Assessment of the Cardiovascular Risk and Physical Activity of Individuals Exercising at a Public Park in the City of São Paulo

OBJECTIVE: Physical exercise helps to prevent cardiovascular disorders. Campaigns promoting exercise have taken many people to the parks of our city. The most appropriate exercise for preventing cardiovascular disorders is the aerobic modality; inappropriate exercise acutely increases cardiovascular...

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Main Authors: Cláudia L. M. Forjaz, Taís Tinucci, Teresa Bartholomeu, Tiago E. M. Fernandes, Vivian Casagrande, José Geraldo Massucato
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia (SBC) 2002-07-01
Series:Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0066-782X2002001000005
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author Cláudia L. M. Forjaz
Taís Tinucci
Teresa Bartholomeu
Tiago E. M. Fernandes
Vivian Casagrande
José Geraldo Massucato
author_facet Cláudia L. M. Forjaz
Taís Tinucci
Teresa Bartholomeu
Tiago E. M. Fernandes
Vivian Casagrande
José Geraldo Massucato
author_sort Cláudia L. M. Forjaz
collection DOAJ
description OBJECTIVE: Physical exercise helps to prevent cardiovascular disorders. Campaigns promoting exercise have taken many people to the parks of our city. The most appropriate exercise for preventing cardiovascular disorders is the aerobic modality; inappropriate exercise acutely increases cardiovascular risk, especially in individuals at higher risk. Therefore, assessing the cardiovascular risk of these individuals and their physical activities is of practical value. METHODS: In the Parque Fernando Costa, we carried out the project "Exercício e Coração" (Exercise and Heart) involving 226 individuals. Assessment of the cardiovascular risk and of the physical activity practiced by the individuals exercising at that park was performed with a questionnaire and measurement of the following parameters: blood pressure, weight, height, and waist/hip ratio. The individuals were lectured on the benefits provided by exercise and how to correctly exercise. Each participant received a customized exercise prescription. RESULTS: In regard to risk, 43% of the individuals had health problems and 7% of the healthy individuals had symptoms that could be attributed to heart disorders. High blood pressure was observed in a large amount of the population. In regard to the adequacy of the physical activity, the individuals exercised properly. The project was well accepted, because the participants not only appreciated the initiative, but also reported altering their exercise habits after taking part in the project. CONCLUSION: Data obtained in the current study point to the need to be more careful in assessing the health of individuals who exercise at parks, suggesting that city parks should have a sector designated for assessing and guiding physical activity.
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spelling doaj.art-10efc9d18e4f40a79d21195fc5e402c72022-12-21T18:20:55ZengSociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia (SBC)Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia0066-782X1678-41702002-07-01791435010.1590/S0066-782X2002001000005Assessment of the Cardiovascular Risk and Physical Activity of Individuals Exercising at a Public Park in the City of São PauloCláudia L. M. ForjazTaís TinucciTeresa BartholomeuTiago E. M. FernandesVivian CasagrandeJosé Geraldo MassucatoOBJECTIVE: Physical exercise helps to prevent cardiovascular disorders. Campaigns promoting exercise have taken many people to the parks of our city. The most appropriate exercise for preventing cardiovascular disorders is the aerobic modality; inappropriate exercise acutely increases cardiovascular risk, especially in individuals at higher risk. Therefore, assessing the cardiovascular risk of these individuals and their physical activities is of practical value. METHODS: In the Parque Fernando Costa, we carried out the project "Exercício e Coração" (Exercise and Heart) involving 226 individuals. Assessment of the cardiovascular risk and of the physical activity practiced by the individuals exercising at that park was performed with a questionnaire and measurement of the following parameters: blood pressure, weight, height, and waist/hip ratio. The individuals were lectured on the benefits provided by exercise and how to correctly exercise. Each participant received a customized exercise prescription. RESULTS: In regard to risk, 43% of the individuals had health problems and 7% of the healthy individuals had symptoms that could be attributed to heart disorders. High blood pressure was observed in a large amount of the population. In regard to the adequacy of the physical activity, the individuals exercised properly. The project was well accepted, because the participants not only appreciated the initiative, but also reported altering their exercise habits after taking part in the project. CONCLUSION: Data obtained in the current study point to the need to be more careful in assessing the health of individuals who exercise at parks, suggesting that city parks should have a sector designated for assessing and guiding physical activity.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0066-782X2002001000005cardiovascular riskexercisepublic park
spellingShingle Cláudia L. M. Forjaz
Taís Tinucci
Teresa Bartholomeu
Tiago E. M. Fernandes
Vivian Casagrande
José Geraldo Massucato
Assessment of the Cardiovascular Risk and Physical Activity of Individuals Exercising at a Public Park in the City of São Paulo
Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia
cardiovascular risk
exercise
public park
title Assessment of the Cardiovascular Risk and Physical Activity of Individuals Exercising at a Public Park in the City of São Paulo
title_full Assessment of the Cardiovascular Risk and Physical Activity of Individuals Exercising at a Public Park in the City of São Paulo
title_fullStr Assessment of the Cardiovascular Risk and Physical Activity of Individuals Exercising at a Public Park in the City of São Paulo
title_full_unstemmed Assessment of the Cardiovascular Risk and Physical Activity of Individuals Exercising at a Public Park in the City of São Paulo
title_short Assessment of the Cardiovascular Risk and Physical Activity of Individuals Exercising at a Public Park in the City of São Paulo
title_sort assessment of the cardiovascular risk and physical activity of individuals exercising at a public park in the city of sao paulo
topic cardiovascular risk
exercise
public park
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0066-782X2002001000005
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