Efeito de exercício físico de alongamento na redução de estresse em profissionais de Enfermagem

Abstract

The nursing profession is considered stressful. Long working hours, patient manipulation, sedentary lifestyle, prolonged maintenance in inadequate postures and repetitive movements are some of the factors that explain this reality of Nursing Professionals (PE). Among the ways to reduce the losses in the health of the worker, is the practice of physical exercises of muscle stretching (EAM). The objective of this study was to verify the effect of AMI on the level of stress in PE as well as to describe: the anthropometric profile; Self-perception about the work posture; Their job profile, and the flexibility to articulate before and after the MAI program. A controlled clinical experiment with a sample of 39 PEs was carried out, being 9 men and 30 women from 20 to 56 years. They were randomly assigned to an experimental group (GE = 20) and control group (GC = 19). At the first visit, the stress level was assessed by the Work Stress Scale. This instrument has 23 questions, which assess aspects that compromise workers' health in their daily activities. The anthropometric evaluation (height, body mass, abdominal perimetry and body mass index) followed the International Standards for Anthropometric Assessment (ISAK) recommendations. The evaluation of the self-perception of the body posture of the EP was given by a questionnaire in which workers indicate which body postures cause more discomfort during the performance of their work (RANNEY 2000 apud RUMAQUELLA, 2009). For the survey of professional data, a questionnaire was applied (ALVAREZ, 1996). Flexibility was measured with a universal goniometer, which measured the range of motion of the ankle, knee and hip. The joint amplitude of the spinal segments was measured by the Schober test (EMILIANI; TANAKA, 2002). On the second visit, there was a reassessment of the level of stress and flexibility. The intervention consisted of EAM for 8 weeks, with sessions of 40 minutes duration containing active exercises of static stretching. For each exercise, 4 sets of 30 seconds duration were performed for 30 seconds of interval between sets. Classes were offered for 3 days a week and each PE should attend at least two days. Subjects who were absent from classes for three consecutive sessions were excluded. The data were statistically treated using software, with significance level of p≤0.05. For the questionnaires and anthropometric measures, the closed questions were treated with descriptive statistics. To compare the effect of AMI on stress, ANCOVA was applied, having as initial covariate the initial values (pre). To compare the effect of the MIs on joint flexibility, two-way ANOVA 2x2 was applied for repeated measures. Prior to the tests, the normality of the data was verified by the Shapiro-Wilk test. The results showed that there was a decrease in the stress level of PE after the MI program (p = 0.001). Effects on joint amplitude were found in dorsiflexion movements (p = 0.002), knee flexion (p = 0.001), hip flexion (p = 0.03) and spinal segments (p = 0.001). It is concluded that the MAE promoted positive changes in the level of occupational stress in PE