Broad-spectrum physical fitness benefits of recreational football: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Mitigating the Risks of Lower Extremity Injuries in Soccer: A Comprehensive Analysis of Lower Extremity Injury Rates in Soccer Between 2014 and 2023

Objective

With events such as the Copa America 2024, the 2026 World Cup, and the arrival of European stars in Major League Soccer (MLS), the already observed and forecasted rise of soccer in the United States (US) seems to be an inevitable outcome. Although regular participation in soccer features several benefits, including increasing cardiovascular health, decreasing stress, and promoting interpersonal relationships, the risk of injury, as is the case in any sport, is ever present. Although many sports that are popular in America feature high rates of concussion, rotator cuff injuries, and general upper extremity injuries, soccer, being more strenuous on the lower-half of the body, features a disproportionate rate of lower extremity injuries. An analysis of the frequencies of these injuries, relative to factors such as year of injury, age, gender, location of injury, and diagnosis of injury, may help organizational bodies and soccer leagues implement new regulations regarding the usage of protective equipment and rules regarding gameplay. This study aims to illuminate these takeaways in an effort to better patient care outcomes in soccer-related injuries.

Method

This paper utilized the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System Database (NEISS) to compile data on lower extremity soccer-related injuries within the defined study period, 2014-2023. Inclusion criteria for the study involved all patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) within the study period and within the defined age range of 0 to 69 years old, with injuries sustained from or related to soccer. Using NEISS, trends were elucidated discriminating based on year of injury, sex, age group, location of injury, and diagnosis group of injury.

Results

Within the defined study period of 10 years, from 2014-2023, there were approximately 843,063 total soccer-related lower extremity injuries which presented to various EDs across the US. Regarding majorities, the most injuries were sustained in 2014 (12.84% of total injuries), most patients sustaining injuries were male (66.6% of all patients), and within the age range of 10-19 years old (63.24% of all patients), with the most instances occurring at age 15. Lower extremity injuries were most reported to be affecting the ankle with 306,797 incidences (36.39% of total injuries seen) and the most frequent diagnosis group was reported to be strains/sprains with 396,420 (47.02% of total injuries seen) total occurrences.

Conclusion

This study analyzes the incidents of lower extremity injuries while participating in soccer for the last 10 years, 2014-2023. The study provides new data regarding the frequency of injuries and their relative rate with respect to year of injury, age group, sex, location of injury, and diagnosis. The results of this study show injury majorities and trends which can be used to dictate changes in regulation regarding gameplay and the utilization of protective equipment in order to mitigate injuries related to the lower extremities in soccer.

Impact of exercise dosages based on American College of Sports Medicine recommendations on lipid metabolism in patients after PCI: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

The impact of exercise dosages based on American College of Sports Medicine(ACSM) recommendations on lipid metabolism in patients after PCI remains unclear. This study conducted a meta-analysis of reported exercise dosages from the literature to address this knowledge gap.

METHODS

A comprehensive search of databases was conducted to identify eligible randomized controlled studies of exercise interventions in patients after PCI, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Based on the recommended exercise dosages from ACSM for patients with coronary heart disease, exercise doses in the literature that met the inclusion criteria were categorized into groups that were highly compliant with ACSM recommendations and those with low or uncertain ACSM recommendations. The topic was the effect of exercise dose on lipid metabolism in post-PCI patients. This was assessed using standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for changes in triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL, and HDL.

RESULTS

This systematic review included 10 randomized controlled studies. The subgroup analysis revealed statistically significant differences in the high compliance with ACSM recommendations group for triglycerides [SMD=-0.33 (95% CI -0.62, -0.05)], total cholesterol [SMD=-0.55 (95% CI -0.97, -0.13)], low-density lipoprotein [SMD=-0.31 (95% CI -0.49, -0.13)], high-density lipoprotein [SMD = 0.23 (95% CI 0.01, 0.46)], and body mass index [SMD=-0.52 (95% CI -0.87, -0.17)]. Compared to the low or uncertain compliance with ACSM recommendations group, the high compliance group exhibited significant differences in improving TC levels (-0.55(H) vs. -0.46(L)), HDL levels (0.23(H) vs. 0.22(L)), and BMI (-0.52(H) vs. -0.34(L)).

CONCLUSIONS

This study supports that high compliance with ACSM-recommended exercise dosages has significant impacts on improving TC levels, HDL levels, and BMI. However, no advantage was observed for TG or LDL levels.

Evaluation of a football fitness implementation initiative for an older adult population in a small-scale island society

Background

The proportion of older people increases globally, which calls for sustainable interventions promoting healthy aging. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the potential of Football Fitness as a sustainable model to promote quality of life, mental health, and physical function for older adult.

Methods

The study was conducted in collaboration with a municipality, a football club, and a university, and was designed as a randomized controlled trial. A total of 66 people (34 women, 32 men) older than 60 years were randomly assigned (60/40) to a Football Fitness (FOT) (n = 38, 20 women, 18 men) and a control group (CON) (n = 28, 14 women, 14 men). FOT participated in Football Fitness for 12 weeks. Quality of life (QoL) and mental wellbeing were determined pre-and post-intervention. Physical loading and Flow experience were measured in one representative training session. Blood pressure (BP), Yo-Yo Intermittent endurance test level 1 (Yo-Yo IE1), sprint performance, postural balance, and body composition were also performed pre-and post-intervention.

Results

An improvement in mental wellbeing was observed for both groups from pre- to post-intervention (p values <0.001) with no between-group differences. Regarding QoL, the environment domain improved in FOT compared to CON (p = 0.02). Mean Flow (M = 5.69; SD = 1.07) and perceived importance (M = 4.20; SD = 1.42) and average experienced difficulty was M = 5.23 (SD = 2.67), perceived skill (M = 5.23; SD = 2.56), and perceived balance (M = 5.64; SD = 1.56). These levels of flow can be characterized as being high. A between-group effect (p = 0.02) existed for systolic BP, which decreased (p < 0.01) by -5% [-8; -1%] in CON and remained unchanged in FOT. Both groups improved the Yo-Yo IE1 to a similar extent, with 28% [11; 44%] (p = 0.001) in FOT and 27% [9; 46%] in CON (p = 0.005). Postural balance improved (p = 0.004) by 38% [13; 63%] in FOT only, resulting in a superior (p = 0.01) balance score in FOT compared to CON post-intervention (p = 0.004).

Conclusion

Football Fitness improved the environmental quality of life domain and postural balance in older adults. Additionally, it appears to be a feasible group activity for older adults that promotes high flow and physical loading during training.

Evaluating the association between lifestyle factors and heel bone mineral density in different inflammatory states

Rationale

It is unclear whether lifestyle factors affect bone mineral density (BMD) during different inflammatory states.

Objective

This study investigated the effects of coffee consumption, vitamin D (VD) intake, smoking, and alcohol consumption on heel BMD in adults with different inflammatory states.

Methods

The phenotypic data from 249,825 participants were analyzed using the UK Biobank cohort. The inflammatory status was evaluated using C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and the systemic immune-inflammation index. Linear regression analysis was used to examine the association between coffee consumption, VD, smoking, alcohol consumption, and heel BMD in adults with different inflammatory states. Linear regression models were used to analyze the interaction between inflammation and the four lifestyle factors with respect to their influence on heel BMD in adults.

Results

Our findings revealed that VD was positively associated with adult heel BMD (β = 2.41 × 10-2, SE = 5.14 × 10-3, P = 2.72 × 10-6), while alcohol consumption and smoking were negatively associated with adult heel BMD. Coffee was negatively associated with adult heel BMD in low inflammatory states (β = -1.27 × 10-2, SE = 4.79 × 10-3, P = 8.00 × 10-3), while there was no association between coffee and adult heel BMD in high inflammatory states. Overall, it was found that these four lifestyle factors interacted negatively with inflammatory states.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that VD is positively associated with adult heel BMD and that alcohol consumption and smoking are negatively associated with adult heel BMD. Coffee may reverse the adverse effects of inflammation on BMD when the patient is in a highly inflammatory state, thus acting as a protective agent against heel BMD in adults.

Effects of recreational team sports on the metabolic health, body composition and physical fitness parameters of overweight and obese populations: A systematic review

This systematic review aims to provide a summary of the results from individual studies that specifically focused on overweight or obese populations, regardless of age or sex. The goal is to determine the effects of structured recreational team sports interventions (TSG) on metabolic health, body composition and physical fitness parameters when compared to passive or active control groups. This study adhered to the PRISMA guidelines for reporting a systematic review. A thorough examination of relevant literature was conducted on November 06, 2023, using three prominent databases: PubMed, Scopus, and the Web of Science. Inclusion criteria considered overweight (e.g., BMI 25.0-29.9 kg/m2) and obese (e.g., BMI > 30 kg/m2) populations exposed to training interventions using recreational team sports, while the comparator group consisted of the same populations not exposed to exercise (passive controls) or exposed to alternative training methods. The primary outcomes of interest were metabolic health parameters (glucose, waist circumference, blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides), body composition (e.g., fat mass, lean mass), as well as physical fitness parameters (e.g., aerobic fitness, muscular fitness). Only studies with two- or multi-arm designs, whether randomized or not, were eligible for inclusion. The PEDro scale was used to assess the methodological bias of the included studies. Out of the initial 275 titles retrieved, we deemed ten eligible for our study. In terms of body composition, TSG demonstrated a significant decrease in body mass index across three studies (-2.3 to -5.1%) and a significant reduction in waist circumference in four studies (-4.6% to -8.4%). Regarding blood pressure, TSG exhibited a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure in two studies (-3.9% to -8.3%), while diastolic blood pressure showed a significant decrease in only one study (-7.3%). Cholesterol levels saw a significant decrease in TSG in three studies (-7.0% to -9.7%), and triglyceride levels showed a significant reduction in four studies (-16.4% to -20.1%). In terms of aerobic fitness, TSG demonstrated within-group improvements in the field-based tests in three studies (8.1% to 79.0%), and within-group improvements in maximal oxygen uptake in four studies (6.5% to 31.0%), with significant favoring of TSG in most studies. Overall, TSG demonstrated significant benefits for overweight and obese populations compared to the control group, particularly in terms of improvements in body mass index, systolic blood pressures, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and aerobic fitness. Future research ought to concentrate on tailoring responses to varying training volumes on an individualized basis.

