Professional football players demonstrated significantly higher vigorous physical activity than non-athletic peers (60.6 vs 2.8 min/week), though neither group met the WHO recommendation of ≥75 min/week.
Cross-Sectional (n=27)
Does structured football participation improve physical activity patterns in young adults?
Structured football participation significantly increases vigorous physical activity and creates positive transfer effects outside of practice, though both athletes and non-athletes fail to meet international guidelines for vigorous physical activity.
Effect estimate: η2 0.761
Absolute Event Rate: 60.6% vs 2.8%
p-value: p=<0.001
While physical inactivity represents a global health concern, the relationship between structured sports participation and overall physical activity patterns remains unclear. This study examined whether football practice enhances adherence to physical activity guidelines and influences lifestyle activity patterns beyond structured practice sessions. Twenty-seven participants football players (EG) n = 16, age 23.4 ± 2.7 years; non-athletes (CG) n = 11, age 24.1 ± 3.2 years wore accelerometers for seven consecutive days. Physical activity parameters including overall physical activity (OPA), physical inactivity (PI), light physical activity (LPA), moderate physical activity (MPA), vigorous physical activity (VPA), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were assessed using validated cut-points. Data were analyzed using multivariate GLM procedures, with separate analyses conducted including and excluding structured practice sessions. Both groups exceeded recommendations for MPA (EG: 449.3 ± 98.8 min/week, p 0.001; CG: 414.6 ± 86.4 min/week, p = 0.002). However, neither group met VPA recommendations of ≥75 min/week (EG: 60.6 ± 20.5 min/week, 19.3% deficit; CG: 2.8 ± 3.6 min/week, 96.3% deficit). Football players demonstrated 2,064% higher VPA than non-athletes ( p 0.001, η 2 = 0.761). Critically, even when practice sessions were excluded, EG maintained significantly higher VPA (13.6 vs. 2.8 min/week, p = 0.076) and overall activity levels compared to CG, while exhibiting 46.76% lower LPA ( p = 0.001, η 2 = 0.376). Structured football participation creates positive transfer effects extending beyond practice contexts, with athletes maintaining higher activity intensities during periods without practice. However, insufficient VPA across both populations highlights the need for targeted interventions to optimize physical activity profiles. These findings support sports participation as a public health strategy while emphasizing the importance of specific high-intensity activity promotion to meet international guidelines.
JOVANOVIC et al. (Thu,) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy young adults (n=27). Professional football participation vs. Non-athletic peers was evaluated on Vigorous physical activity (VPA) duration in minutes per week (η2 0.761, p=<0.001). Professional football players demonstrated significantly higher vigorous physical activity than non-athletic peers (60.6 vs 2.8 min/week), though neither group met the WHO recommendation of ≥75 min/week.