Fitness In Adults Research Articles

Older Adult Aerobic Capacity, Muscular Strength, Fitness and Body Composition After 20+ Years of Exercise Training: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Older Adult Aerobic Capacity, Muscular Strength, Fitness and Body Composition After 20+ Years of Exercise Training: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Physical Fitness Training Affects the Intestinal Flora of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

With the emergence of physical fitness training (PFT), it is mainly used for adult fitness activities, while children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (a special group) are ignored. In this paper, we studied the influence of fitness training on the level of autism disorder and intestinal flora (IF) of autistic children through six weeks of fitness training intervention, so as to observe the changes in the level of autism and the diversity and richness of IF. From the results of PFT intervention, we know that the scores of ATEC, CARS, SRS and CBCL of ASD children were significantly reduced, the ace index, shannon index and chao index of the experimental group (EG) were significantly increased (P<0.01), and the simpson index was significantly decreased (P<0.01). In the data after intervention, the intestinal bacterial flora abundance level of EG was not significantly different from that of the control group (CG).

Larger genomes show improved buffering of adult fitness against environmental stress in seed beetles.

Our general understanding of the evolution of genome size (GS) is incomplete, and it has long been clear that GS does not reflect organismal complexity. Here, we assess the hypothesis that larger genomes may allow organisms to better cope with environmental variation. It is, for example, possible that genome expansion due to proliferation of transposable elements or gene duplications may affect the ability to regulate and fine-tune transcriptional profiles. We used 18 populations of the seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus, which differ in GS by up to 4.5%, and exposed adults and juveniles to environmental stress in a series of experiments where stage-specific fitness was assayed. We found that populations with larger genomes were indeed better buffered against environmental stress for adult, but not for juvenile, fitness. The genetic correlation across populations between GS and canalization of adult fitness is consistent with a role for natural selection in the evolution of GS.

Atlantic salmon of wild and hatchery origin have different migration patterns

Hatcheries are frequently used to support or restore threatened Atlantic salmon populations. However, little is known about how rearing affects behaviour and fitness of hatchery adults that return to the river to spawn. We used acoustic telemetry to compare migration patterns exhibited by hatchery ( N = 16) and wild ( N = 12) Atlantic salmon spawners within a river system in Norway. Hatchery Atlantic salmon in this study were released as smolts and were identified by their missing adipose fin upon return to rivers after 1+ winters spent at sea. Hatchery-origin Atlantic salmon displayed aberrant reverse movement behaviour, by moving with frequent reversals between the river and the fjord, a behaviour that was not observed in any wild Atlantic salmon. No difference in survival and outmigration timing after spawning was found for the two groups. The observed effect of hatchery origin on behavior may have implications for stock assessments made to assess the progress of restoration in the river, particularly if behavioural differences impact catchability or detections of returning adult salmon. The consequences of different movement patterns are uncertain; however, movements are energetically costly and may ultimately impact the fitness of hatchery Atlantic salmon.

Cardiovascular telerehabilitation improves functional capacity, cardiorespiratory fitness and quality of life in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction The aim was to identify whether cardiovascular telerehabilitation programs (CV-T-REHAB) can improve functional capacity, cardiorespiratory fitness and quality of life (QoL) to the same extent of presential rehabilitation (CV-P-REHAB) in older adults, by meta-analysis of previous studies. Methods Literature search was conducted in October 2020 in four databases to select controlled trials of CV-T-REHAB effects on functional capacity (six-minute walk test [6MWT]), cardiorespiratory fitness (maximal oxygen consumption [ V ˙ O2max]), and QoL in older adults (> 50 years) and included new articles in April 2022. Results CV-T-REHAB improved 6MWT (11.14 m [CI95% = 8.03; 14.26], p < 0.001), V ˙ O2max (1.18 ml/kg/min [CI95% = 0.70; 1.66], p < 0.001), and QoL (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.36 [CI95% = 0.05; 0.67], p = 0.02). CV-T-REHAB increased V ˙ O2max to a greater extent than CV-P-REHAB (1.08 ml/kg/min [0.39; 1.76], p = 0.002). Although the 6MWT and V ˙ O2max analyses proved consistent and homogeneous, the QoL analysis showed considerable inconsistency (I2 = 92.90%), suggesting the need for studies exploring the effect of CV-T-REHAB on QoL in this population. Part of the heterogeneity was explained by age differences, as CV-T-REHAB improved QoL in adults >65 years, but not in adults <64 years. Conclusion CV-T-REHAB improved cardiorespiratory fitness to a level equal to or higher than CV-P-REHAB and improved functional capacity and QoL; being mainly effective for QoL in older adults >65 years. Thus, CV-T-REHAB can be a good alternative, when not the best option and might be considered especially for individuals with limited access to participate in face-to-face programs.