Long-term continuous exercise training counteracts the negative impact of the menopause transition on cardiometabolic health in hypertensive women - a 9-year RCT follow-up

PURPOSE

The study examined effects of 9-yrs of multicomponent exercise training during the menopause interval on cardiometabolic health in hypertensive women.

METHODS

Sedentary, middle-aged women (n = 25) with mild-to-moderate arterial hypertension were randomized into a soccer training (multicomponent exercise; EX; n = 12) or control group (CON; n = 13). EX took part in 1-h football training sessions, 1-3 times weekly, for a consecutive 9-years, totaling ∼800 training sessions, while CON did not take part in regular exercise training. 22 participants entered menopause during the intervention.

RESULTS

A time×group interaction effect (P = 0.04) of 8.5 mmHg in favour of EX was observed for changes in mean arterial pressure (MAP) (EX: -4.8 [-10.7;1.1] mmHg, CON +3.7 [-2.0;9.3] mmHg). Time×group interaction effects in favour of EX were also observed for total body weight (4.6 kg, P = 0.008, EX: +0.7 [-1.7;3.0] kg, CON: +5.3 [3.0;7.6] kg, total fat percentage (5.7%-points, P = 0.02; EX (-1.9 [-4.4;0.6] %-points; P = 0.13), CON +3.8 [1.4;6.2] %-points and for total cholesterol (1.2 mmol/l, P = 0.03, EX: -0.5 [-1.0;-0.1] mmol/l, CON: +0.7 [0.2;1.1] mmol/l. EX reduced (P = 0.02) plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by -0.4 [-0.8;-0.1] mmol/l, whereas an increase (P = 0.01) of 0.4 [0.1;0.8] mmol/l occurred in CON (interaction. P < 0.001). A time×group interaction (P = 0.004) existed for changes in exercise capacity in favour of EX. Fasting glucose remained unchanged in EX and increased (P < 0.001) by 0.7 [0.4;1.0] mmol/l in CON (time×group interaction P = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, long-term multicomponent exercise training fully counteracts the detrimental effects of the menopause transition on cardiometabolic health in hypertensive women.

15 weeks of soccer training increases left ventricular mass and improves indices of left ventricular diastolic function in previously sedentary, mildly hypertensive, middle-aged women

PURPOSE

To investigate the impact of soccer training on cardiac adaptations in mildly hypertensive middle-aged women.

METHODS

Hypertensive premenopausal women (n = 41; age (mean ± SD): 44 ± 7 years; height: 166 ± 6 cm; weight: 78.6 ± 11.6 kg; body fat: 43.3 ± 5.2%) were randomized to soccer training (SOC, n = 21) or control (CON, n = 20). SOC performed three weekly training sessions for 15 weeks, whereas CON had no training or lifestyle changes during the same period. Cardiac structure and function were assessed by echocardiography pre-intervention and post-intervention.

RESULTS

Soccer training increased (P = 0.001) left ventricular mass index by 10% [95% CI 4; 15], while no changes occurred in CON (time × group interaction, P = 0.005). In addition, only SOC demonstrated a within-group increase (P = 0.01) of 8% [95% CI 2; 14] in left ventricular septum diameter. For markers of right ventricular remodelling, a within-group increase (P = 0.02) occurred for tricuspid annulus plane systolic excursion of 8% [95% CI 1; 14] in SOC only. Left atrial diameter index increased (P < 0.001) by 6% [95% CI 3; 10] after SOC, while it was unaffected in CON (time × group interaction, P = 0.02). For makers of diastolic function, SOC demonstrated a within-group increase (P = 0.02) in the average early diastolic mitral annulus velocity of 10% [95% CI 2; 19]. In addition, a reduction (P < 0.001) in mitral valve A velocity of - 19% [95% CI - 29; - 10] was observed following soccer training, which manifested in increased (P < 0.001) mitral valve E/A ratio of 34% [95% CI 16; 53] in SOC. No within-group changes were apparent in CON.

CONCLUSION

In sedentary, mildly hypertensive, middle-aged women, 15 weeks of soccer training increases left ventricular mass and left atrial diameter and improves indices of left ventricular diastolic function.

Health Benefits of Different Sports: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Longitudinal and Intervention Studies Including 2.6 Million Adult Participants

BACKGROUND

Several reviews have examined the health benefits of participation in specific sports, such as baseball, cricket, cross-country skiing, cycling, downhill skiing, football, golf, judo, rugby, running and swimming. However, new primary studies on the topic have recently been published, and the respective meta-analytic evidence needs to be updated.

OBJECTIVES

To systematically review, summarise and appraise evidence on physical health benefits of participation in different recreational sports.

METHODS

Searches for journal articles were conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, SpoLit, SPORTDiscus, Sports Medicine & Education Index and Web of Science. We included longitudinal and intervention studies investigating physical health outcomes associated with participation in a given sport among generally healthy adults without disability.

RESULTS

A total of 136 papers from 76 studies conducted among 2.6 million participants were included in the review. Our meta-analyses of available evidence found that: (1) cycling reduces the risk of coronary heart disease by 16% (pooled hazard ratio [HR] = 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.80, 0.89), all-cause mortality by 21% (HR = 0.79; 95% CI: 0.73, 0.84), cancer mortality by 10% (HR = 0.90; 95% CI: 0.85, 0.96) and cardiovascular mortality by 20% (HR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.74, 0.86); (2) football has favourable effects on body composition, blood lipids, fasting blood glucose, blood pressure, cardiovascular function at rest, cardiorespiratory fitness and bone strength (p < 0.050); (3) handball has favourable effects on body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness (p < 0.050); (4) running reduces the risk of all-cause mortality by 23% (HR = 0.77; 95% CI: 0.70, 0.85), cancer mortality by 20% (HR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.72, 0.89) and cardiovascular mortality by 27% (HR = 0.73; 95% CI: 0.57, 0.94) and improves body composition, cardiovascular function at rest and cardiorespiratory fitness (p < 0.010); and (5) swimming reduces the risk of all-cause mortality by 24% (HR = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.63, 0.92) and improves body composition and blood lipids (p < 0.010).

CONCLUSIONS

A range of physical health benefits are associated with participation in recreational cycling, football, handball, running and swimming. More studies are needed to enable meta-analyses of health benefits of participation in other sports. PROSPERO registration number CRD42021234839.

Health and performance effects of 12 weeks of small-sided street football training compared to grass football training in habitually active young men

PURPOSE

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the health and exercise performance effects of street football training on very small pitches surrounded by boards in young habitually active men in comparison to small-sided football training on grass.

METHODS

Thirty-nine habitually active men (30.7 ± 6.7 years, 90.9 ± 16.6 kg, 183.8 ± 4.5 cm, 39.6 ± 6.0 mL/min/kg) were randomly assigned to a street football training group (ST) or grass football group (GR) playing small-sided games for 70 min, 1.5 and 1.7 times per week for 12 weeks, respectively, or an inactive control group (CO). Intensity during training was measured using heart rate (HR) and GPS units. Pre- and post-intervention, a test battery was completed.

RESULTS

Mean HR (87.1 ± 5.0 vs. 84.0 ± 5.3%HRmax; P > 0.05) and percentage of training time above 90%HRmax (44 ± 28 vs. 34 ± 24%; P > 0.05) were not different between ST and GR. VO2max increased (P < 0.001) by 3.6[95% CI 1.8;5.4]mL/min/kg in GR with no significant change in ST or CO. HR during running at 8 km/h decreased (P < 0.001) by 14[10;17]bpm in ST and by 12[6;19]bpm in GR, with no change in CO. No changes were observed in blood pressure, resting HR, total body mass, lean body mass, whole-body bone mineral density, fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, plasma insulin, total cholesterol(C), LDL-C or HDL-C. Moreover, no changes were observed in Yo-Yo IE2 performance, 30-m sprint time, jump length or postural balance.

CONCLUSION

Small-sided street football training for 12 weeks with 1-2 weekly sessions led to improvements in submaximal exercise capacity only, whereas recreational grass football training confirmed previous positive effects on submaximal exercise capacity as well as cardiorespiratory fitness.

Dose-response effect of a recreational team handball-based exercise programme on cardiometabolic health and physical fitness in inactive middle-aged-to-elderly males - a randomised controlled trial

This study aimed at examining the dose-response of a recreational team handball (TH) exercise-based programme on cardiometabolic health and physical fitness in inactive middle-aged-to-elderly males without TH experience. Fifty-four inactive middle-aged-to-elderly men (67.5 ± 4.2 years; stature 168.8 ± 6.2 cm; body mass 78.4 ± 10.7 kg; fat mass 27.1 ± 5.3%; BMI 27.4 ± 2.9 kg/m2; VO2peak 27.3 ± 4.8 mL/min/kg) were randomised into three intervention groups performing 1 (TH1, n = 13), 2 (TH2, n = 15), or 3 (TH3, n = 12) 60-min weekly recreational TH-based training sessions, for 16 weeks, and a control group (CG, n = 14). A time x group interaction was observed for VO2peak, aerobic performance, fasting plasma insulin and body and fat mass (p ≤ 0.043) with TH3 showing the greatest overall effects. Post-intervention differences were observed in aerobic performance (TH3>CG, TH1 and TH2; TH2>CG), body mass (TH3>CG and TH1), fat mass (TH3>CG), VO2peak (TH3>CG) and plasma insulin (TH3>CG) (p ≤ 0.040). In conclusion, recreational TH performed for 60-min thrice and twice per week results in improved aerobic performance for middle-aged-to-elderly men. Moreover, it was observed that three weekly sessions were more effective in providing overall cardiometabolic benefits compared to training with a lower weekly frequency. ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05295511.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05295511.Highlights: We observed high intensities and fun levels during recreational TH, organised as formal and small-sided games, for middle-aged-to-elderly men during a 16-week period, independently of the number of weekly training sessions.Marked positive effects on aerobic performance and cardiometabolic health were observed in the intervention group that performed 3 weekly sessions.The study results indicate that recreational TH training with low frequency and volume results in some beneficial effects on cardiometabolic fitness and health for middle-aged-to-elderly men, but future studies with more participants or longer intervention periods are warranted to explore this possibility.

