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Positive performance and health effects of a football training program over 12 weeks can be maintained over a 1‐year period with reduced training frequency
Author(s) -
Randers M. B.,
Nielsen J. J.,
Krustrup B. R.,
Sundstrup E.,
Jakobsen M. D.,
Nybo L.,
Dvorak J.,
Bangsbo J.,
Krustrup P.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of medicine and science in sports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.575
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1600-0838
pISSN - 0905-7188
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2010.01091.x
Subject(s) - medicine , blood lactate , physical therapy , muscle mass , glycogen , zoology , blood pressure , heart rate , biology
We examined whether improvements in the performance and health profile of an intensive 12‐week football intervention could be maintained with a reduced training frequency. Seventeen healthy untrained males completed the study. Ten subjects trained 2.4 times/week for 12 weeks and another 52 weeks with 1.3 sessions/week [football group (FG)] and seven subjects acted as controls [control group (CG)]. For FG, fat mass (3.2 kg) and systolic blood pressure (8 mmHg) were lower ( P <0.05) after 64 than 0 weeks, and VO 2max (8%) and Yo‐Yo intermittent endurance level 2 test performance (49%) were higher ( P <0.05), with no difference between 64 and 12 weeks. After 64 weeks, quadriceps muscle mass (11%), mean fiber area (10%) and citrate synthase activity (18%) were higher ( P <0.05) than those at 0 weeks. Leg bone mass (3.5%) and density (2.0%) were higher ( P <0.05) after 64 than 0 weeks, but not different between 12 and 0 weeks. Plantar jump force (17–18%), 30‐m sprinting velocity (1.3–3.0%) and muscle glycogen concentration (19–21%) were higher ( P <0.05) and blood lactate during submaximal exercise was lower (27–72%, P <0.05) after 64 than after 12 and 0 weeks. The above‐mentioned variables were unaltered for CG. In conclusion, positive adaptations in cardiovascular fitness obtained over 12 weeks of regular recreational football training can be maintained over a 1‐year period with a reduced training frequency, with further development in musculo‐skeletal fitness.