Mitochondrial Energetics in Skeletal Muscle Are Associated With Leg Power and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in the Study of Muscle, Mobility and Aging.

Mitochondrial energetics are an important property of aging muscle, as generation of energy is pivotal to the execution of muscle contraction. However, its association with functional outcomes, including leg power and cardiorespiratory fitness, is largely understudied. In the Study of Muscle, Mobility, and Aging, we collected vastus lateralis biopsies from older adults (n = 879, 70-94 years, 59.2% women). Maximal State 3 respiration (Max OXPHOS) was assessed in permeabilized fiber bundles by high-resolution respirometry. Capacity for maximal adenosine triphosphate production (ATPmax) was measured in vivo by 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Leg extension power was measured with a Keiser press system, and VO2 peak was determined using a standardized cardiopulmonary exercise test. Gender-stratified multivariate linear regression models were adjusted for age, race, technician/site, adiposity, and physical activity with beta coefficients expressed per 1-SD increment in the independent variable. Max OXPHOS was associated with leg power for both women (β = 0.12 Watts/kg, p < .001) and men (β = 0.11 Watts/kg, p < .050). ATPmax was associated with leg power for men (β = 0.09 Watts/kg, p < .05) but was not significant for women (β = 0.03 Watts/kg, p = .11). Max OXPHOS and ATPmax were associated with VO2 peak in women and men (Max OXPHOS, β women = 1.03 mL/kg/min, β men = 1.32 mL/kg/min; ATPmax β women = 0.87 mL/kg/min, β men = 1.50 mL/kg/min; all p < .001). Higher muscle mitochondrial energetics measures were associated with both better cardiorespiratory fitness and greater leg power in older adults. Muscle mitochondrial energetics explained a greater degree of variance in VO2 peak compared to leg power.

Change in cardiorespiratory fitness, hippocampal subfields and virtual navigation in older adults: a randomized controlled trial

AbstractBackgroundHippocampal neuroplasticity is oppositely affected by aging and exercise. Rodent models have demonstrated a specific exercise‐induced neuroplasticity enhancement in the dentate gyrus (DG) subfield of the hippocampus associated with improved spatial memory. In humans, exercise‐induced enhancement in cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) has been shown to increase the left anterior DG volume among young adults. Cross‐sectional studies in older adults showed that higher CRF is associated with greater subiculum volume in women and attenuated age‐related decline in performance of hippocampus‐dependent spatial navigation tasks. However, it is unknown whether these relationships hold for exercise‐induced enhancement in CRF among older adults.MethodIn this study, 32 older adults who completed one of two randomized controlled trials (RCT; ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT02057354; NCT02775760) participated in a 12‐week moderate‐intensity, trainer‐supervised exercise training program. Participants were randomized into two groups, active control (resistance training; RT) and endurance training (ET). The aim of this RCT was to examine the effects of exercise training and training‐induced increases in CRF on hippocampal subfield volumes and activation during virtual navigation in cognitively‐healthy sedentary older adults (55‐85 years old) using structural MRI and fMRI. FreeSurfer 7.1 was used to automatically segment hippocampal subfields using T1 and high‐resolution T2‐weighted images. AFNI 19.0 was used for fMRI preprocessing and analyses.ResultOur structural MRI results demonstrated that after the 12‐week period, the RT but not the ET group showed a marginally significant volume decrease in the right anterior DG. Additionally, CRF increase was significantly associated with volume increase in the left anterior subiculum among women. Our fMRI results showed that CRF increase predicted a marginally significant lower fMRI activation in the left subiculum. Finally, an exploratory whole‐brain fMRI analysis showed that CRF increase significantly predicted lower activation in the cuneus and right inferior frontal gyrusConclusionOur results extend findings from animal models on DG neuroplasticity to older adult humans and to brain areas associated with spatial navigation. Furthermore, our results suggest that exercise and CRF may attenuate aging‐related decline in the structural and functional integrity of hippocampal subfields among older adults, especially among women, and possibly by targeting the subiculum.