Effects of recreational small-sided games from different team sports on the improvement of aerobic fitness in youth sedentary populations: A systematic review

Aerobic fitness is a critical aspect of overall health and well-being, essential for maintaining a high quality of life. Unfortunately, sedentary behavior has been on the rise among young adults, and this has had a negative impact on their aerobic fitness levels. Therefore, it is crucial to identify enjoyable physical exercise training programs that can play a pivotal role in improving aerobic fitness. The objective of this study was to systematically review the experimental studies concerning the impact of small-sided games (SSGs) training programs, implemented across various team sports, on the enhancement of aerobic fitness in a youth sedentary population. A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and the Web of Science on August 01, 2023. Our eligibility criteria focused on studies involving sedentary youth populations (aged <18 years) as the target population. These studies needed to incorporate interventions based on SSGs as the intervention of interest, comparing them to passive or control groups as the comparator. The primary outcomes of interest were related to maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), assessed either directly or indirectly, or the results of field-based cardiorespiratory tests. We specifically considered two- or multi-arm randomized controlled studies as the study design of interest. Out of the initial pool of 1980 studies, we reviewed 38 full-text articles, ultimately selecting and analyzing 13 studies for inclusion in our review. Among the studies included, a total of 1281 participants were enrolled in SSG-based interventions, while 744 participants acted as part of the control groups. Regarding the impact on VO2max, the six studies that investigated this outcome showed varying improvements, ranging from 2.2 % to 31.3 % when participants were exposed to SSGs. In terms of the outcome related to endurance performance in field-based tests, the eight studies that examined this aspect found that participants exposed to SSGs showed improvements ranging from 0.1 % to 79.8 %. In conclusion, this systematic review suggests that SSG-based interventions conducted among sedentary youth populations can play a positive role in improving their aerobic fitness. This improvement in aerobic fitness can have potential positive impacts on their overall health and quality of life.

Bone Health, Body Composition and Physiological Demands in 70-85-Year-Old Lifelong Male Football Players

The effects of lifelong football training on bone health, body composition and physiological demands were evaluated. A total of 20 veteran football players (VPG; 73.4 ± 3.7 years) and 18 untrained age-matched men (CG; 75.6 ± 4.2 years) were enrolled. Whole-body and regional dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans of arms, legs, proximal femur and lower spine (L1-L4) were recorded in all participants. We observerd higher bone mineral density (BMD) in the whole-body, arms and femoral regions and higher bone mineral content (BMC) in the legs and lower spine compared to the CG (p < 0.05), also higher total lean body mass (p < 0.05) and lower total body fat percentage (p < 0.05), were found. No differences in food habits were evidenced between the VPG and the CG, as evaluated using 3-day food records. Resting heart rate (RHR), blood pressure (BP) and activity profile during a football match were recorded using a global positioning system only in the VPG. The mean heart rate (HR)of theoretical maximal HR (ThHRmax), and peak of ThHRmax were 83.9 ± 8.6% and 98.6 ± 10.2%, respectively; the mean of total distance covered was 3666 ± 721 m, and the means of accelerations and decelerations were 419 ± 61 and 428 ± 65, respectively. Lifelong participation in football training improves regional BMD and BMC in legs, femur and lumbar spine compared to the CG. A high number of intense actions in term of HR and accelerations and decelerations suggests an elevated energy expenditure that in turn correlates to the healthier body composition observed in the VPG compared to the CG.

The insufficiency of recreational exercises in improving cardiovascular fitness: an investigation of ventricular systolic and diastolic parameters and left atrial mechanical functions

AIM

This study aimed to compare the left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic parameters and left atrial (LA) mechanical functions of individuals engaging in recreational sports and resistance exercises on a weekly basis.

METHODS

A total of 43 male amateur athletes were included in this study, of which 24 performed resistance exercises (REs) (29.70 ± 8.74 year, weight: 81.70 ± 12.64 kg, height: 176.05 ± 7.73 cm, BMI: 27.64 ± 4.97 kg/m2), and 19 participated in recreational football training and were included in the recreational sports group (31.73 ± 6.82 year, weight: 86.00 ± 18.52 kg, height: 178.62 ± 4.95 cm, BMI: 25.55 ± 3.42 kg/m2). The exercises were standardized according to the weekly exercise frequency and volume. After recording the participants' demographic information, the LV systolic and diastolic parameters and LA mechanical functions were measured using echocardiography (ECHO) and Tissue Doppler Imaging.

RESULTS

Significant differences were observed in various cardiac parameters between the recreational sports group (REG) and resistance exercise Group (RSG). Specifically, the left ventricular (LV) diastolic diameter, LV end diastolic volume index (LVEDVi), and stroke volume index were notably higher in the REG compared to the RSG (t = 2.804, p = .010, effect size (ES) = 2.10; t = 3.174, p = .003, ES = 0.98; t = 3.36, p = .002, ES = 1.02, respectively). Notably, the RSG exhibited higher values for LV mass index (LVMi) and isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) than the REG (t = 2.843, p = .007, ES = 0.87; t = 2.517, p = .016, ES = 0.76) in terms of LV systolic and diastolic parameters. Regarding left atrial (LA) mechanics, the REG demonstrated increased LA total emptying volume index, LA maximum volume index, LA volume before systole measured at the onset of the p-wave index, and conduit volume index compared to RSG (t = 2.419, p = .020, ES = 0.75; t = 2.669, p = .011, ES = 0.81; t = 2.111, p = .041, ES = 0.64; t = 2.757, p = .009, ES = 0.84, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Our study revealed significant variations in LV and LA functions between REG and RSG. Our data suggest that REs led to substantial cardiac remodeling, altering myocardial structure and function. In contrast, the effect of recreational exercise on cardiac adaptation was less pronounced than that of resistance exercise. Consequently, we propose that individuals engaging in recreational exercise should consider modalities that impose higher cardiovascular demand for more effective cardiac conditioning.

Recreational futsal provides broad-spectrum fitness and health benefits but no blood pressure effects in men with treated hypertension - a randomised controlled trial

We determined the coadjuvant effect of a recreational futsal (RF) programme versus standard care alone (CON) in men with treated arterial hypertension (TAHT). Thirty-nine men with TAHT were randomised to RF (N = 20; 48 ± 8 years; systolic blood pressure [SBP]: 122 ± 14 mmHg) with 2-3 one-hour sessions/week for 3 months, or to CON (N = 19; 51 ± 6 years; SBP: 126 ± 13 mmHg). Participants were assessed at baseline, at 3 months, and after 1 month of training cessation (4 months). Mean training attendance was 60 ± 23%. At 3-months, there were no between-group differences in BP parameters (SBP: 0.44 mmHg; 95% CI: -5.79, 6.67). However, compared to CON, RF was effective for peak oxygen uptake (2.76 mL.min-1.kg-1; 95% CI: 0.26, 5.26), time to exhaustion (1.15 min; 95% CI: 0.59, 1.69), Yo-Yo IE1 performance (365 m; 95% CI: 175, 556), resting heart rate (RHR; -5 b.min-1; 95% CI: -10, -1), glycated haemoglobin (-0.52 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.84, -0.19), blood glucose (-0.25 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.44, -0.06), left femur bone mineral content (1.96 g; 95% CI: 0.29, 3.65), and postural balance (-2.3 falls; 95% CI: -3.9, -0.6). Similar findings were observed after 1-month of training cessation, except for RHR and blood glucose that returned to baseline levels in the RF group. In conclusion, RF provides broad-spectrum fitness and health benefits but no BP effects in men with TAHT.

Recreational Football Training Increases Leg-Extensor Velocity Production in 55- To 70-Year Old Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study investigated the effects of 10 weeks of recreational football training on the leg-extensor force-velocity (F-V) profile in 55- to 70-year-old adults. Simultaneous effects on functional capacity, body composition and endurance exercise capacity were examined. Forty participants (age 63.5 ± 3.9 years; 36♂ 4♀) were randomized in a football training (FOOT, n = 20) and a control (CON, n = 20) group. FOOT performed 45-min to 1-h of football training sessions with small-sided games twice a week. Pre- and post-intervention assessments were performed. The results revealed a greater increase in maximal velocity (d = 0.62, pint = 0.043) in FOOT compared to CON. No interaction effects were found for maximal power and force (pint > 0.05). 10-m fast walk improved more (d = 1.39, pint < 0.001), 3-step stair ascent power (d = 0.73, pint = 0.053) and body fat percentage (d = 0.61, pint = 0.083) tended to improve more in FOOT than in CON. RPE and HR values at the highest speed level during a submaximal graded treadmill test decreased more in FOOT compared to CON (RPE: d = 0.96, pint = 0.005; HR: d = 1.07, pint = 0.004). Both the number of accelerations and decelerations as well as the distance spent in moderate- and high-speed zones increased markedly throughout the 10-week period (p < 0.05). Participants perceived the sessions as very enjoyable and feasible. In conclusion, recreational football training resulted in improved leg-extensor velocity production, which translated to a better performance on functional capacity tests that rely on a high execution velocity. Simultaneously, exercise tolerance was improved and body fat percentage tended to reduce. It appears that short-term recreational football training can induce broad-spectrum health benefits in 55- to 70-year-old adults with only 2 hours of training per week.

