PurposeThe present study evaluated the effects of regular participation in small-sided team handball training on body composition, osteogenic response, physical performance, and cardiovascular risk factors, as well as well-being and motivation, in young untrained women.MethodsTwenty-eight untrained 20- to 30-year-old women were randomized to a handball training group (HG; n = 14, height 170 ± 5 cm, weight 73 ± 11 kg, VO2peak 37.7 ± 4.1 mL/min/kg) that trained 1.7 ± 0.3 times per week over 12 weeks (70 min 4 v 4 handball sessions) or an inactive control group (CG; n = 14, 169 ± 5 cm, 71 ± 12 kg, 38.1 ± 3.7 mL/min/kg). Physiological and psychological and motivational training adaptations were assessed pre- and post-intervention by dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) scans, blood sampling, physical tests, and questionnaires.ResultsThe average heart rate (HR) over all training sessions was equal to 85% ± 6% HRmax. Between-group intervention effects were observed in favor of HG for muscle mass (2.1%, p = 0.024), proximal femur bone mineral density (0.8%, p = 0.041), Yo-Yo IE1 intermittent endurance test level 1 (IE1) performance (35%, p < 0.001), and incremental treadmill test performance (11.5%, p = 0.003), but not total fat mass (p = 0.176), mean arterial blood pressure (p = 0.328), resting HR (p = 0.219), or blood lipids (p = 0.298–0.854). In CG, no changes were observed in any of the measured physiological variables after the training period. Compared to CG, HG had an increase in intrinsic motivation (p < 0.001) and in the well-being subscale “energy” (p = 0.010).ConclusionParticipation in regular recreational team handball training organized as small-sided games has marked beneficial effects on physical performance, musculoskeletal fitness, well-being, and motivation in untrained young women.

PurposeThe purpose of the present controlled cross-sectional study was to investigate proximal femur and whole-body bone mineral density (BMD), as well as bone turnover profile, in lifelong trained elderly male football players and young elite football players compared with untrained age-matched men.MethodsOne hundred and forty healthy, non-smoking men participated in the study, including lifelong trained football players (FTE, n = 35) aged 65–80 years, elite football players (FTY, n = 35) aged 18–30 years, as well as untrained age-matched elderly (UE, n = 35) and young (UY, n = 35) men. All participants underwent a regional dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) scan of the proximal femur and a whole-body DXA scan to determine BMD. From a resting blood sample, the bone turnover markers (BTMs) osteocalcin, carboxy-terminal type-1 collagen crosslinks (CTX-1), procollagen type-1 amino-terminal propeptide (P1NP), and sclerostin were measured.ResultsFTE had 7.3%–12.9% higher (p < 0.05) BMD of the femoral neck, wards, shaft, and total proximal femur in both legs compared to UE, and 9.3%–9.7% higher (p < 0.05) BMD in femoral trochanter in both legs compared to UY. FTY had 24.3%–37.4% higher (p < 0.001) BMD in all femoral regions and total proximal femur in both legs compared to UY. The whole-body DXA scan confirmed these results, with FTE showing similar whole-body BMD and 7.9% higher (p < 0.05) leg BMD compared to UY, and with FTY having 9.6% higher (p < 0.001) whole-body BMD and 18.2% higher (p < 0.001) leg BMD compared to UY. The plasma concentration of osteocalcin, CTX-1, and P1NP were 29%, 53%, and 52% higher (p < 0.01), respectively, in FTY compared to UY.ConclusionBMD of the proximal femur and whole-body BMD are markedly higher in lifelong trained male football players aged 65–80 years and young elite football players aged 18–30 years compared to age-matched untrained men. Elderly football players even show higher BMD in femoral trochanter and leg BMD than untrained young despite an age difference of 47 years.

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Purpose To examine efficacy of 12 months Football Fitness offered twice per week on bone mineral density (BMD), bone turnover markers (BTM), postural balance, muscle strength, and body composition in women treated for early‐stage breast cancer (BC). Methods Women treated for early‐stage BC were randomized to Football Fitness (FFG, n = 46) or control (CON, n = 22) in a 2:1 ratio for 12 months, with assessments performed at baseline, 6 months and 12 months. Outcomes were total body‐, lumbar spine‐ and proximal femur BMD, total body lean and fat mass, leg muscle strength, postural balance, and plasma amino‐terminal propeptide of type 1 procollagen (P1NP), osteocalcin, and C‐terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen (CTX). Intention‐to‐treat (ITT) analyses and per‐protocol analyses (≥50% attendance in FFG) were performed using linear mixed models. Results Participants in FFG completing the 12‐month intervention (n = 33) attended 0.8 (SD = 0.4) sessions per week. Intention to treat analysis of mean changes over 12 months showed significant differences (p<.05) in L1–L4 BMD (0.029 g/cm2, 95%CI: 0.001 to 0.057), leg press strength (7.2 kg, 95%CI: 0.1 to 14.3), and postural balance (−4.3 n need of support, 95%CI: −8.0 to −0.7) favoring FFG compared to CON. In the per‐protocol analyses, L1–L4 and trochanter major BMD were improved (p = .012 and .030, respectively) in FFG compared with CON. No differences were observed between groups in BTMs in the ITT or per protocol analyses. Conclusion One year of Football Fitness training may improve L1–L4 BMD, leg muscle strength, and postural balance in women treated for early‐stage breast cancer.