Small-sided Soccer Games are an Effective Health Promoting Activity for Homeless Men

Abstract

Homeless men are known to have an elevated risk of health related diseases and early death (Nordentoft and Wandall-Holm, 2003) due to misuse of alcohol and sedatives, malnutrition and physical inactivity. Regular soccer training has been proven to be an effective health promoting activity for untrained men and women (Krustrup et al, 2009) but a comprehensive soccer study has not yet been carried out for homeless men. Purpose: To examine possible changes in physical fitness and cardio-vascular health profile during 12 wks of regular soccer training. METHODS: 22 homeless men (36±10y) played soccer 3×1h per week for 12 wks organised as small-sided games on a 16×22m asphalt pitch with 1.1m high boards. DXA-scans and incremental bicycle tests to exhaustion were performed before and after the intervention. Blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were measured after 20 min of rest in the supine position. Results were compared to a control group consisting of 8 homeless males (42±9y) continuing their normal life style. Within-group changes were made using Student's paired t-test. Between-group differences were tested using Student's unpaired t-test. RESULTS: Lean body mass was 0.9 kg higher (p<0.05) and fat mass and fat percentage was 1.3 kg and 1.7% lower (p<0.05) after 12 wks. VO2 max and time to exhaustion were improved by (p<0.05) by 9 and 9% (∼1.5 min). Moreover, resting HR was lowered (p<0.05) by 5 bpm, whereas no change in BP was observed (Table 1). No significant differences were observed between pre-values for the two subject groups and no significant changes occurred for the control group during the 12 wks. CONCLUSION: Regular soccer training can be used to improve physical fitness and cardio-vascular health profile for homeless men.Table