Predictors of intentions of adults over 35 years to participate in walking sport programs: A social-ecological mixed-methods approach

There is a growing need to identify acceptable and feasible opportunities to engage adults over 35 years in physical activity. Walking sports may be a potential means to engage adults in sport; however, there is limited evidence regarding appeal and feasibility to support its implementation and delivery. Using a two-step mixed-methods approach, we aimed (1) to quantitively identify significant predictors of intentions of adults over 35 years to participate in walking sports and (2) to understand why and how these identified predictors may be contextually relevant to the target group. In phase one, 282 adults over 35 years (M_age  = 46.08, SD = 9.75) without prior experience of walking sports completed an online questionnaire assessing personal, psychosocial, program-related, and environmental predictors, and intentions to participate in walking sports. Hierarchical multiple linear regressions showed that perceived health status, attitudes, subjective norms, and distance of venue were significant predictors of intentions. In phase two, interviews with a subset of 17 participants indicated that, when implementing walking sport programs, program labeling, fear of the unknown, and individual differences in the appeal of walking sport warrant consideration. Together, these findings offer insight into the complex interplay of personal, psychosocial, program-related, and environmental predictors of adults' intentions to participate in walking sports. Addressing these elements of a walking sport program would make such programs more appealing to potential participants, and ultimately, more feasible and sustainable to conduct in the long run.

Intermittent high-intensity exercise for pre- to established hypertension: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To determine the impact of intermittent high-intensity exercise training ([IHIE], including high-intensity interval training [HIIT] and recreational team sports [RTS]) on systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in adults with pre- to established arterial hypertension.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Embase, and SPORTDiscus.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the impact of IHIE on BP versus a non-exercise control.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two authors independently conducted all procedures. Mean differences were calculated using random-effects model. The certainty of the evidence was assessed with GRADE.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven RCTs (18 HIIT and 9 RTS) were analyzed, with median duration of 12 weeks. Participants' (n = 946) median age was 46 years. Overall, IHIE decreased SBP (-3.29 mmHg; 95% CI: -5.19, -1.39) and DBP (-2.62 mmHg; 95% CI: -3.79, -1.44) compared to the control group. IHIE elicited higher decreases in office SBP and DBP of hypertensive subjects (SBP: -7.13 mmHg, [95% CI: -10.12, -4.15]; DBP: -5.81 mmHg, [95% CI: -7.94, -3.69]) than pre-hypertensive (SBP: -2.14 mmHg, [95% CI: -4.36, -0.08]; DBP: -1.83 mmHg, [95% CI: -2.99, -0.67]). No significant differences were found between HIIT (SBP: -2.12 mmHg, [95% CI: -4.78, -0.54]; DBP: -1.89 mmHg, [95% CI: -3.32, -0.48]) and RTS (SBP: -4.18 mmHg, [95% CI: -7.19, -2.43]; DBP: -4.04 mmHg, [95% CI: -6.00, -2.09]). These findings present low/very low certainty of evidence. No adverse cardiovascular events were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

IHIE appears to be safe and to promote substantial decreases in BP, particularly in patients with hypertension. However, the certainty of evidence was low/very low.

PROTOCOL

CRD42020163575.

Multicomponent recreational team handball training improves global health status in postmenopausal women at long term - a randomised controlled trial

ABSTRACTWe studied the long-term effects of a multicomponent exercise training protocol (recreational team handball training, RTH) on global health status in inactive postmenopausal women. Participants (n = 45; age 65 ± 6 years, stature 157 ± 6 cm, body mass 66.2 ± 9.4 kg, fat mass 41.4 ± 5.5%, VO_2peak 25.7 ± 3.6  mL/min/kg) were randomized into a control group (CG; n = 14) and a multicomponent exercise training group (EXG; n = 31, performing 2-3 weekly 60-min RTH sessions). Attendance was 2.0 ± 0.4 sessions/week (first 16 weeks) and 1.4 ± 0.5 (following 20 weeks) and mean heart rate (HR) loading was 77 and 79% of maximal HR (p = 0.002) for the first 16 and the following 20 weeks, respectively. Cardiovascular, bone, metabolic health, body composition and physical fitness markers were evaluated at baseline, and after 16 and 36 weeks. An interaction (p ≤ 0.046) was shown for the 2-h oral glucose tolerance test, HDL, Yo-Yo intermittent endurance level 1 test (YYIE1) and knee strength, in favour of EXG. At 36 weeks YYIE1 and knee strength were higher (p ≤ 0.038) for EXG vs CG. Also, within-group improvements (p ≤ 0.043) were observed after 36 weeks for EXG in VO_2peak, lumbar spine bone mineral density, lumbar spine bone mineral content, P1NP, osteocalcin, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, body mass, android fat mass, YYIE1, knee strength, handgrip strength and postural balance. At 36 comparatively to 16 weeks, EXG showed an increase (p ≤ 0.036) in fasting blood glucose, HDL, knee strength and handgrip strength, and a decrease (p ≤ 0.025) in LDL. Collectively, this multicomponent exercise training (RTH) induces beneficial changes in global health status in postmenopausal women. ClinicalTrials.gov ID:NCT05292261.

Football training as a non-pharmacological treatment of the global aging population-A topical review

In the present topical mini-review, the beneficial impact of small-sided game football training for the increasing elderly global population is presented. As a multicomponent type of physical activity, football training executed on small pitched with 4-6 players in each team is targeting a myriad of physiological systems and causes positive adaptations of relevance for several non-communicable diseases, of which the incidence increases with advancing age. There is strong scientific evidence that this type of football training promotes cardiovascular, metabolic and musculo-skeletal health in elderly individuals. These positive adaptations can prevent cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, sarcopenia and osteoporosis, and lower the risk of falls. Also, football training has been proven an efficient part of the treatment of several patient groups including men with prostate cancer and women after breast cancer. Finally, regular football training has an anti-inflammatory effect and may slow the biological aging. Overall, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that recreational football training can promote health in the elderly.

Recreational Soccer Training Effects on Pediatric Populations Physical Fitness and Health: A Systematic Review

This systematic review analyzed the effects of recreational soccer programs on physical fitness and health-related outcomes in youth populations. Studies were sought in the following databases: (i) PubMed, (ii) Scopus, (iii) SPORTDiscus, and (iv) Web of Science. The eligibility criteria included (1) population: youth (<18 years old) populations with no restrictions on sex or health condition; (2) intervention: exposure to a recreational soccer training program of at least four weeks duration; (3) comparator: a passive or active control group not exposed to a recreational soccer training program; (4) outcomes: physical fitness (e.g., aerobic, strength, speed, and change-of-direction) or health-related measures (e.g., body composition, blood pressure, heart rate variability, and biomarkers); (5) study design: a randomized parallel group design. The search was conducted on 6 September 2022 with no restrictions as to date or language. The risk of bias was assessed using the PEDro scale for randomized controlled studies. From a pool of 37,235 potentially relevant articles, 17 were eligible for inclusion in this review. Most of the experimental studies revealed the beneficial effects of recreational soccer for improving aerobic fitness and its benefits in terms of blood pressure and heart-rate markers. However, body composition was not significantly improved by recreational soccer. The main results revealed that recreational soccer training programs that are implemented twice a week could improve the generality of physical fitness parameters and beneficially impact cardiovascular health and biomarkers. Thus, recreational soccer meets the conditions for being included in the physical education curriculum as a good strategy for the benefit of the general health of children and young people.

Acute physiological response to different recreational team handball game formats in over 60-year-old inactive men

This study described the physical and physiological demands, activity profile and fun levels of recreational team handball (TH) game formats in over 60-year-old men with no previous experience with this sport (n = 17, 67.4±3.3 years). The participants performed 5v5, 6v6 and 7v7 matches (3x15-min periods) with fixed pitch size (40x20 m). In all testing sessions, heart rate (HR), differential ratings of perceived exertion and blood lactate were evaluated to measure internal load. Locomotor profile, game actions and accelerometer data were used to access external load. Also, fun levels were registered at the end of all testing sessions. Mean (76-77%HRmax) and peak HR (84-86%HRmax) decreased from the first to the third match period, in 6v6 and 7v7 (p≤0.034, d = 0.730). Blood lactate increased from baseline to the first period and decreased from the first to the third period in all game formats (p<0.001, d = 1.646). The participants covered longer total distances in 6v6 vs 5v5 (p≤0.005, d = 0.927) and spent more time in fast running in 6v6 vs 5v5 and 7v7 (p<0.001, d = 1.725) and in 5v5 vs 7v7 (p = 0.007, d = 0.912). A higher number of throws was performed in 5v5 vs 6v6 and 7v7 (p<0.001, d = 1.547), and in 6v6 vs 7v7 (p = 0.031, d = 0.779). The number of stops and total actions in 7v7 was significantly lower vs 5v5 and 6v6 (p≤0.003, d = 1.025). Recreational TH is a high-intensity and motivating exercise mode for middle-aged and older men, regardless the game format. However, higher high-intensity demands were observed during 5v5 and 6v6 game formats. Therefore, it is suggested a multiple game format (5v5, 6v6 and 7v7) training plan, with more use of 5v5 and 6v6 game formats, with training sessions lasting up to 15-min of warm-up and 3x15-min periods of match-play, when prescribing recreational TH to improve cardiovascular and musculoskeletal health in this population.

