Exercise intensity during walking football for men and women aged 60+ in comparison to traditional small-sided football – a pilot study

Participant Experiences With a Community-Based, "Older Adult" Walking Football Initiative in Australia: A Qualitative Exploration

Despite the growing popularity of walking sports, little is known about who is attracted to them, and what skills, motivations, and experiences encourage ongoing participation. The aim of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of the phenomenon of walking football in Australia. The authors first conducted semistructured interviews with 53 older adults (M = 62.37 years, 30.19% female) participating in walking football in Australia. Next, they conducted thematic analysis to develop themes that represented participant perspectives. Results indicated that walking football led to several physical benefits, but the social and mental benefits seemed to be more closely associated with continued participation. The slower pace of walking football created a valuable option to engage in physical activity among those with injuries or severe health issues, as well as older adults concerned about injuries. The slower pace also shifted the focus of walking football away from fitness and ability, and toward technique and skill development, and this focus, along with the mix in abilities, led to informal coaching and mentoring roles which were highly valued among older participants. Participant views about competition in walking football were diverse, with some expressing a mild concern. Understanding such diverse experiences of walking football helps to better understand how different aspects of the sport influence the perceived benefits and likelihood of continuing for different people. Using these findings to further develop walking sports in Australia could have large impacts on the health and well-being of older people.

A community-based modified sport program for rural community-dwelling older adults: A pilot study

INTRODUCTION

With Australia's ageing population, especially in rural regions, promoting physical activity among older adults is crucial.

OBJECTIVE

To identify factors influencing participation of older adults (60 years or over) from a rural community in a modified sport program and assess satisfaction with a pilot modified sport program informed by these findings.

DESIGN

Insights and ideas from two focus groups exploring community perspectives on a modified sport program informed the development of a six-week pilot modified sport program delivered with the local fitness centre. Post-program surveys assessed participant satisfaction, willingness to continue, and likelihood of recommending the program to others.

FINDINGS

Nine participants attended the focus groups, highlighting increased social connection, health management, and healthy ageing as key motivators. Joint and health concerns, cost, and time constraints emerged as main barriers. Preferences for the program included weekly sessions, alternating sports, indoor venues, and supporting modifications, but maintaining traditional rules. Thirteen participants participated in the pilot modified sport program. There was strong program attendance (86%). All participants (13/13) rated their satisfaction as very satisfied. They were highly likely to recommend the program to others (8.5/10) and were interested in continuing modified sport after the pilot (7.7/10).

DISCUSSION

This study demonstrates for the first time that modified sport is of interest to older people in the rural setting, and that delivering such a program is feasible in a small community. Rural communities implementing modified sport should consider the availability of suitable facilities and equipment, access to an engaging facilitator and participant cost.

CONCLUSION

Through a strong connection between the health service and community fitness centre, a modified sport program was developed and implemented, well-attended and enjoyed by participants in a rural community.

Walking football for Health - physiological response to playing and characteristics of the players

Walking Football (WF) is one type of recreational football increasing in popularity, targeting older adults. Further knowledge on the intensity and physical workload of WF, characteristics of the players, the social context, and reasons for playing WF is needed. Thus, the aim of the study was to characterize the individuals that regularly play WF and their experience of WF, and the physiological characteristics of the sport. Sixty-three players from three clubs taking part in organised WF in Sweden were included. The players participated in up to four WF-games and underwent performance tests and answered a questionnaire. The participants mean age was 70.9 years, ranging from 63 to 85 years with 71% (n = 27) of the men and 68% (n = 13) of the women having a BMI > 25. Fifty-one percent (n = 27) of the players had hypertension, and 73% (n = 39) regularly used prescription drugs due to illness. During WF, the players covered on average 2,409 m (2,509 m for men and 2,205 m for women, p = .001). Expressed in percentage of their age-estimated maximal heart rate, mean heart rate represented 80 ± 9 and 80 ± 8% of max for men, and 78 ± 9 and 79 ± 9% of max for women in the first and second halves, respectively, hence WF can be considered a moderate intensity activity for older adults. The main reason for WF participation was to socialize. WF includes a considerable number of accelerations and decelerations, making it more energetically and mechanically demanding than walking.

Effects of walking football on adherence, safety, quality of life and physical fitness in patients with prostate cancer: Findings from the PROSTATA_MOVE randomized controlled trial

Aims

To analyze the feasibility and impact of a walking football (WF) program on quality of life (QoL), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), muscle strength, and balance program in men with prostate cancer under androgen deprivation therapy (ADT).

Methods

Fifty patients with prostate cancer (stages IIb-IVb) under ADT were randomized to a 16-week WF program plus usual care (n=25) or usual care control group (n=25). The WF program consisted of three 90-minute sessions per week. Recruitment, withdrawal, adherence, enjoyment rate, and safety of the intervention were recorded throughout the study. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed before and after the interventions, while handgrip strength, lower limb muscle strength, static balance, and QoL were assessed before, during (week 8), and after (week 16) the interventions. Adverse events during sessions were also recorded.

