Could Soccer Treat High Blood Pressure in Women?

A soon-to-be published study in the journal of Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports is the first to show long-term health benefits for female participants in a Danish soccer-based exercise program called “Football Fitness”.

Football fitness was created in 2011 in Denmark, and is open to everyone, regardless of experience, age or gender. Participants complete warm-ups of strength, balance, and ball exercises followed by games.

The study included 31 untrained women between 35 and 50 years of age with high blood pressure. Nineteen participants were randomly assigned to the Football Fitness program and completed 1 hour of training 2 or 3 times a week for 1 year. The remaining participants were randomly assigned to an inactive control group.

“In a direct comparison with the inactive control group, the women engaged in football training derived significant positive effects on blood pressure (9 mmHg), body fat mass (3.1 kg), triglyceride (0.3 mmol/l), bone mass (70 g) and interval fitness (120% better Yo-Yo IE1 performance),” the researchers stated.

Their findings contribute to 14 years of research that show that soccer training may be an effective prevention and treatment for many lifestyle diseases, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In addition, the study adds to growing evidence that shows physical activity can reduce risk factors for cardiovascular disease compared to traditional pharmacological treatment.

“Football Fitness training comprises high-pulse training, stamina training and strength training, which explains why the women derived such significant and broad-spectrum effects on physical fitness and health by playing football for a year. What is more, they enjoyed the training and the attendance levels were high,” said lead researcher Dr Peter Krustrup at the Research Unit of Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Southern Denmark.

—Melissa Weiss

Reference:

Football is medicine for women with high blood pressure [press release]. Odense, Denmark: University of Southern Denmark; January 24, 2017. http://www.sdu.dk/en/om_sdu/fakulteterne/sundhedsvidenskab/nyt_sund/fodbold_er_medicin_for_kvinder_med_forhoejet_blodtryk