Effects of the "FIFA11+ Kids" Program on Injury Prevention in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

FIFA11+ Kids is a warm-up program specially designed to prevent football injuries in children. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize the effects of FIFA11+ Kids on injury prevention in young football players. PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure were searched from 1 January 2016 to 24 August 2022. The primary outcome was overall injuries, and the secondary outcomes were severe, ankle, knee, and lower extremity injuries. Risk ratios (RRs) were calculated for each outcome. Methodological quality was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. A total of 230 articles were screened, 6 of which were finally included in the meta-analysis. Compared with normal warm-up training, FIFA11+ Kids significantly reduced overall injury risk (RR = 0.52 [95% CI, 0.44-0.62]; p < 0.00001), severe injury risk (RR = 0.33 [95% CI, 0.18-0.61]; p = 0.0004), lower extremity injury risk (RR = 0.51 [95% CI, 0.41-0.65]; p < 0.00001), knee injury risk (RR = 0.45 [95% CI, 0.29-0.72]; p = 0.0009), and ankle injury risk (RR = 0.56 [95% CI, 0.35-0.89]; p = 0.01) in young football players. FIFA11+ Kids was found to be an effective approach to decrease the injury risk among young football players, which is worth generalizing extensively.

Programming Plyometric-Jump Training in Soccer: A Review

The aim of this review was to describe and summarize the scientific literature on programming parameters related to jump or plyometric training in male and female soccer players of different ages and fitness levels. A literature search was conducted in the electronic databases PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus using keywords related to the main topic of this study (e.g., “ballistic” and “plyometric”). According to the PICOS framework, the population for the review was restricted to soccer players, involved in jump or plyometric training. Among 7556 identified studies, 90 were eligible for inclusion. Only 12 studies were found for females. Most studies (n = 52) were conducted with youth male players. Moreover, only 35 studies determined the effectiveness of a given jump training programming factor. Based on the limited available research, it seems that a dose of 7 weeks (1−2 sessions per week), with ~80 jumps (specific of combined types) per session, using near-maximal or maximal intensity, with adequate recovery between repetitions (<15 s), sets (≥30 s) and sessions (≥24−48 h), using progressive overload and taper strategies, using appropriate surfaces (e.g., grass), and applied in a well-rested state, when combined with other training methods, would increase the outcome of effective and safe plyometric-jump training interventions aimed at improving soccer players physical fitness. In conclusion, jump training is an effective and easy-to-administer training approach for youth, adult, male and female soccer players. However, optimal programming for plyometric-jump training in soccer is yet to be determined in future research.

FOOTBALL PLAYER’S TRAINING FOR IMPROVING PHYSICAL FUNCTION AND HEALTH

ABSTRACT Introduction: Due to the fierce confrontation, high intensity, long duration, and high technical and tactical requirements of modern football, this sport puts forward higher requirements on the physical function of the athletes. Objective: To further explore the importance of physical training based on expounding the concepts of physical fitness and physical training. Methods: The article uses literature research, expert interviews, questionnaires, observations, measurements, mathematical statistics, and other research methods to explore the physical characteristics and training of Chinese football players. Results: The physical training of football players should conform to the specific characteristics of football. This sport requires combining technical and tactical training, psychological training, and academic training of football matches, which must be developed simultaneously. Conclusion: The purpose of physical training is to improve the functional capabilities of athletes to a certain extent, exploit and develop the athlete’s athletic potential, and effectively maintain this functional ability. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment results.

A retrospective analysis of all-cause and cause-specific mortality rates in French male professional footballers

This study retrospectively compared all-cause and cause-specific mortality in French male professional football players with data from France's national population. Altogether, 6114 individuals born in Metropolitan France or in one of its overseas territories who played at least one competitive match in France's professional football championships between January 1, 1968 and December 31, 2015, were identified and followed up for vital status obtained from a national reference database until December 31, 2015. Data on all-cause and cause-specific mortality were subsequently compared to the expected number of deaths for the national population after standardization for the year, age, and sex. Ratios between observed and expected deaths provided standardized mortality ratios (SMR) along with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Linear trends were investigated using the Poisson trend test. Altogether, 662 player deaths were observed. All-cause mortality overall was lower than that of the national population (SMR: 0.69, 95% CI 0.64-0.75). An excess of deaths from dementia was observed in the players (SMR: 3.38, 95% CI: 2.49-4.50) whereas mortality from diseases of the nervous (SMR: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.35-1.08) and cardiovascular systems (SMR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.70-0.96), and cancer (SMR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.58-0.76) was lower. Lower overall mortality and that owing to common cardiovascular and cancer-related diseases were reported in French professional football players compared to France's national population. In line with previous studies, however, excess mortality from dementia was observed in the players. Career length was not associated with all-cause or cause-specific mortality. Prospective matched-cohort studies are necessary to identify the neurologic impact of participation in professional football.

Epidemiology of Campus Football Injuries in Ningxia, China: Occurrence, Causes, and Management

Objective

By 2022, the Chinese government intends to have more than 30 million primary-, middle- and high-school children and adolescents regularly participate in campus football. In contrast, epidemiology of campus football injuries is completely missing. The goal of this descriptive epidemiological study was to determine the current state of campus football injuries and then to recommend appropriate prevention and management strategies.

Methods

This retrospective epidemiological study conducted a survey of students, physical education and football teachers in primary, middle and high schools in the Ningxia Autonomous Region to determine the campus football injuries that occurred throughout the preceding 12-month period. The survey comprised questions on demographic characteristics, the occurrence, causes, and management of campus football injuries.

Results

A total of 1,285 students and 200 teachers returned eligible surveys. 25.7% of students had encountered injury accidents while participating in campus football activities. 31.3% of high school students, 23.8% of middle school students, and 19.2% of primary school students have sustained injuries. Football competition, accounting for 45.4% of all injuries, is the leading cause of injury. Football class teaching, which accounted for 3.0% of all injuries, had the lowest injury rate of any campus football activity. Students and teachers reported that a lack of safety awareness and injury prevention education were the primary causes of injuries. Only 18.7% and 11.4% of students are familiar with first aid basics and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, respectively. 10.6% and 7.5% of students lack any first aid basics and skills, respectively. 43.9% of students lack insurance coverage for athletic injuries. 62.5% and 38.5% of teachers reported that schools lack first aid training and an emergency plan for injuries, respectively.

Conclusion

Students in Ningxia's campus football programs have a high injury risk. Injury prevention and management strategies lag significantly behind the mainstream nationwide promotion of campus football in China.

Estimation of maximal oxygen uptake using the heart rate ratio method in male recreational football players

Maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max) is associated with cardiovascular and metabolic health in the general population. The heart rate (HR) ratio method (HR_ratio) is a valid, easy and accessible method for estimating VO_2max in well-trained subjects. This study examined the validity of using the HR_ratio to estimate VO_2max in recreational football players in the untrained and trained states. Sixty-six participants (age 39.3 ± 5.8 years) were tested pre-training and 28 after 12 weeks, for VO_2max assessment, running on a treadmill alternating speed (1 km h⁻¹) and inclination (1%) increments every 30 s until exhaustion. Maximal HR (HR_max) was assessed directly with a multiple approach and estimated with selected equations. Resting HR (HR_rest) was measured in supine position, after 15 min of rest. The HR_ratio method considers the product of HR_max/HR_rest ratio by a theoretical proportionality factor (15 ml kg⁻¹ min⁻¹, TPF) to estimate VO_2max. This population-specific proportionality factor (SPF) was 14.6 ± 2.6 ml kg⁻¹ min⁻¹. In the untrained state (n = 66), participants’ actual VO_2max (41.3 ± 6.2 ml kg⁻¹ min⁻¹) was moderately lower (~ 2 ml kg⁻¹ min⁻¹) than the estimated VO_2max using the TPF. A nonsignificant difference (0.7 ml kg⁻¹ min⁻¹) was found when the VO_2max was estimated using the SPF. When using HR_max equations and the TPF, a small nonsignificant difference (~ 1.5 ml kg⁻¹ min⁻¹) was reported between actual and estimated VO_2max. In the trained state (n = 28), the estimated VO_2max values were not significantly different from the actual VO_2max (44.2 ± 5.2 ml kg⁻¹ min⁻¹), with large effect sizes when considering TPF and estimated HR_max. The results of this study provide evidence of the applicability of HR_ratio in estimating VO_2max in male adult/middle-aged recreational football players.

The Faroe Islands COVID-19 Recreational Football Study: Player-to-Player Distance, Body-to-Body Contact, Body-to-Ball Contact and Exercise Intensity during Various Types of Football Training for Both Genders and Various Age Groups

We determined player-to-player distance, body-to-ball contact, and exercise intensity during three training modalities in various football populations. 213 participants were recruited, ranging from 9-year-old boys to young men and 11-year-old girls to middle-aged women. All groups were analysed with video-filming and GPS-based Polar Pro monitors during three types of football training for 20 min, i.e., COVID-19-modified training (CMT) with >2-metre player-to-player distance, small-sided games (SSG), and simulated match-play with normal rules (SMP), in randomised order. Time spent in a danger zone (1.5 m) per-percent-infected-player (DZ PPIP) ranged from 0.015 to 0.279% of playing time. DZ PPIP for SSG was higher (P < 0.05) than CMT and SMP. The average number of contacts (within 1.5 m) with a potentially infected player ranged from 12 to 73 contacts/hour. SSG had more (P < 0.05) contacts than CMT and SMP, with SMP having a higher (P < 0.05) number of contacts than CMT. Time/contact ranged from 0.87 to 3.00 seconds for the groups. No player-to-player and body-to-ball touches were registered for CMT. Total player-to-player contacts were 264% higher (P < 0.05) in SSG than SMP, ranging from 80 to 170 and 25 to 56 touches, respectively. In all groups, a greater total distance was covered during SMP compared to CMT (38-114%; P < 0.05). All groups performed more high-intensity running (33-54%; P < 0.05) and had higher heart rates during SMP compared to CMT. Different types of football training all appear to exert a minor COVID-19 infection risk; however, COVID-19-modified training may be safer than small-sided game training, but also match-play. In contrast, exercise intensity is lower during COVID-19-modified training than match-play.

