Retracted article: Football and physical health: what do we know?

Abstract

Our current understanding is that football is a popular intervention option and can offer valuable health improvement programme success. This includes interventions delivered by professional football clubs and their respective in the community programmes, as well as other sports clubs organizing recreational football and Football Fitness, which is small-sided football training rather than competitive 11v11 matches. This article seeks to communicate an understanding of the role of football in physical health improvement using research, grey literature and policy documentation undertaken predominantly across the UK and Europe. The core themes that emerge from the review include the following health conditions and behaviours: overweight and obese, cardiovascular disease and lifestyle-related diseases; and the following target groups: children and young people, men, women and older adults, including Black, minority and ethnic groups. The evidence supports the health effects of football for these conditions and behaviours across the lifespan through controlled interventions and through community-based football programmes. The article concludes with a number of practical implications to improve the effectiveness of football-led physical health interventions.

The social and psychological health outcomes of team sport participation in adults: An integrative review of research

“…The continued growth in the use of sport in implementing and achieving non-sport health goals stems from sport’s strong social and cultural role worldwide. This momentum in and around sport is used as a strategic tool to recruit, engage, and maintain large numbers of children, adolescents, adults, and elderly people into PA, especially those population groups considered hard to reach [6,9,15]. Policymakers and researchers advocate the benefits of participation in sport.…”

Body composition and lipid profile of regular recreational table tennis participants: a cross-sectional study of older adult men

“…Recreational sports, as a potential means to provide opportunities for the public participation in physical activities, have attracted growing attention by government [11]. Although there are a lot of young, older adult, and disabled people all over the world who are regularly involved in recreational sports such as table tennis, soccer, futsal, and badminton in the sports venues, parks and even homes, few studies have been conducted on the beneficial effects of those sports on the health profile of those participants [12][13][14].…”

Head accelerations across collegiate, high school and youth female and male soccer players

“…Although there are unrefuted positive health effects of playing football,1 chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) has been identified in three football players,2 including British player, Jeffrey Astle, causing concern about the long-term effects of repetitive heading. To prevent or mitigate the effects of repetitive football heading, I believe that we must understand the biomechanics and identify strategies for reducing head impact severity 3.…”