The Health Effects of 14 Weeks of Physical Activity in a Real-Life Setting for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities.

The life expectancy of individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) is reduced compared to the general population, and one of the main contributors to earlier death is inactivity. To investigate how 14 weeks of physical activity (PA) in a real-life setting affects cardiovascular fitness, body composition and bone health of adults with ID. Adults with ID were recruited into a PA-group (N = 52) or a control group (CON, N = 14). The PA-group participated in 14 weeks of PA, and body composition, cardiovascular fitness and bone health were assessed before and after the intervention. Outcomes and Results. Cardiovascular fitness and body composition improved from pre to post within the PA-group: Heart rates (HR) during the last 30 seconds of two increments of a treadmill test, were reduced (3.2 km/h: -4.4 bpm, p < 0.05; 4.8 km/h: -7.5 bpm, p < 0.001) and fat mass was reduced (-1.02 kg, p < 0.05). A between-group difference in favour of the PA-group, were observed in whole body bone mineral density (BMD) (0.024 g/cm2, p < 0.05). Conclusions and Implications. Fourteen weeks of PA performed in a real-life setting increased cardiovascular fitness, reduced fat mass and improved BMD in the weight-bearing skeleton in the PA-group. Increased and regular PA seems to be a promising tool to promote physical health in adults with ID.

Association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and the physical fitness of young-adult cadets: a retrospective case–control study

ObjectivesTo determine the association of symptomatic and asymptomatic mild COVID-19 and the SARS-CoV-2 viral load with the physical fitness of army cadets.DesignA retrospective case–control study.SettingOfficers’ Training School of the Israel...

Global brain venous oxygenation is associated with cardiorespiratory fitness in older adults

AbstractBackgroundT2‐Relaxation‐Under‐Spin‐Tagging (TRUST) is an MRI technique which allows for the measurement of brain blood oxygenation. Global venous oxygenation has been shown to decrease over the course of life and may prove useful as a measure of brain aging. No studies to date have examined the association between cardiovascular fitness and brain venous oxygenation.MethodGlobal venous oxygenation (Yv) and cardiorespiratory fitness were measured in sixteen older adults. Yv was measured from voxels within the superior sagittal sinus (SSS) using the TRUST sequence. The four voxels with the highest measured signal had their intensities averaged within each volume of the sequence. These values were fitted to an exponential function to yield a quantitative T2 and an estimate of Yv. Cardiorespiratory fitness was measured as the VO2 peak (mL/kg/min) during a cardiopulmonary exercise test to maximal capacity or volitional termination following the Cornell modified Bruce protocol.ResultUsing a linear regression with age and sex as covariates (F = 4.410, p = .31), Yv was shown to associate significantly with peak VO2 (b = .444, p = .020). Yv did not differ between male and female participants (t = 1.758, p = .101), and did not appear to associate independently with age (R = .182, p = .499). However, our sample was small and only included older adults.ConclusionThis study shows for the first time that whole body cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with global brain venous oxygenation. Future work will examine the utility of this neuroimaging biomarker to monitor changes in fitness with measures of cognitive aging

Evaluation of the effects of commercial Moringa Oleifera supplement on physical fitness of young fit adults

Background. The Moringa oleifera (Moringa) nutritional supplement is often used for medicinal purposes due to its acclaimed healing abilities. Indeed, research indicates that Moringa possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and has the potential of being an ergogenic substance by enhancing energy metabolism. Yet, despite numerous manufacturers producing Moringa-based supplements, little scientific research has been conducted on humans. Aims. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the effects of Moringa as an ergogenic aid in improving aerobic and anaerobic exercise performance in healthy young fit subjects. Methods. A randomized, double-blind controlled study was performed to evaluate Moringa supplement compared to placebo. The study included 16 healthy young male and female, age 26.6 ± 3.0 years physical education college students. Participants were evaluated before and after six weeks of intervention of Moringa (310 mg x 2) or placebo capsules. Participants were measured for body composition, resting blood pressure (BP), resting heart rate (HR), graded cardiopulmonary test on a treadmill until reaching maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) and maximal anaerobic Wingate bicycle test. Results. There were no differences in physiological or physical performances between the two groups before and after the intervention. Conclusions. Despite promising indications of positive effects of Moringa plant on physiological processes, there was no effect on physical activity performance. As such, the administering of Moringa for improving athletic performance should be taken with caution. Further studies should be conducted to examine the effects of the Moringa plant on human performance in other populations.

