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

Abstract 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 (Pmax), maximal force (F0), maximal velocity (V0), the slope divided by F0 (SFV/F0)), functional capacity, body composition and endurance exercise capacity were measured. Results Results revealed an increase over time for Pmax (ptime = 0.009), but no interaction effect (pint = 0.221). A greater increase in V0 and in SFV/F0 was apparent in FOOT compared to CON (pint = 0.043 and pint = 0.065). No interaction effect was found for F0 (pint = 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 pint < 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).