Sport Participation and Subjective Outcomes of Health in Middle-Aged Men: A Scoping Review

Although sport participation is intrinsically motivating and improves the physical health of middle-aged men, its influence on subjective health measures, such as health-related quality of life, self-rated health, or well-being is unclear. The purpose of this scoping review was to describe the existing literature that has assessed male sport participants and their subjective health. MEDLINE, Embase, Emcare, PsycInfo, SPORTDiscus, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched, and reference lists of included studies were pearled. Included were original peer-reviewed studies reporting a marker of subjective health in males, 35 to 54 years (average), who participated in sport. The search identified 21 eligible articles, 18 quantitative, 2 mixed-methods, and 1 qualitative, from 13 different countries. Eighteen studies were cross-sectional. A broad range of outcomes were assessed, with the most common being quality of life/health-related quality of life (n = 6) and self-rated health (n = 6). Most studies assessing quality of life, health-related quality of life, or self-rated health demonstrated a positive association with sport participation, while sport participation was not related to measures of life satisfaction, flourishing, happiness or global well-being; however, limited studies examined these latter outcomes. Sport participation appears to be related to better select subjective health outcomes in middle-aged men. However, most available data are cross-sectional and thus causation cannot be determined. Randomized intervention trials are required to determine whether sport participation improves the subjective health of middle-aged men.

Open Science Framework registration:https://osf.io/zypds

Metabolic Changes After a 24-Week Soccer-Based Adaptation of the Diabetes Prevention Program in Hispanic Males: A One-Arm Pilot Clinical Trial

Aims: One third of the U.S. adult population is estimated to have obesity-associated prediabetes. Hispanics have a 50% higher type 2 diabetes death rate compared to non-Hispanic whites, yet low participation in lifestyle change programs, making this subgroup an important target for prevention. Our objective was to determine the feasibility and the effects of an intervention implementing the Center for Disease Control and Prevention National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) plus recreational soccer (RS) in Hispanic men.

Methods: Overweight and obese Hispanic men, aged 30–57 years with prediabetes at screening were recruited (n = 41). Trained soccer coaches led 30-min facilitated discussion of the NDPP modules after each RS session, with two sessions per week for 12 weeks and once per week for the following 12 weeks. The 1-h RS sessions followed the Football Fitness curriculum. Assessments included body mass index, waist circumference, bioelectrical impedance analysis (InBody 270), blood pressure, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and validated physical fitness tests. Multilevel mixed models assessed the outcomes as a function of time and cohort and incorporated an unstructured covariance structure to examine the changes from baseline to 24 weeks. All analyses were conducted as intent-to-treat using SAS v 9.4.

Results: Hispanic males (n = 41; mean age 41.7 [0.1] years) were obese at baseline (mean BMI 32.7, standard error of mean [0.7], mean weight 93.9 [2.2] kg). Attendance rate was 65% overall at 12 weeks but differed between cohorts. Five mild injuries occurred over the trial. After 24 weeks of the NDPP+RS intervention, there were significant decreases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (%change −4.7[SE 2.4]; 95% CI [−11.5, −1.7] and −6.1 [1.7] mmHg; [−9.6, −2.6], respectively), HbA1c (−0.2 [0.1]; [−0.3, −0.1]), Despite significant reductions in weight (−3.8 [0.7]; [−5.2, −2.5]), waist circumference (−6.6 [0.7] cm; [−8.0, −5.1]), body fat % (−1.9 [0.5]; [−2.8, −1.0]), lean body mass was preserved (−0.9 [0.3]; [−1.6, −0.2]).

Conclusion: A 24-week soccer-based adaptation of the Diabetes Prevention Program is safe and feasible among middle-aged Latino men.

Effectiveness of a Walking Football Program for Middle-Aged and Older Men With Type 2 Diabetes: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

Studies on walking football have found positive effects on health; however, there are still several research gaps when applying walking football programs for patients with type 2 diabetes.

Objective

This study aims to test the effectiveness of a walking football exercise program on glycemic control and cardiovascular risk factors in middle-aged and older men with type 2 diabetes.

Methods

The study will be run as a randomized controlled trial with a 6-month duration in Portugal. Eligible participants will be randomized using a 1:1 ratio for intervention or control groups and compared using an intention-to-treat analysis. The intervention will consist of a walking football exercise program. The control group will continue with usual care in primary health care units. The primary outcome will be the mean difference in glycated hemoglobin between intervention and control groups after 6 months. Secondary outcomes include the mean differences in fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference, fat-free mass, and fat mass. Additionally, secondary outcomes include the incidence of exercise-related injuries and adverse events and the walking football exercise program’s cost-utility.

Results

The study protocol is being prepared to be submitted to the Health Ethics Committee of the Northern Regional Health Administration, Portugal. After approval, participant recruitment will start in primary health care units in Porto's metropolitan area by family medicine doctors.

Conclusions

Walking football might have the potential to be effective in improving glycemic control and cardiovascular risk factors, with a low rate of exercise-related injuries and adverse events and a good cost-utility ratio. Therefore, walking football may be a sustainable intervention strategy for type 2 diabetes management.

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

PRR1-10.2196/28554

Randomised controlled trial comparing two group-based exercise programmes (team sport vs circuit training) on men's health: study protocol

Introduction

Physical activity promotes physical, psychological and social health. Despite this, almost half of middle-aged (35–54 years) Australian men are insufficiently active. Exercise adherence is increased with social interaction in a group setting. Team sport can leverage the power of groups and has shown to be more intrinsically motivating than discrete exercise modes. Evaluation of the effect of team sport compared with traditional group exercise on health, particularly psychological and social health, and physical activity levels of middle-aged men is limited. This study aims to compare the effects of team sport participation and group circuit training on physical activity levels and health in insufficiently active middle-aged men.

Methods and analysis

In this parallel randomised controlled trial, n=128 men aged 35–54 years will complete a 12-week team sport or group circuit exercise programme. Participants must self-report to not be meeting Australian physical activity guidelines or participating in team sport before recruitment. Health-related quality of life, exercise motivation, psychological needs satisfaction, sleep and physical activity levels (accelerometry), blood lipids, glucose and metabolic syndrome risk score will be assessed at baseline, end of the programme and 12 weeks follow-up. Linear mixed effect models will be used.

Ethics and dissemination

The study has received ethical approval from the University of South Australia’s Human Research Ethics Committee (Ethics Protocol 203274). Study results will be disseminated via publication in disciplinary-specific journals, conference presentations, and as part of a Doctoral thesis.

Trial registration number

ANCTRN12621000483853.

The Effects of Football Practice on Nutritional Status and Body Composition in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Dietary patterns, exercise, sport, and physical activity have been shown to improve body composition in children. This systematic review with meta-analysis analyzed the effects of practicing football on body composition (fat mass, lean body mass, and bone mineral content) in children. An initial search in PubMed, Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus was carried out in April 2021 to identify relevant articles. Inclusion criteria required children up to 12 years of age with a minimum football intervention duration of 10 weeks. Methodological quality of the articles was evaluated using the PEDro scale. Between the 1803 articles originally founded, only 14 articles were included in the meta-analysis. A total of 1643 subjects between the 14 studies were identified. The review and meta-analysis were conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and used Review Manager and Full Meta-Analysis software. The results between the control and experimental groups showed significantly better lean body mass and fat mass values in the experimental group (p < 0.05). Football practice was positively associated with increases in lean body mass (mean difference of 1.55; 95% CI, 0.96, 2.15), decreases in fat mass (mean difference of -0.81; 95% CI, -1.49, -0.13), and increases in whole body bone mineral content (mean difference of 117.68; 95% CI, 83.69, 151.67). In conclusion, the results of this systematic review with meta-analysis suggest that football positively affects body composition in children. However, further research is needed to confirm the results for bone mineral content.

Intensity-Modified Recreational Volleyball Training Improves Health Markers and Physical Fitness in 25-55-Year-Old Men

The present study is aimed at determining the effects of intensity-modified recreational volleyball training on health markers and physical fitness in healthy middle-aged men. Thirty-four healthy untrained men aged 25–55 years were randomized to either a modified recreational volleyball group (MRV, n = 17) or a recreational volleyball group (RV, n = 17). Both groups performed volleyball training twice a week over 12 weeks, with participants in MRV playing a modified game with higher intensity due to shorter breaks between rallies. The small to moderate improvements of both groups were observed in SBP (MRV g_av = −0.50 [-0.67, -0.33] vs. RV g_av = −0.37 [-0.55, -0.20]) to a similar extent (p = 0.12). However, only the MRV significantly improved (p < 0.001) the mean body weight (g_av = −0.35 [-0.52, -0.18]) and BMI (g_av = −0.39 [-0.56, -0.22]) to a moderate extent and the YYIR1 performance (g_av = 2.45 [2.22, 2.69]) to a large extent. Even though both groups significantly improved the rest HR, the mean change of rest HR was significantly greater in MRV as compared to the RV (p < 0.001,  ŋ_p² = 0.47). The study revealed that an intensity-modified type of recreational volleyball, involving shorter breaks between rallies, improves cardiorespiratory fitness and health markers for men aged 25–55 years.

