A. Seabra http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6788-4555 A. N. Rebelo http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9105-7421 S. Póvoas http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6661-3673 C. Castagna http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8320-6404 Z. Milanovic http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3224-0506 M. B. Randers

We investigated the musculoskeletal health profile of elite female football players (ET) in comparison to untrained (UT) young women subjected to 16 weeks of football training (2 × 1 h per week). DXA scans, blood sampling, sprint testing and Flamingo postural balance testing were carried out for 27 Danish national team players and 28 untrained women, with eight women being tested after training. At baseline total BMD and BMC were 13% (1.305 ± 0.050 versus 1.159 ± 0.056 g · cm(-2)) and 23% (3047 ± 235 versus 2477 ± 526 g) higher (P <0.001) and leg BMD and BMC were 24 and 28% higher (P <0.01) in ET than in UT. Resting plasma osteocalcin was 45% higher in ET than in UT (28.8 ± 10.9 versus 19.9 ± 9.9 µg · L(-1), P <0.05). Total lean body mass was 14% higher (50.4 ± 3.3 versus 44.3 ± 4.0 kg) in ET compared with UT, with no difference in total body mass. The number of Flamingo test falls was 56-63% less (P <0.01) and 30 m sprinting speed was 31% faster (P <0.001) in ET than UT. After 16 weeks of football training for UT, lean body mass increased by 1.4 ± 0.5 kg and the number of left leg falls decreased by 29% (P <0.05). No significant changes occurred in BMD or BMC, but plasma osteocalcin increased (P <0.05) by 37%. In summary, elite women footballers have an impressive musculoskeletal health profile compared with untrained controls, but short-term football training seems to reduce the risk of falls and increase bone formation.

Physical activity could be considered one of the factors that affect the immune system status and function. To find the relation between exercise and cytokines, we examined the possible effects of an 8-week endurance training program on the serum levels of cytokines, including tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) in sedentary men. A total of 30 healthy young male volunteers were randomly divided into an endurance training group and a control group. The training group followed a specific exercise protocol (running on a treadmill for 15~30 min at 50~70% maximal heart rate) for 8 weeks and the control group did not participate in any exercise program. Venous blood samples were collected from both the groups 24 h before and 24 h and 48 h after the exercise. Repeated ANOVA was used for statistical purposes. The serum levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ were determined by ELISA. Significant (p<0.05) and non-significant (p>0.05) decreases were observed in the serum levels of IFN-γ and TNF-α, respectively, after the 8-week endurance training program. Our findings indicated that an 8-week endurance exercise may affect the serum levels of some inflammatory cytokines, suggesting the beneficial role of this training protocol in elderly population and people with certain conditions (inflammation of the vertebrae or other inflammatory diseases).

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Covid-19 is an acute respiratory syndrome that can effect on lifestyles. The aim of the present study was to compare the health-related quality of life (HRQoL), physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores in physically active (PA) and physically inactive (PI) during the Covid-19 pandemic. Three hundred and twenty-six (182 women; 144 men) studying at the Persian Gulf University participated in the study. The HRQoL Questionnaire (SF-12) was used to collect information. Significant differences in HRQoL score, MCS score and PCS score were observed between physically active and inactive men and women, as well as between physically active and inactive men, and finally between physically active and inactive women ( P < 0.01). Data from the present study suggests higher levels of physical activity, even during social restrictions imposed by the current global pandemic, results in significantly greater scores for HRQoL.