Impacts of surgical mask wearing on cardiopulmonary fitness using a six-minute walk test among older adults with hypertension.

This study aims to investigate the impacts of surgical mask wearing on cardiopulmonary fitness using a six-minute walk test (6MWT) among older adults with hypertension. The 45 older adults with hypertension volunteers were recruited and randomized into a no mask wearing condition and a surgical mask wearing condition. All volunteers were investigated through submaximal exercise testing using a 6MWT. Cardiopulmonary parameters were measured before and after performing a 6MWT. The results indicate post performance on the 6MWT for both the with and without surgical mask conditions significantly increased systolic blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation (SpO2) when compared to before performing a 6MWT. However, surgical masks resulted in no differences to systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, SpO2, and 6MWT distance when compared to no masks. In contrast, the surgical mask condition significantly increased perceived exertion when compared with the no mask condition (p < 0.05). This study indicates that surgical masks did not have an impact on cardiopulmonary fitness in older adults with hypertension.

Physical Fitness for Depression in Adolescents and Adults: A Meta-Analysis.

Depression has been recognized as one of the most significant factors affecting mental health status. For this reason, several efforts to prevent and reduce depression in all ages have been made in various domains to identify the relevant factors as well as the causes of depression. The objective of this meta-analysis was to examine the effect size between physical fitness and depression in adolescents and adults. A systematic search for meta-analysis (2009-2020) was performed using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and RISS, with key terms such as depression, depressive illness, and physical fitness or fitness. Overall, 19 out of 448 articles were included in the meta-analysis with strict inclusion criteria. The effect size is a medium between physical fitness and depression in adolescents and adults. Two fitness factors, namely cardiovascular endurance and muscle strength, are more relevant for alleviating depression in adolescents and adults, whereas agility was not related to depression. In particular, the cardiovascular fitness factor has an impact on almost all ages; however, muscular strength has less impact on depression in young adolescents, but has a great impact on older adults' depression. The effect size in this study is a medium between physical fitness and depression in adolescents and adults. Thus, more longitudinal and clinical studies with larger sample sizes are needed to clarify the relationship between physical fitness and depression.

Oxygen Uptake Efficiency Slope as a Predictor of Mortality Risk: THE BALL STATE ADULT FITNESS LONGITUDINAL LIFESTYLE STUDY (BALL ST).

Oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES), defined as the slope of the linear relationship between oxygen uptake and the semilog transformed ventilation rate measured during an incremental exercise test, may have prognostic utility. The objective of this investigation was to examine the relationship between assessments of OUES and all-cause mortality in a cohort of apparently healthy adults. The sample included 2220 apparently healthy adults (48% females) with a mean age of 44.7 ± 12.9 yr who performed cardiopulmonary exercise testing. The OUES was calculated from the entire test, using data from the initial 50% (OUES 50 ) and 75% (OUES 75 ) of test time, and normalized to body surface area. Cox proportional hazard models assessed the relationship between measures of OUES and mortality. Prognostic peak oxygen uptake (V˙ o2peak ) and OUES models were compared using the concordance index. There were 310 deaths (29% females) over a follow-up period of 19.8 ± 11.1 yr. For males, OUES, OUES 75 , and normalized OUES had an inverse association with mortality, even after adjusting for traditional risk factors ( P < .05). For females, only the unadjusted OUES, OUES 75 , and normalized OUES models were associated with mortality ( P < .05). The concordance index values indicated that unadjusted OUES 50 and OUES 75 models had lower discrimination than the unadjusted OUES and V˙ o2peak models ( P < .05). Furthermore, OUES did not complement the fully adjusted V˙ o2peak model ( P ≥ .32). Assessments of OUES are related to all-cause mortality in males but not in females. These findings suggest that OUES can have prognostic utility in apparently healthy males. Moreover, submaximal determinations of OUES could have value when measuring V˙ o2peak is not feasible.

Cardiac Rehabilitation and Cardiopulmonary Fitness in Children and Young Adults With Congenital Heart Diseases: A Critically Appraised Topic.

