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Short-term street soccer improves fitness and cardiovascular health status of homeless men

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Abstract

This study examined the effect of 12 weeks of small-sided street soccer (2.2 ± 0.7 sessions/week) and fitness center training (0.5 ± 0.2 sessions/week) on physical fitness and cardiovascular health profile for homeless men. Exercise capacity, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), body composition (DXA scans), blood pressure (BP), and blood lipid profile were determined before and after the intervention period for 22 soccer-group subjects (SG) and 10 waiting list controls (CO). In addition, time-motion analyses, HR measurements, and pedometer recordings were performed during street soccer training and daily-life activities. During a 60 min 4 versus 4 street soccer session 182 ± 62 intense running bouts were performed; mean HR was 82 ± 4% HRmax and HR was >90% HRmax for 21 ± 12% (±SD) of total time. On a day without training the participants performed 10,733 ± 4,341 steps and HR was >80% HRmax for 2.4 ± 4.3 min. In SG, VO2max was elevated (p < 0.05) from 36.7 ± 7.6 to 40.6 ± 8.6 ml/min/kg after 12 weeks and incremental cycle test performance was improved (p < 0.05) by 81 s (95% CI: 47–128 s). After 12 weeks, fat percentage (19.4 ± 8.5 to 17.5 ± 8.6%) and LDL cholesterol (3.2 ± 1.1 to 2.8 ± 0.8 mmol L−1) were lowered (p < 0.05) in SG. The observed changes in SG were different (p < 0.05) from CO and no intra-group changes occurred for CO (p > 0.05). BP was unaltered after 12 weeks (p > 0.05), but diastolic BP was lowered for all SG subjects with pre-values >75 mmHg (83 ± 6 to 76 ± 6 mmHg, n = 8, p < 0.05). In conclusion, the exercise intensity is high during street soccer and regular street soccer training can be used as an effective activity to promote physical fitness and cardiovascular health status for homeless men.

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Acknowledgments

We thank all the subjects for their committed participation. We acknowledge the close cooperation with the employees at the homeless soccer organization “Ombold”. We also thank Karina Thomsen, Karina Westh, Christina Ørntoft and Line Bruun Jacobsen for excellent technical assistance. The study was supported by the Danish Ministry of Culture (Kulturministeriets Udvalg for Idrætsforskning).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences, Section of Human Physiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Morten B. Randers, Birgitte R. Krustrup, Therese Hornstrup, Jens J. Nielsen & Peter Krustrup

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Amager Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Jesper Petersen

  3. Gentofte University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Lars Juel Andersen

  4. Psychiatric Center Copenhagen, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Merete Nordentoft

  5. Sport and Health Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, St. Luke’s Campus, University of Exeter, Heavitree Road, Exeter, EX1 2LU, UK

    Peter Krustrup

Authors
  1. Morten B. Randers
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  2. Jesper Petersen
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  3. Lars Juel Andersen
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  4. Birgitte R. Krustrup
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  5. Therese Hornstrup
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  6. Jens J. Nielsen
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  7. Merete Nordentoft
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  8. Peter Krustrup
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter Krustrup.

Additional information

Communicated by Keith Phillip George.

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Randers, M.B., Petersen, J., Andersen, L.J. et al. Short-term street soccer improves fitness and cardiovascular health status of homeless men. Eur J Appl Physiol 112, 2097–2106 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-011-2171-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-011-2171-1

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