Results

The WF group showed high levels of adherence (81.6 ± 15.9%) and enjoyment rate (4.5 ± 0.5 out of 5 points). In the intention-to-treat analysis, the WF group showed an improvement in chair sit-to-stand (p=0.035) compared to the control group. Within-group comparisons showed that handgrip strength in the dominant upper limb (p=0.024), maximal isometric muscle strength in the non-dominant lower limb (p=0.006), and balance in the dominant limb (p=0.009) improved over time in the WF group but not in the usual care group. The results obtained from the per-protocol analysis indicate that CRF improved significantly in the WF group as compared to the control group (p=0.035). Within-group analysis revealed that CRF (p=0.036), muscle strength in dominant (p=0.006) and non-dominant (p=0.001) lower limbs, and balance in the non-dominant lower limb (p=0.023) improved after 16 weeks of WF, but not in the control group. One major traumatic injury (muscle tear) was reported with a complete recovery before the end of the intervention.

Conclusion

This study suggests that WF is feasible, safe, and enjoyable in patients with prostate cancer under hormonal therapy. Furthermore, patients who adhere to the WF program can expect cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, and balance improvements.

Clinical trials registration

clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT04062162.

Effects of Walking Football During Ramadan Fasting on Heart Rate Variability and Physical Fitness in Healthy Middle-Aged Males

This study aimed to investigate the effect of a walking football (WF) program during Ramadan fasting (RF) on heart rate variability (HRV) indices, body composition, and physical fitness in middle-aged males. Thirty-one healthy sedentary men were randomized to WF (n = 18) and control (n = 13) groups. Both groups participated in RF. The WF group were involved in a training program (small-sided games) of three sessions a week during RF. The time and frequency domains of HRV, body composition, handgrip, lumbar strength, Modified Agility Test (MAT), and 6-minute walk test (6MWT) were measured before Ramadan (BR), during Ramadan (DR), and after Ramadan (AR). We reported that RF has significantly altered some parameters of HRV DR; the mean HR decreased while the mean RR, LF, and HF increased. WF had a significant effect on HRV and mean HR DR compared with BR and AR decreased while mean RR, HF and LF increased. DR, body mass decreased in both groups, while body mass index (BMI) decreased and lean mass increased only in WF group. Lower body mass and BMI levels were reported AR only in WF group. Physical capacity improved AR, compared with BR, only in the WF group with longer distance in 6MWT, shorter time(s) in MAT, and higher lumbar strength levels. We conclude that RF increases parasympathetic system activity. WF practice during RF is safe and might improve body composition, physical fitness, autonomic cardiac function, and physical fitness in middle-aged males.

Fußball – neue Wege in der Prävention und Behandlung des Typ-2-Diabetes

Über die Hälfte der Bevölkerung in westlichen Ländern ist übergewichtig, und nahezu jeder Vierte ist adipös. In den nächsten Jahren wird es deshalb zu einem enormen Anstieg der Zahl an nicht übertragbaren Erkrankungen wie Diabetes, kardiovaskuläre Erkrankungen und Krebs kommen. Eine ausgewogene Ernährung, begleitet von regelmäßiger Bewegung, ist entscheidend bei der Prävention der Entwicklung und des Fortschreitens nicht übertragbarer Erkrankungen. Gesundheitsfördernde Programme besitzen eine große Bedeutung bei der langfristigen Verbesserung des Gesundheitsstatus unserer Bevölkerung, jedoch nehmen insbesondere Männer selten an gesundheitsfördernden Programmen teil. Deshalb gilt es nach neuen Wegen zu suchen, um effizienter Menschen mit einem erhöhten Risiko zu erreichen. Fußball verfügt über ein großes Potenzial, Menschen und vor allem Männer mit einem erhöhten Risiko für nicht übertragbare Erkrankungen, die üblichen gesundheitsfördernden Maßnahmen ablehnend gegenüberstehen, für die Teilnahme an Gesundheitsprogrammen zu gewinnen. Für ältere Spieler ist Walking Football eine neue Fußball-Variante mit einem geringeren Risiko für Verletzungen und eine körperliche Überlastung. Die vorliegende Arbeit gibt einen Überblick über die metabolischen Auswirkungen von Freizeitfußball und insbesondere Walking Football sowie Maßnahmen zur Gesundheitsförderung, die von professionellen Fußballvereinen angeboten werden, bei Menschen mit einem erhöhten Risiko für oder mit bereits bestehenden nicht übertragbaren Erkrankungen, wie insbesondere Typ-2-Diabetes.

Football - Novel Approaches to Tackle Diabetes

Balanced diet and regular physical activity are of key importance to the prevention of the development and progression of non-communicable diseases. In 2050, 50% of the European population is expected to be obese. Cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, cancer, as well as joint impairments, will further increase. Therefore, programmes are critical to the improvement of the population's health status in the long run. New ways have to be found that allow addressing more people than with the current approaches. Football has a great potential to attract people at risk for or with already existing non-communicable diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, to participate in health-promoting programmes. The novel football version, walking football was developed for elderly players, aiming at avoiding injuries and physical overload. The present article gives a brief overview on the metabolic effects of recreational football, particularly walking football, as well as health-promoting programmes offered by professional football clubs in humans at risk for or with already existing non-communicable diseases.