Citation

Fløtum LA, Ottesen LS, Krustrup P, Mohr M. Biomed. Res. Int. 2016; 2016: 7231545.

Affiliation

Faculty of Natural and Health Sciences, University of the Faroe Islands, 100 Tórshavn, Faroe Islands; Center for Health and Human Performance, Food and Nutrition, and Sport Science, University of Gothenburg, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Hindawi Publishing)

DOI

10.1155/2016/7231545

PMID

27437401

Abstract

The present study evaluated a nationwide exercise intervention with Football Fitness [soccer] in a small-scale society. In all, 741 adult participants (20-72 yrs) were successfully recruited for Football Fitness training in local football clubs, corresponding to 2.1% of the adult population. A preintervention test battery including resting heart rate (RHR), blood pressure, and body mass measurements along with performance tests (Yo-Yo Intermittent Endurance level 1 (Yo-Yo IE1), the Arrowhead Agility Test, and the Flamingo Balance Test) were performed (n = 502). Training attendance (n = 310) was 1.6 ± 0.2 sessions per week (range: 0.6-2.9), corresponding to 28.8 ± 1.0 sessions during the 18 wk intervention period. After 18 wks mean arterial pressure (MAP) was -2.7 ± 0.7 mmHg lower (P < 0.05; n = 151) with even greater (P < 0.05) reductions for those with baseline MAP values >99 mmHg (-5.6 ± 1.5 mmHg; n = 50). RHR was lowered (P < 0.05) by 6 bpm after intervention (77 ± 1 to 71 ± 1 bpm). Yo-Yo IE1 performance increased by 41% (540 ± 27 to 752 ± 45 m), while agility and postural balance were improved (P < 0.05) by ~6 and ~45%, respectively. In conclusion, Football Fitness was shown to be a successful health-promoting nationwide training intervention for adult participants with an extraordinary recruitment, a high attendance rate, moderate adherence, high exercise intensity, and marked benefits in cardiovascular health profile and fitness.

Language: en