Effect of 8 Weeks Soccer Training on Health and Physical Performance in Untrained Women

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the physiological, neuromuscular, and biochemical responses in untrained women after eight weeks of regular participation in small-sided soccer games compared to aerobic training. Twenty-seven healthy untrained women were divided into two groups [soccer group (SG = 17) and running group (RG = 10)]. Both groups trained three times per week for eight weeks. The variables measured in this study were maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max), relative velocity at VO₂max (vVO₂max), peak velocity, relative intensity at lactate threshold (vLT), relative intensity at onset of blood lactate accumulation (vOBLA), peak force, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, and cholesterol ratio (LDL/HDL). VO₂max, vLT, and vOBLA increased significantly in both groups (12.8 and 16.7%, 11.1 and 15.3%, 11.6 and 19.8%, in SG and RG respectively). However, knee extensors peak isometric strength and triglyceride levels, total cholesterol, LDL, and HDL did not differ after eight weeks of training in both groups. On the other hand, the LDL/HDL ratio significantly reduced in both groups. In conclusion, eight weeks of regular participation in small-sided soccer games was sufficient to increase aerobic performance and promote health benefits related to similar aerobic training in untrained adult women.

Keywords: Soccer training; aerobic fitness; aerobic training; health; physical fitness.

Figure 1.

Blood lactate behavior for kinetics during incremental test. SG = soccer group, RG = running group, Pre = period before intervention and Post = period after intervention. Blood lactate is expressed as mmol·L^-1 and presented as mean ± S.E.M. * p < 0.05 and ** p < 0.01 when compared pre and post in SG and †† p < 0.01 and ††† p < 0.001 in RG by two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Bonferroni’s multiple comparison test.