Public health guidelines and a myriad of studies have proven that exercise is beneficial in the alleviation of various cardio-metabolic diseases. Congenital heart disease (ConHD) is one of the most frequently occurring congenital structural malfunctions in the pediatric population, affecting nine of every 1,000 live births. Only a few studies have established the impact of a structured exercise program on cardiopulmonary fitness in diverse groups of patients with ConHD. It is also alarming to know that a substantial number of these patients and their caregivers often remain very wary of exercise. Anxiety about exercise may increase the risk of developing morbid obesity and other long-term health complications of ConHD. The present review of a critically appraised topicis undertaken to answer the question, "Does structured exercise intervention (cardiac rehabilitation) improve cardiorespiratory fitness in children and young adults with ConHD?" Exercise science and the medical literature were searched for studies that engaged the use of aerobic exercise in patients with different ConHD diagnoses. The search yielded four studies after screening with the inclusion and exclusion criteria, which were further narrowed to three studies after a full-text review. These studies yielded results showing significant increments in peak exercise workload, duration, power output, peak oxygen uptake, or improved tissue oxygenation and muscle strength after an exercise training intervention. It is noteworthy that a group identified as "cyanotic palliated" exhibited the most significant impairment both at baseline and after the exercise intervention. This review provides level 1b medical evidence that a structured exercise program may improve cardiopulmonary fitness in patients with ConHD, which is likely to be beneficial to their overall physical, motor, and psychosocial development. The results of this review may be useful for alleviating the anxiety of patients and their caregivers about participation in structured exercise programs. This review should also motivate future research investigations to develop clinical guidelines for the management of patients with ConHD by adding exercise prescriptions to their daily therapeutic regimens.

Effectiveness of Physical Exercise Interventions on Pulmonary Function and Physical Fitness in Children and Adults with Cystic Fibrosis: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

Objective: Physical exercise is associated with several benefits in the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF), associated with a reduction in patient mortality. The aim of this systematic review was to determine the effectiveness of exercise interventions on physical condition and lung function in children and adults with CF to establish the most appropriate type and dose of physical exercise used so far. Methods: The studies included were randomized controlled trials with physical exercise interventions performed with children or adults with CF, analyzing the effects on pulmonary function, cardiorespiratory capacity, and muscle strength. The variables analyzed in at least four studies in the same population (children or adults) with the same measuring test were included in the meta-analysis. Results:Pulmonary function: There were no changes in the forced expiratory volume 1 s, but mouth expiratory/inspiratory pressures were improved in some studies. Physical fitness: In children, the interventions did not manage to improve the VO2peak (SMD = 0.22; 95%CI: -0.25 to 0.68; p = 0.73) but improved muscle strength. In adults, physical exercise interventions based on high-intensity aerobic training showed positive results in the VO2peak, and in some muscle strength outcomes. Conclusions: Exercise interventions in children and adults with CF are effective in improving muscle strength, cardiovascular capacity, and respiratory muscle function. However, they do not achieve improvements in lung function. The most effective programs are those using strength training or cardiovascular high-intensity interval training, although to date there have been few such interventions.

Influence of sex and age on the relationship between aerobic fitness and muscle sympathetic nerve activity in healthy adults.

We examined the influence of sex and age on the relationship between aerobic fitness and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) in healthy adults. Data were assessed from 224 volunteers (88 females), aged 18-76 yr, in whom resting MSNA (microneurography) and peak oxygen uptake (V̇o2peak; incremental exercise test) were evaluated. When separated into younger (<50 yr) and older (≥50 yr) subgroups, there were inverse relationships between relative V̇o2peak (mL·kg-1·min-1) and MSNA burst frequency in younger males (R2 = 0.21, P < 0.0001) and older females (R2 = 0.36, P < 0.01), but not older males (R2 = 0.05, P = 0.08) or younger females (R2 = 0.03, P = 0.14). Similar patterns were observed with absolute V̇o2peak (L·min-1) and percent-predicted (based on age, sex, weight, height, and modality), and with burst incidence. Sex and age influence the relationship between aerobic fitness and resting MSNA, and, thus, must be considered as key variables when studying these potential associations; inverse relationships are strongest in younger males and older females.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Our data reveal for the first time that associations between aerobic fitness and resting muscle sympathetic nerve activity are sex and age specific; inverse relationships are evident in younger males (<50 yr) and older females (≥50 yr), but absent in younger females (<50 yr) and older males (≥50 yr).

