Playing Football Improves Health

Tuesday 13th April 2010

New research shows that playing football can dramatically improve your health, well being, fitness and social skills. The research, published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, shows that playing football for 2 to 3 hours a week significantly benefited the heart and muscles regardless of the age or fitness level of the player. Scientists claim that the results show that playing football is more beneficial than other methods of exercising including running.

The survey, conducted by scientists across seven countries, studied the multiple effects that football training had on women and men aged between 9 and 77 years old. Researchers found that playing football for a few hours a week reduced the risk of falls, fractures, cardiovascular diseases and more. Researchers also discovered that men worried less when they played football than when they went running. And women were able to bond and further develop their social skills and social circles by participating in the team sport.

Researchers found that football matched, and in some cases out-performed, the benefits of running. Doctors and medical professionals often recommend running as a form of exercise. However, lead researchers of this study, claim that their findings may change this practice. Lead researcher, Professor Jens Bangsbo, claims that future research is needed to determine the beneficial effects of football training for children and people with diseases including type II diabetes and cancer. Dr Bangsbo believes that future research into these subject areas could show that football training is an effective tool that can help to achieve and maintain healthy fitness levels that improve quality of life.

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