Soccer improves fitness and attenuates cardiovascular risk factors in hypertensive men.
BACKGROUND
The present study investigated the fitness and health effects of medium-term soccer training for untrained hypertensive middle-age men.


METHODS
Thirty-three untrained males (31-54 yr) with mild-to-moderate hypertension were randomized 2:1 to a soccer training group (STG, two 1-h sessions per week, n = 22, 68% on medication) and a doctor advice group receiving traditional physician-guided recommendations on cardiovascular risk factor modification (DAG, n = 11, 73% on medication). Two-way repeated-measures ANOVA time-group statistics was applied.


RESULTS
During soccer training, average HR was 155 ± 9 bpm or 85% ± 7% HRmax. In STG, systolic and diastolic blood pressures decreased (P < 0.01) over 6 months from 151 ± 10 to 139 ± 10 mm Hg and from 92 ± 7 to 84 ± 6 mm Hg, respectively, with smaller (P < 0.05) decreases in DAG (from 153 ± 8 to 145 ± 8 mm Hg and from 96 ± 6 to 93 ± 6 mm Hg, respectively). In STG, V˙O2max increased (P < 0.01) from 32.6 ± 4.9 to 35.4 ± 6.6 mL·min-1·kg-1 and relative V˙O2 during cycling at 100 W was lowered (P < 0.05) from 55% ± 7% to 50% ± 8% V˙O2max over 6 months, with no changes in DAG. In STG, resting HR was lowered by 8 ± 11 bpm (P < 0.05), and the augmentation index (a measure of arterial stiffness) was lowered (P < 0.05) by 7.3 ± 14.0 over 6 months, with no change in DAG.


CONCLUSIONS
Six months of soccer training improved aerobic fitness, reduced blood pressure, and resulted in an array of other favorable effects on cardiovascular risk profile for untrained middle-age hypertensive men. Soccer training, therefore, may be a better nonpharmacological treatment for hypertensive men than traditional physician-guided advice.
Sport and Health Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, St. Luke's Campus, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom. P.Krustrup@exeter.ac.uk
Peter
P
Krustrup
Morten B
MB
Randers
Lars J
LJ
Andersen
Sarah R
SR
Jackman
Jens
J
Bangsbo
Peter R
PR
Hansen
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001794:Blood Pressure; D037001:Directive Counseling; D005080:Exercise Test; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology*; D059289:Vascular Stiffness