Development and validation of a 1-km cardio-trekking test to estimate cardiorespiratory fitness in healthy adults

Maximum oxygen uptake (V̇O2max), the gold standard measure of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), supports cardiovascular risk assessment and is mainly assessed during maximal spiroergometry. However, for field use, submaximal exercise tests might be appropriate and feasible. There have been no studies attempting a submaximal test protocol involving uphill hiking. This study aimed to develop and validate a 1-km cardio-trekking test (CTT) controlled by heart rate monitoring and Borg’s 6–20 rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scale to predict V̇O2max outdoors. Healthy participants performed a maximal incremental treadmill walking laboratory test and a submaximal 1-km CTT on mountain trails in Austria and Germany, and V̇O2max was assessed with a portable spirometry device. Borg’s RPE scale was used to control the exercise intensity of the CTT. All subjects wore a chest strap to measure heart rate (HR). A total of 134 participants (median age: 56.0 years [IQR: 51.8–63.0], 43.3 % males) completed both testing protocols. The prediction model is based on age, gender, smoking status, weight, mean HR, altitude difference, duration, and the interaction between age and duration (R2 = 0.65, adj. R2 = 0.63). Leave-one-out cross-validation revealed small shrinkage in predictive accuracy (R2 = 0.59) compared to the original model. Submaximal exercise testing using uphill hiking allows for practical estimation of V̇O2max in healthy adults. This method may allow people to engage in physical activity while monitoring their CRF to avert unnecessary cardiovascular events.

Relationship between Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Executive Function in Young Adults: Mediating Effects of Gray Matter Volume

We evaluated the association between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and executive function (EF) in young adults and the mediating effects of GMV on this relationship. This study involved 217 college students. An incremental load exercise program was used to evaluate VO2max. EF was estimated by the Flanker task, the 2-back task, and the more-odd shifting task, while structural magnetic resonance and region-based morphometry (RBM) were used to analyze GMV. The high CRF group had a shorter updating reaction time (RT) (p ≤ 0.05). CRF was positively correlated with the right orbital part of the middle frontal gyrus (ORBmid.R) GMV (p ≤ 0.05). ORBmid.R GMV was negatively correlated with updating RT (p ≤ 0.05). Model 4 in SPSS was used to assess the mediating effects of ORBmid.R GMV between CRF and updating RT. ORBmid.R GMV was established to have a partially mediating role between CRF and updating RT, which accounted for 19.6% of the total effect value. These findings indicate that the negative correlation between CRF and EF was significant, and ORBmid.R GMV played a mediating role in the relationship between CRF and EF, providing new evidence toward comprehensively revealing that CRF promotes EF performance.

The Effect of 12-Weeks Recreational Football (Soccer) for Health Intervention on Functional Movement in Older Adults.

There is growing evidence that recreational football offers health benefits for older adults and an important pathway for physical activity for older adult groups. Despite anecdotal evidence that recreational football is beneficial for older adults, no empirical data are available to support this assertion. This study addressed this issue and examined the effects of a 12-week recreational football intervention on the functional fitness of older adults. Using a pre–post case–control design, thirteen males, aged 61–73 years (mean age ± SD = 66 ± 4 years) undertook a twice-weekly, 12-week recreational football for health intervention, and were matched with a control group, comprising thirteen males, aged 62–78 years (mean age ± SD = 66 ± 4 years) who maintained their typical exercise habits during the intervention period. Pre- and postintervention, participants underwent assessment of functional fitness, using the Rikli and Jones functional fitness battery as well as an assessment of body fatness, via bioelectrical impedance analysis and dominant handgrip strength using handgrip dynamometry. Results from a series of 2 (pre–post) X 2 (intervention vs. control) repeated-measures ANOVAs indicate significant pre–post X group interactions for the 30-second chair stand (p = 0.038, Pƞ2 = 0.168), 8-foot timed up and go (p = 0.001, Pƞ2 = 0.577) and 6 min walk test (p = 0.036, Pƞ2 = 0.171). In all cases, performance improved significantly after the intervention for the football intervention group but not the control group. There were no significant differences in the 30 s arm curl test or dominant handgrip strength (p > 0.05). There was a non-significant trend (p = 0.07, Pƞ2 = 0.127) towards a pre–post X group interaction for body fatness, showing a decreased percent body fat for the intervention group over the control group. The results of the present study demonstrate the utility of recreational football as a physical activity intervention in older adults to improve functional movement.