Evaluating a Nationwide Recreational Football Intervention: Recruitment, Attendance, Adherence, Exercise Intensity, and Health Effects

Abstract

The present study evaluated a nationwide exercise intervention with Football Fitness 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.

Figure 1

Changes scores in systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) as well as resting heart rate (RHR) after 18 wks of football training. Data are shown for all participants (n = 151) and women aged 20–39 (n = 51) and 40–59 (n = 88) yrs. Data are means ± SE. ∗ denotes a significant difference from preintervention. Significance level is P < 0.05.

Figure 2

Individual mean arterial pressure (MAP; mmHg) before and after training (n = 151). Participants with pretraining MAP values >100 mmHg (n = 50) are separated by the vertical line from participants with MAP values <100 mmHg (n = 101). Pre- and post-values are separated by a line of identity. The change scores in SBP and DBP for the two groups are shown at the top of the figure. ∗ denotes a significant difference from preintervention. Significance level is P < 0.05.

Figure 3

Change scores in Yo-Yo Intermittent Endurance level 1 test (Yo-Yo IE1), Arrowhead Agility Test (AAT), and Flamingo Balance Test (FBT) performance after 18 wks of football training. Data are shown for all participants (n = 151) and women aged 20–39 (n = 51) and 40–59 (n = 88) yrs. Data are means ± SE. ∗ denotes a significant difference from preintervention. Significance level is P < 0.05.

Figure 4

Individual Yo-Yo Intermittent Endurance test level 1 (Yo-Yo IE1) performance before and after training (n = 151) separated by a line of identity.