Playing football may help treat high BP in women: study

For women with mildly high blood pressure, an hour of football training two to three times a week for a year may prove to be an effective broad-spectrum medicine with positive effects on BP, body fat percentage, bone density and physical fitness, scientists claim.
Professor Peter Krustrup from the University of Southern Denmark demonstrated a long-term effect for female patients participating in Danish concept Football Fitness.
"Our study shows that untrained women with high blood pressure benefit greatly from Football Fitness in respect of blood pressure, body fat percentage, bone density and physical fitness," said Krustrup.
"This form of football can rightly be described as effective and broad-spectrum medicine for women with high blood pressure," said Krustrup.

The results of the project, backed by 14 years of football research, show that football can be used for effective prevention and treatment of a number of lifestyle diseases, including cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
The results also support the growing evidence that physical activity can lead to a more broad-spectrum reduction in risk factors for cardiovascular disease than traditional pharmacological treatment.

"Football Fitness training comprises high-pulse training, stamina training and strength training, which explains why the women derived such significant and broad-spectrum effects on physical fitness and health by playing football for a year," said Krustrup.
"What is more, they enjoyed the training and the attendance levels were high," said Krustrup.

The study recruited 31 untrained Faroese women aged 35-50 with high blood pressure, of whom 19 were randomised to Football Fitness training of one hour for two to three times a week over one year, corresponding to an average of 128 sessions.
The study appears in the Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports.