O.4.1-7 Recreational football training increases leg-extensor force production at high velocities in 55- to 70-year-old adults

PURPOSE: Ageing coincides with a blunted ability to produce force at moderate to high velocities. Therefore, improving muscle power, especially at moderate to high velocities, is a crucial target for exercise interventions in middle-aged and older adults. We investigated the effects of 10 weeks of recreational football training on the leg-extensor force-velocity (F-V) profile in 55- to 70-year-old adults. Simultaneous effects on functional capacity, body composition and endurance exercise capacity were examined. In addition, feasibility and the physical demands of the training program were tracked. METHODS: Forty participants (age 63.5 ± 3.9 years) were randomized in a football training (FOOT, n = 20) and a control (CON, n = 20) group. FOOT performed 45-min to 1-h of football training sessions with small-sided games (SSG’s) twice a week. Pre and post intervention, leg-extensor F-V profile (maximal power (P(max)), maximal force (F(0)), maximal velocity (V(0)), the slope divided by F(0) (S(FV)/F(0))), functional capacity, body composition and endurance exercise capacity were measured. RESULTS: Results revealed an increase over time for P(max) (p(time) = 0.009), but no interaction effect (p(int) = 0.221). A greater increase in V(0) and in S(FV)/F(0) was apparent in FOOT compared to CON (p(int) = 0.043 and p(int) = 0.065). No interaction effect was found for F(0) (p(int) = 0.922). Three-step stair ascent power, 10m fast walk, body fat percentage and running speed at 2mM lactate improved significantly more in FOOT than in CON (all p(int) < 0.1). The SSG’s elicited intense muscular actions and high average heart rates of 85.7% of maximal heart rate. Despite the high training load, participants perceived the sessions as very enjoyable and feasible. CONCLUSIONS: The present study emphasized that recreational football can be used as a feasible, enjoyable and effective training tool in middle-aged to older adults for improving force production at high velocities. This improvement is translated into a better performance on functional capacity tests that rely on high execution velocity. In addition, broad-spectrum health benefits can be realized with only 2 hours of training per week. FUNDING: E. Van Roie was supported by the Research Foundation Flanders, Belgium (senior postdoctoral fellowship 12Z5720N).