Soccer Improves Fitness and Attenuates Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Hypertensive Men

INTRODUCTION: The present study investigated the fitness and health effects of medium-term soccer training for untrained hypertensive middle-age men. METHODS: Thirty-three untrained males (31-54 yr) with mild-to-moderate hypertension were randomized 2:1 to a soccer training group (STG, two 1-h sessions per week, n = 22, 68% on medication) and a doctor advice group receiving traditional physician-guided recommendations on cardiovascular risk factor modification (DAG, n = 11, 73% on medication). Two-way repeated-measures ANOVA time-group statistics was applied. RESULTS: During soccer training, average HR was 155 ± 9 bpm or 85% ± 7% HRmax. In STG, systolic and diastolic blood pressures decreased (P < 0.01) over 6 months from 151 ± 10 to 139 ± 10 mm Hg and from 92 ± 7 to 84 ± 6 mm Hg, respectively, with smaller (P < 0.05) decreases in DAG (from 153 ± 8 to 145 ± 8 mm Hg and from 96 ± 6 to 93 ± 6 mm Hg, respectively). In STG, V˙O2max increased (P < 0.01) from 32.6 ± 4.9 to 35.4 ± 6.6 mL·min-1·kg-1 and relative V˙O2 during cycling at 100 W was lowered (P < 0.05) from 55% ± 7% to 50% ± 8% V˙O2max over 6 months, with no changes in DAG. In STG, resting HR was lowered by 8 ± 11 bpm (P < 0.05), and the augmentation index (a measure of arterial stiffness) was lowered (P < 0.05) by 7.3 ± 14.0 over 6 months, with no change in DAG. CONCLUSIONS: Six months of soccer training improved aerobic fitness, reduced blood pressure, and resulted in an array of other favorable effects on cardiovascular risk profile for untrained middle-age hypertensive men. Soccer training, therefore, may be a better nonpharmacological treatment for hypertensive men than traditional physician-guided advice.