Effects of Recreational Small-Sided Soccer Games on Bone Mineral Density in Untrained Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted to assess the effects of small-sided games (SSG)-based training programs on bone mineral density (BMD) in untrained adults. The data sources utilized were Cochrane, Embase, Medline (PubMed), Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science. The study eligibility criteria were: (i) untrained adults (>18 years old) of any sex, with or without a noncommunicable disease; (ii) SSG-based programs with a minimum duration of four weeks and no restrictions regarding frequency (number of sessions per week); (iii) passive or active control groups; (iv) pre-post values of BMD; (v) only randomized controlled trials; and (vi) only original and full-text studies written in English. The database search initially yielded 374 titles. From those, nine articles were eligible for the systematic review and meta-analysis. The age of included population varied from a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 71 years old. Non-significant differences between SSG and passive and active control groups on total BMD (ES = 0.14; p = 0.405 and ES = 0.28; p = 0.05, respectively). Meanwhile, significant differences in favor of SSGs vs. passive and control groups were detected, evidencing an improvement of BMD in lower limbs of the adult population for both sexes (ES = 0.26; p = 0.05 and ES = 0.28; p = 0.156, respectively). As conclusions, SSGs can be used as a non-pharmacological alternative to increase the BMD in the lower limbs despite having no significant impact on total body BMD. Careful generalization should be done of the level of heterogeneity.

Improved metabolic fitness, but no cardiovascular health effects, of a low-frequency short-term combined exercise programme in 50-70-year-olds with low fitness: A randomized controlled trial

We evaluated the cardiometabolic effects of a 15-week combined exercise programme, implemented in sports clubs, for 50-70-year-olds with low aerobic fitness. In a randomized controlled trial, 45 participants (26 women) with low fitness were randomly assigned (2:1-ratio) to a training group (TG, n = 30) or inactive control group (CG, n = 15). TG had 15 weeks with one weekly 90-min supervised group-based session in a recreational sports club with combined aerobic exercise and strength training and were encouraged to perform home-based training 30 min/wk. Evaluations of relative VO_2max (mLO₂/min/kg), blood pressure, resting heart rate (HR), echocardiography, peripheral arterial tonometry, body composition, lipid profile and HbA1c were performed at 0 and 15 wks. Average HR during supervised training was 113 ± 13 bpm (68.6 ± 7.0%HR_max), with 4.3 ± 6.6% spent >90%HR_max. At 15-wk follow-up, intention-to-treat analyses revealed no between-group difference for VO_2max/kg (0.4 mLO₂/min/kg, 95%CI -0.8-1.5, P = 0.519; -3 mL/min, 95%CI -123-118, P = 0.966) or other cardiovascular outcomes (all P > 0.05). Compared to CG, total fat mass (-1.9 kg; 95%CI -3.2 to -0.5, P = 0.005), total fat percentage (-1.3%, 95%CI -2.2 to -0.3, P = 0.01) and total/HDL cholesterol ratio (P = 0.032) decreased in TG. Regular adherence to supervised training was high (81%), but 0% for home-based exercise. In conclusion, the group-based supervised training was associated with high adherence and moderate exercise intensity, whereas insufficiently supported home-based training was not feasible. Together, 15 wks of combined exercise training did not improve aerobic fitness or affected cardiovascular function in 50-70-yr-olds with low aerobic fitness, whereas some positive effects were observed in metabolic parameters.HighlightsCombined exercise training implemented in a sports club elicited moderate aerobic intensity in 50-70-year-old untrained individuals.Supervised group-based training had high adherence whereas unsupported home-based training had very low adherence.15 weeks of low-frequency combined moderate intensity exercise training improved lipid profile and fat mass, but had no effect on cardiovascular fitness.

Danger zone assessment in small-sided recreational football: providing data for consideration in relation to COVID-19 transmission

During the COVID-19 pandemic, physical inactivity has increased, and a wide range of sporting activities locked down, with possible long-term implications for public health. Football is the most popular sport worldwide, and recreational football training leads to broad-spectrum health effects. Football is, however, deemed a contact sport with frequent close contact important to consider during COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVES

This study investigated time spent with close contact (danger zone (DZ) within 1.5 m), number of contacts and time per contact, and compared game formats in recreational small-sided football games for young and adult male football players.

METHODS

Movement analyses were performed on 10 Hz Global Positioning System (GPS) data collected during various small-sided football games prior to the COVID-19 outbreak.

RESULTS

Time spent in the DZ was 4.3-7.9 s/h per per cent infected players, corresponding to 34.3-114.8 s/h if one player was infected. Number of contacts with one infected player was 23.5-87.7 per hour, with an average contact time of 1.1-1.4 s, and a total number of contacts of 311-691 per hour with all players. 53%-65% of all contacts were shorter than 1 s and 77%-85% shorter than 2 s. Trivial to small effects were found for number of participants and area per player, whereas standard of play and playing with/without boards had no effect.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that during small-sided football limited time is spent within DZ and that player contacts are brief. Recreational football may therefore more appropriately be deemed as sporting activity with brief, sporadic contact.

Reproducibility of Internal and External Training Load During Recreational Small-Sided Football Games

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility of internal and external load parameters during recreational small-sided football games. Methods: Ten healthy untrained young adult males (age: 20.2 ± 1.9 yr, body mass: 69.2 ± 6.3 kg, height: 175.4 ± 5.9 cm, body fat: 19.7 ± 5.2%) performed two 2 × 20-min sessions of four versus four plus goalkeeper small-sided games (SSG) 1 week apart on a standard, outdoor, 40 × 20-m artificial grass pitch. Twelve external (total distance, peak speed, player load, work rate and distance covered at 0-2, 2-5, 5-7, 7-9, 9-13, 13-16, 16-20 and >20 km/h) and seven internal load parameters (heart rate and time spent in different heart rate zones [<70%, 71-80%, 81-90%, 91-95%, 96-100%, 91-100%]) were measured. Reproducibility was reported as intraclass coefficient correlation (ICC), the coefficient of variation (CV), and the typical error of measurements (TE). Results: No statistical differences (p> .05) between sessions were found in any measures. Minimal test-retest variability was noted for mean and peak heart rate (HR_peak) relative to HR_peak with CV values of 3.4% and 2.6%, respectively. Acceptable variability (CV<10%) was demonstrated for total distance covered, distance covered at 2-5 km/h, and peak speed. Distance covered in different speed zones (CV = 15.7-47.6%) and percentage of time in each HR zone showed large-to-very large variability (CV = 36.2-128.4%). Mean heart rate (HR_mean), HR_peak, distance covered at 5-7, 13-16 and >20 km/h, and percentage of time above 95%HR_peak were the most reliable variables (ICC = 0.74-0.79), followed by total distance covered, peak speed, and percentage of time at 80-90% HR_peak (ICC = 0.39-0.67). The lowest reliability was observed for distance covered in the moderate speed zones 7-9 km/h (ICC = 0.12) and 9-13 km/h (ICC = -0.09), and percentage of time at 70-80% HR_peak (ICC = -0.01). Conclusions: Small-sided games can be used when planning training-induced exercise responses in relation to total distance covered, peak speed, and mean heart rate. This evidence further supports the use of SSG when organizing recreational football training, in young adult males, with the purpose of improving health profile due to the high reproducibility of HR_mean and total distance covered.

Effects of small-sided recreational team handball training on mechanical muscle function, body composition and bone mineralization in untrained young adults-A randomized controlled trial

Prolonged physical inactivity in young adults may lead to deficiencies in musculoskeletal fitness, and thus a need exists to develop physical activity and exercise programmes that are effective of increasing musculoskeletal fitness. The aim of this study, therefore, was to investigate the effects of small-sided team handball training on lower limb muscle strength, postural balance and body composition in young adults. Twenty-six men and twenty-eight women were stratified for peak oxygen uptake (VO_2peak) and body fat percentage and randomly allocated to either 12 wks of small-sided recreational team handball training (THG: 14 men and 14 women, age 24.1±2.6 yrs (mean±SD), VO_2peak 39.8±5.9 ml/kg/min and body fat percentage 32.7±8.7%) or serving as non-exercising controls (CON: 12 men and 14 women, age 24.8±3.1 yrs, VO_2peak 39.7±5.0 ml/kg/min, body fat percentage 31.7±9.7%). THG trained on average 1.8 times/week for 12 wks. At 0 and 12 wks, lower limb muscle strength, rate of force development (RFD), vertical jump height and power, postural balance, body composition and muscle biopsies were assessed. No training effects were observed for maximal isokinetic or isometric knee extensor strength, maximal vertical jump height or take-off power, fibre type distribution or capillarization. Late phase (RFD) increased (+7.4%, p<0.05) and postural sway excursion length was improved after training (-9%, p<0.05) in THG with no difference from CON (p>0.05). Further, THG demonstrated a decrease in body fat percentage (-3.7%) accompanied by increases in whole-body fat free mass (FFM) (+2.2%), leg FFM (+2.5%), total bone mineral content (BMC) (+1.1%), leg BMC (+1.2%), total hip bone mineral density (+1.6%) and hip T-score (+50%) which differed from CON (all p<0.05). In conclusion, recreational small-sided team handball training appears to effectively improve rapid force capacity, postural balance, lean and fat body mass and bone health in previously untrained young adults. The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04247724).

ClinicalTrials.gov ID number: NCT04247724

Physical fitness and activity changes after a 24-week soccer-based adaptation of the U.S diabetes prevention program intervention in Hispanic men

PURPOSE

One third of the U.S. adult population is estimated to have prediabetes. Hispanics have a 50% higher type 2 diabetes (T2DM) death rate compared to non-Hispanic whites, yet low participation in lifestyle change programs, making this subgroup an important target for prevention efforts. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of an exercise intervention implementing the Center for Disease Control and Prevention National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) plus recreational soccer (RS) in Hispanic men.

