6 ± 5.8] years)]. SB and physical activity were both measured with an accelerometer, and the parent-child association of SB was analyzed using Quantile Regression, adjusted by sex, age, socioeconomic status, and physical activity of the children/adolescents. An association of mother-child SB was observed in insufficiently active mothers ( β = 0.57; 95% CI = 0.38; 0.75; p = 0.001), but not among mothers who were physically active ( β = 0.42; 95% CI = -0.05, 0.90; p = 0.081). When considering the father-child association of SB, a significant association was observed only among insufficiently active fathers ( β = 0.24; 95% CI = 0.02, 0.45; p = 0.031), but not among fathers who were physically active ( β = 0.21; 95% CI = -0.16, 0.40; p = 0.403). These findings highlight the importance of encouraging PA in the family environment, in order to promote a reduction in SB and encourage physical activity engagement in the family environment.
Relationship of Self-Esteem with Different Domains and Intensities of Habitual Physical Activity in Community-Dwelling Adults Milena S. Teixeira, Diego G.D. Christofaro, Leandro D. Delfino, Bruna T.C. Saraiva, Amanda B. Santos, Enrique G.F. Leite, Kathryn Gonzales, Gerson Ferrari, Mara C. Lofrano-Prado, William R. Tebar Translational Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine, 2025 Introduction Self-esteem has been positively associated with physical activity, but it is not clear whether different domains and intensities of physical activity are differently related to self-esteem in community-dwelling adults. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between self-esteem and different domains and intensities of physical activity in adults. Methods This cross-sectional study included a randomly selected sample of 252 community-dwelling adults (mean age: 42.6 ± 17.2 yr), of whom 58.8% were female. Self-esteem and physical activity domains (occupational physical activity, exercise and sports in leisure, and leisure and commuting physical activity) were assessed using questionnaires, and physical activity intensities were objectively measured using accelerometry. Age, sex, socioeconomic status, and body mass index were adopted as covariates. Results Self-esteem scores were positively associated with occupational physical activity (β = 1.29; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.17–2.40) and exercise and sports in leisure (β = 0.81; 95% CI, 0.14–1.49). Being physically active in at least one physical activity domain was associated with 88% lower odds of presenting low self-esteem (odds ratio, 0.12; 95% CI, 0.02–0.80). Conclusion Self-esteem was cross-sectionally associated with both occupational and exercise/sports physical activity, as well as with being physically active in at least one physical activity domain. Efforts to promote mental health in community-dwelling adults should consider domain-specific physical activity, regardless of physical activity intensity.
Effects of 12 weeks of functional training vs. Muay Thai on cardiac autonomic modulation and hemodynamic parameters in older adults: a randomized clinical trial Bruna T. C. Saraiva, Emerson Franchini, Alex S. Ribeiro, Luís A. Gobbo, Marília A. Correia, Luiz C. M. Vanderlei, Gerson Ferrari, William R. Tebar, Diego G. D. Christofaro BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 2024 The elevated blood pressure (BP) and lower cardiac autonomic modulation (CAM) are associated with higher morbidity mortality risk among older adults. Although exercise is an important intervention for cardiovascular promotion, it is unclear whether combat sports training could benefit cardiovascular outcomes as much as autonomic in this population. This study compared the effects of 12 weeks of Muay Thai (MT) training against functional training (FT) on CAM and hemodynamic parameters in older adults. The sample consisted of 50 older adults (41 women; 66.0 ± 5.3 years old), who were equaly randomized into FT (n = 25) and MT (n = 25) intervention groups. CAM was measured by 30-min rest heart rate variability. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and resting heart rate (RHR) were measured using an automatic oscillometric device. Pulse pressure (PP) and the double product (DP) were also calculated. The interventions were carried out three times a week, with 60-min length per session, during 12 consecutive weeks. The intensity of the interventions was measured using the subjective perception of exertion scale and by accelerometer. Two-factor repeated measures analysis of covariance was used for groups comparison, considering intervention group and body mass as factors. The 95% confidence interval of the difference (95%CIdif) was also calculated and the effect size was measured using partial eta squared (η2p). CAM indices did not show significant changes across moments and intervention groups. In hemodynamic parameters, only in DBP was there an effect of the moment (F1,39 = 8.206; P = 0.007; η2p = 0.174, large) and interaction effect between group*moment (F1,39 = 7.950; P = 0.008; η2p = 0.169, large). Specifically, the MT group at the post-training moment showed lower DBP (P = 0.010; 95%CIdif = -13.3; -1.89) in relation to the FT group. Furthermore, the MT group showed a decrease in DBP during training (P = 0.002; 95%CIdif = -10.3; -2.6). Also, an increase in training intensity was also found over the 12 weeks in FT, with no difference between the groups. After 12 weeks of MT practice there was a reduction in DBP compared to FT in older adults. NCT03919968 Registration date: 01/02/2019.
Association of parent-child health parameters and lifestyle habits - the “epi-family health” longitudinal study protocol Diego Giulliano Destro Christofaro, William Rodrigues Tebar, Claudiele Carla Marques da Silva, Bruna Thamyres Ciccotti Saraiva, Amanda Barbosa Santos, Ewerton Pegorelli Antunes, Enrique Gervazoni Ferreira Leite, Isabella Cristina Leoci, Victor Spiandor Beretta, Gerson Ferrari, Jorge Mota, Luiz Carlos Marques Vanderlei, Raphael Mendes Ritti-Dias Archives of Public Health, 2024 Background Lifestyle and habits, cardiovascular risk factors (CRF), bone and mental health, dietary habits, physical activity, among others are developed in childhood and adolescence. Family environment has shown to play an important role in these outcomes. However, whether the parent-child relationship lifestyle habits and health parameters can be influenced by physical activity patterns still unclear. The objective of this study will be to monitor and investigate the associations between lifestyle habits between parents and their children longitudinally, as well as verify whether in more active parents, the possible associations with lifestyle habits are different from those of parents considered less active. Methods The sample will consist of parents (father, mother, or both) and their children /adolescents. The participants will be recruited through public call by flyers spread across all the regions of the city and also through social media. The health parameters will include cardiovascular (cardiac autonomic modulation, blood pressure and resting heart rate), bone mineral density, anthropometric indices, handgrip strength, mental health (quality of life, anxiety and depression symptoms and stress), self-reported morbidities and musculoskeletal pain. Lifestyle habits will include physical activity levels, sedentary behavior, sleep parameters, eating patterns, smoking and alcohol consumption. Sociodemographic variables of age, sex, ethnicity and socioeconomic status will be considered as covariates. The follow-up visits of data collection will be scheduled after a period of 12 months from the baseline assessment during every twelve months. Discussion The family environment has great potential to determine lifestyle habits in children and adolescents. Based on the results presented in the present study, we hope that health promotion actions can be better designed in the family environment.
Cardiovascular effects of 16 weeks of martial arts training in adolescents Bruna Thamyres Ciccotti Saraiva, Raphael Mendes Ritti-Dias, Breno Quintela Farah, Vinícius Yukio Botelho Suetake, Tiego Aparecido Diniz, Paulo Costa Júnior, Vinícius Flávio Milanez, Diego Giulliano Destro Christofaro Revista Brasileira De Medicina do Esporte, 2018