TY - JOUR
T1 - Bone Health, Body Composition and Physiological Demands in 70–85-Year-Old Lifelong Male Football Players
AU - Martone, Domenico
AU - Vitucci, Daniela
AU - Mancini, Annamaria
AU - Ermidis, Georgios
AU - Panduro, Jeppe
AU - Cosco, Loretta Francesca
AU - Randers, Morten Bredsgaard
AU - Larsen, Malte Nejst
AU - Mohr, Magni
AU - Buono, Pasqualina
AU - Krustrup, Peter
PY - 2023/10/18
Y1 - 2023/10/18
N2 - The effects of lifelong football training on bone health, body composition and physiological demands were evaluated. A total of 20 veteran football players (VPG; 73.4 ± 3.7 years) and
18 untrained age-matched men (CG; 75.6 ± 4.2 years) were enrolled. Whole-body and regional
dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans of arms, legs, proximal femur and lower spine (L1-L4) were
recorded in all participants. We observerd higher bone mineral density (BMD) in the whole-body,
arms and femoral regions and higher bone mineral content (BMC) in the legs and lower spine
compared to the CG (p < 0.05), also higher total lean body mass (p < 0.05) and lower total body
fat percentage (p < 0.05), were found. No differences in food habits were evidenced between the
VPG and the CG, as evaluated using 3-day food records. Resting heart rate (RHR), blood pressure
(BP) and activity profile during a football match were recorded using a global positioning system
only in the VPG. The mean heart rate (HR)of theoretical maximal HR (ThHRmax), and peak of
ThHRmax were 83.9 ± 8.6% and 98.6 ± 10.2%, respectively; the mean of total distance covered
was 3666 ± 721 m, and the means of accelerations and decelerations were 419 ± 61 and 428 ± 65,
respectively. Lifelong participation in football training improves regional BMD and BMC in legs,
femur and lumbar spine compared to the CG. A high number of intense actions in term of HR and
accelerations and decelerations suggests an elevated energy expenditure that in turn correlates to the
healthier body composition observed in the VPG compared to the CG.
AB - The effects of lifelong football training on bone health, body composition and physiological demands were evaluated. A total of 20 veteran football players (VPG; 73.4 ± 3.7 years) and
18 untrained age-matched men (CG; 75.6 ± 4.2 years) were enrolled. Whole-body and regional
dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans of arms, legs, proximal femur and lower spine (L1-L4) were
recorded in all participants. We observerd higher bone mineral density (BMD) in the whole-body,
arms and femoral regions and higher bone mineral content (BMC) in the legs and lower spine
compared to the CG (p < 0.05), also higher total lean body mass (p < 0.05) and lower total body
fat percentage (p < 0.05), were found. No differences in food habits were evidenced between the
VPG and the CG, as evaluated using 3-day food records. Resting heart rate (RHR), blood pressure
(BP) and activity profile during a football match were recorded using a global positioning system
only in the VPG. The mean heart rate (HR)of theoretical maximal HR (ThHRmax), and peak of
ThHRmax were 83.9 ± 8.6% and 98.6 ± 10.2%, respectively; the mean of total distance covered
was 3666 ± 721 m, and the means of accelerations and decelerations were 419 ± 61 and 428 ± 65,
respectively. Lifelong participation in football training improves regional BMD and BMC in legs,
femur and lumbar spine compared to the CG. A high number of intense actions in term of HR and
accelerations and decelerations suggests an elevated energy expenditure that in turn correlates to the
healthier body composition observed in the VPG compared to the CG.
KW - body composition
KW - bone health
KW - elderly
KW - lifelong football training
KW - physiological demand
U2 - 10.3390/sports11100205
DO - 10.3390/sports11100205
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 37888532
SN - 2075-4663
VL - 11
JO - Sports
JF - Sports
IS - 10
M1 - 205
ER -