The effects of different functional assessment tests on cardiorespiratory and perceptual responses in obese women

Abstract

Obesity is a chronic disease caused by multifactorial interactions. The gain of body weight is directly linked to a decrease in physical and functional capacity. Limitations of ventilatory, cardiovascular and autonomic system could affect functional capacity in obese population. However, it is unknown if different functional capacity tests are able to produce different ventilatory, cardiovascular, metabolic and perceptual responses in different levels of obesity. Objectives: To compare the impact of different functional assessment tests on ventilatory, cardiovascular, metabolic and perceptual demands and autonomic function of obese women in different levels of obesity. We also want to assess the rate of perceived exertion and leg fatigue during these tests. Experimental design: Transversal, observational, comparative, inter-methodological and randomized study. Methods: Thirty obese women, divided in 3 groups in accord to the level of obesity and 20 euthrophic women will be assessed. In the first assessment, they will be undergoing to a maximal cycloergometer test. In the second and third assessments, a 6-min walk test, a step test, a submaximal cyclergometer test and a shuttle walk test will be applied in pairs, in a randomic order. Expired gases, R-R intervals, blood lactate and perceptual responses to effort (dyspnea and lower limb fatigue) will be registered. Study relevance: The assessment of ventilatory, cardiovascular, metabolic, and perceptual responses in obese women in the different functional assessment tests will make possible a better understanding of adjustments integrated during exercise, considering the different levels of obesity. It would assess the limiting factors to physical exercise in this population. (AU)