METHODS

Overweight and obese Hispanic men, aged 30-57 years with prediabetes at screening were recruited from the community. Trained soccer coaches led 30-min facilitated discussion of the NDPP modules after each RS session, with two weekly sessions delivered over 12 wks, then once a wk until 24 wks. The 1-h RS sessions followed the Football Fitness curriculum structure. Standardized study assessments included objectively measured physical activity via fitness tracker, physical fitness via validated field tests, global positional system soccer specific metrics and behavior change questionnaires. Mixed models assessed the outcomes as a function of time and cohort and incorporated an unstructured covariance structure to examine the difference between baseline, 12 and 24 wks. All analyses were conducted as intent-to-treat and generated using SAS v 9.4.

RESULTS

Hispanic males (n = 41; mean age 41.9 [6.2 SD] years) were obese at baseline (mean BMI 32.7, standard error [0.7]). After 24 wks of the NDPP+RS intervention, there were significant beneficial changes in vertical jump (2.8 [1.3] cm; p = 0.048), agility and lower extremity muscular power (figure 8-run) at 12 wks (-4.7% change; p = 0.001) and 24 wks (-7.2% change; p < 0.0001), predicted VO2 max (12 wks: 1.9%; p = 0.007; 24 wks 1.0%; p = 0.036), modified push-ups increased 22% (p < 0.0001) at 12 wks and 31% (p < 0.0001) at 24 wks, dynamic sit-ups increased 10% (p = 0.005) at 12 wks and 15% (p < 0.0001) at 24 wks.

CONCLUSION

Among middle-aged Latino men, broad-ranging significant improvements in physical fitness were observed after 24 wks participating in lifestyle education plus RS in a single arm feasibility trial.

Can Tracking Data Help in Assessing Interpersonal Contact Exposure in Team Sports during the COVID-19 Pandemic?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the temporary closure of physical activity and sports facilities, and the generalized cancellation or postponement of sports events have a massive impact on social and economic development. In this study, we explored the feasibility of using tracking data from a football match to assess interpersonal contact between individuals by calculating two measures of respiratory exposure. The dynamic tracking positioning of all players and referees during one international football match was analyzed. For each individual, two measures of respiratory exposure were calculated, based on the 2 m interpersonal distance recommendations for contact tracing for COVID-19 control. Overall, individuals spent a median of 0.12 mm:ss (IQR = 0.45 mm:ss) exposed to interpersonal contact of fewer than 2 m from others. The highest value of exposure was observed between two players of opposing teams (6.35 mm:ss). The results suggest that tracking data can be used to assess respiratory exposure to interpersonal contact in team sports, such as football. The measures of exposure calculated can be used to the prompt identification of high-risk contacts of COVID-19 cases during a match or a training session, but also the risk stratification of different sports and physical activities.

Effects of a 16-week recreational team handball intervention on aerobic performance and cardiometabolic fitness markers in postmenopausal women: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Postmenopausal women have an elevated risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, which can be counteracted by conventional exercise regimes or recreational football. Less is known about the impact of exercise programmes based on other team sports. Thus, we examined the effects of recreational team handball on aerobic performance, cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiometabolic health in untrained postmenopausal women.

METHODS

Sixty-seven participants (age 68 ± 6 years, stature 157 ± 6 cm, body mass 67 ± 10 kg, fat mass 37 ± 7%, VO_2peak 25.2 ± 3.6 mL/min/kg, Yo-Yo intermittent endurance level 1 test performance (YYIE1) 230 ± 103 m) with no previous experience of team handball were randomly allocated to either a team handball (THG, n = 41) or a control (CG, n = 26) group. THG performed 2-3 60-min training sessions per week for 16 weeks. YYIE1 performance and cardiometabolic markers were evaluated at baseline and post-intervention.

RESULTS

Average attendance during recreational team handball training was 1.9 ± 0.4 sessions per week, with mean heart rates of 76 ± 6%HR_max and 18 ± 9 min (44 ± 20% of total time) played at HR > 80%HR_max. A between-group effect was observed for YYIE1 performance, with a more pronounced improvement in aerobic exercise performance in THG compared to CG (70 ± 62 vs 15 ± 44%; p < 0.001). Within-group improvements (p < 0.05) were observed for THG with regard to VO_2peak (7 ± 10%), incremental treadmill test time to exhaustion (TTE) (11 ± 14%), total cholesterol (-3 ± 9%) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-2 ± 14%), with no significant changes in CG except an increase (p < 0.05) in TTE. Post-intervention values were higher for THG vs CG for YYIE1 performance (88%; 406 ± 216 vs 216 ± 75 m) and VO_2peak (10%; 27.5 ± 3.8 vs 24.9 ± 3.6 mL/min/kg).

CONCLUSIONS

Recreational team handball can be used to obtain moderate-to-vigorous aerobic intensities, and just 2 weekly 60-min team handball training sessions for 16 weeks can result in improvements in aerobic performance and in markers of cardiorespiratory fitness in postmenopausal women with no previous experience of the sport.

Football can tackle type 2 diabetes: a systematic review of the health effects of recreational football practice in individuals with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes

This work aimed to summarize the health effects of recreational football practice in individuals with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes (T2D), through a systematic review. An electronic search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, LILACS and list of references of the available reviews, until July 2019. Studies were eligible if they included any form of football practice, in patients diagnosed with prediabetes or T2D. After recreational football practice, participants with prediabetes or T2D improved fasting glucose, total and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, body mass, body fat percentage, waist circumference, blood pressure, and maximal oxygen uptake. Further benefits were found in fat-free mass and resting heart rate for participants with prediabetes, and in glycated haemoglobin, body mass index and fat mass in individuals with T2D. This systematic review showed promising benefits of recreational football practice on both the prevention and control of T2D and related cardiovascular risk.

Adapted recreational football small-sided games improve cardiac capacity, body composition and muscular fitness in patients with type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND

The usefulness of adapted small-sided games (SSGs) in improving cardiac function in subjects with T2DM is still debated. Here we evaluated the effects of 18 weeks indoor muscular activation training (6 weeks; IMA) followed by adapted SSGs football training (12 weeks) on cardiac function, muscular fitness, body composition and adiponectin expression in sedentary T2DM volunteers.

METHODS

Six T2DM patients underwent IMA protocol of 6 weeks, twice a week followed by 12 weeks SSGs (5-a-side, once a week) training. Glucose, lipid profile and serum homocysteine concentration, body composition (BC), bone mineral density (DEXA), were determined at baseline and after 18 weeks (IMA+SSGs). VO<inf>2max</inf> and muscular fitness were recorded at baseline and after IMA (6 weeks) and SSGs (12 weeks), respectively.

RESULTS

No significant differences were found for VO<inf>2max</inf> and muscular fitness after 6weeks of IMA. After 18 weeks (6 weeks IMA + 12 weeks SSGs) of training, significant improvements were found in the following parameters: work capacity, VO<inf>2peak</inf>, Ventilation (VE<inf>peak</inf>), breathing reserve consumption and oxygen uptake efficiency slope (P<0.05); leg fitness (P<0.05), BC (P<0.05), vertebral column T-score (P<0.01) and adiponectin (total and high-molecular-weight; P<0.05). Compared to baseline, a reduction in serum homocysteine occurred after 18 weeks of training (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

We evidenced that weekly adapted SSGs friendly football matches for 12 weeks improve cardiorespiratory capacity and the expression of independent markers associated with cardiovascular risk in T2DM patients, suggesting an overall reduced CVD-risk in these patients. These preliminary data encourage us to test the efficacy of this type of exercise in a larger population.

Deliberate Soccer Practice Modulates Attentional Functioning in Children

The main purpose of this study was to explore the association between the regular practice of open-skill sports (i.e., soccer) and executive control, along with other attentional functions (i.e., alerting and orienting) during preadolescence. The study was conducted on 131 participants (70 non-athletes and 61 soccer players). To measure cognitive performance, participants performed the Attentional Network Test—Interactions (ANT-I) task. Compared to non-athletes, soccer players showed overall faster responses and better executive control (e.g., reduced interference from distractors). Overall, our results provide new empirical evidence supporting the positive association between regular sports practice and cognitive performance, and more specifically executive functions. However, is important to note that the relationship between regular sport practice and cognition is complex and multifactorial. Our findings can be partly explained by the “cardiovascular fitness hypothesis” and the “cognitive component skills approach,” suggesting that an externally paced sport environment with high physical fitness and perceptual–cognitive demands may be an appropriate setting to optimize the development of cognitive functioning during early adolescence.

Game format alters the physiological and activity demands encountered during small-sided football games in recreational players

Background

Conditioning in the form of football small-sided games (SSG) is being increasingly utilized as a health-promoting and performance-enhancing activity.

Objective

The aim of this study was to quantify and compare the physiological responses and activity demands encountered during 3-a-side, 4-a-side, and 5-a-side football SSG in recreational players.

Method

Heart rate, blood lactate (BLa), rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and activity demands were measured across 2 × 20-min football sessions played on a 40 × 20-m pitch in 12 recreationally active college students. Data were collected over a period of two weeks using a repeated-measures crossover design.

Results

Mean heart rate was higher (moderate) during 5-a-side than 4-a-side (p = 0.02) and 3-a-side SSG (p < 0.001). BLa tended to be higher (small) in 3-a-side compared to 4-a-side (p = 0.12) and 5-a-side SSG (p = 0.46). The total distance covered was lower (large) during 5-a-side than 4-a-side SSG (p = 0.02), while the total number of accelerations (p = 0.01) and decelerations (p = 0.02) were higher (large) during 5-a-side than 4-a-side SSG.

Conclusion

These data suggest: 1) 5-a-side SSG require a greater intermittent workload and exacerbated HR responses; 2) 4-a-side SSG require more sustained activity (distance); and 3) 3-a-side SSG result in higher BLa compared to other SSG formats. The observed intermittent workload and exacerbated HR response in 5-a-side SSG were likely due to greater turnover rates with more frequent interceptions. Sustained activity in 4-a-side SSG might be underpinned by format-specific structures permitting optimal team work, while isolated guarding of players in 3-a-side SSG may have exacerbated BLa responses.