Walking football for health

ISRCTN	ISRCTN41037595
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN41037595
ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT)	Nil known
Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS)	Nil known
Protocol serial number	V1.0
Sponsor	University of Gothenburg
Funder	The Swedish Football Association

Submission date: 13/08/2024
Registration date: 14/08/2024
Last edited: 14/08/2024

Recruitment status: No longer recruiting
Overall study status: Completed
Condition category: Other

Prospectively registered

Protocol

Statistical analysis plan

Results

Individual participant data

Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Walking football is a new form of exercise football that is played at a walking pace and has grown in popularity around the world in recent years. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of 12 weeks of walking football on physically inactive older age adults.

Who can participate?
Men and women over the age of 60 years with low physical activity and no previous experience of playing walking football

What does the study involve?
Participants played walking football twice a week (2 x 40 minutes) for 12 weeks. Laboratory tests were conducted before and after the intervention to measure fitness, strength, balance, and body composition.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Possible benefits include improved physical health and social contact. Sustaining an injury could be a possible risk, but medical doctors are connected to the project and will assist if an injury is sustained by a participant.

Where is the study run from?
The project is a collaboration between the Department of Nutrition and Sports Science and Sahlgrenska University Hospital at the University of Gothenburg, the Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences in Stockholm, Umeå University and the Swedish Football Association.

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
September 2022 to December 2024

Who is funding the study?
The Swedish Football Association

Who is the main contact?
Dr Andreas Caspers, andreas.caspers@gu.se

Contact information

Dr Andreas Caspers
Public, Scientific

Box 300
Gothenburg
405 30
Sweden

Phone	+46 (0)31187722
Email	andreas.caspers@gu.se

Prof Mats Börjesson
Principal investigator

SU Sahlgrenska
Gothenburg
41345
Sweden

Phone	+46 (0)705298360
Email	mats.borjesson@gu.se

Study information

Primary study design	Interventional
Study design	Multicentre non-randomized single-arm study
Secondary study design	Non randomised study
Study type	Participant information sheet
Scientific title	Walking football for men and women 60+: a 12-week intervention
Study acronym	WFH
Study objectives	Physically inactive older adults will increase several cardiometabolic and physiological variables after 12 weeks of two sessions of walking football per week.
Ethics approval(s)	1. Approved 10/06/2023, Swedish Ethical Review Authority (Box 2110, Uppsala, 75002, Sweden; +46 (0)10-475 08 00; registrator@etikprovning.se), ref: 2023-02309-01 2. Approved 11/12/2023, Swedish Ethical Review Authority (Box 2110, Uppsala, 75002, Sweden; +46 (0)10-475 08 00; registrator@etikprovning.se), ref: 2023-06704-02
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied	Physical inactivity
Intervention	Walking football played twice per week (2 x 40 minutes) for 12 weeks
Intervention type	Behavioural
Primary outcome measure(s)	Measured at baseline and after the completion of 12 weeks of walking football: 1. Estimated VO2Max measured using submaximal cycle ergometer test (Monark 828 Varberg, Sweden). Mean steady-state heart rate was registered during the last minute at two work rates 2. Blood pressure (mmHg) measured two consecutive times with an automatic blood pressure cuff (Omron M3 Comfort 2020, Omron Inc, Kyoto, Japan) 3. Waist circumference measured with one decimal precision in centimetres, midway between the lower rib margin and the iliac crest using a tape measure
Key secondary outcome measure(s)	Measured at baseline and after the completion of 12 weeks of walking football: 1. Body mass measured using DXA scanner 2. Fat mass measured using DXA scanner 3. Fat-free mass measured using DXA scanner 4. Bone-mineral density measured using DXA scanner 5. HDL-cholesterol measured from a blood sample 6. LDL-cholesterol measured from a blood sample 7. CRP measured from a blood sample 8. Triglycerides measured from a blood sample 9. HbA1c measured from a blood sample 10. Jump height (cm) measured with the software My Jump 2 on a portable unit (iPad or iPhone) 11. Grip strength (kg) measured with a hand dynamometer 12. Balance (number of foot rests) measured with a modified flamingo test 13. Mobility (seconds) measured with the Timed Up and Go
Completion date	31/12/2024

Eligibility

Participant type(s)	Healthy volunteer
Age group	Senior
Lower age limit	60 Years
Upper age limit	100 Years
Sex	All
Target sample size at registration	35
Total final enrolment	39
Key inclusion criteria	1. Self-reported low level of physical activity 2. 60 years of age or older 3. No previous experience of regularly playing walking football
Key exclusion criteria	Use of walking aid
Date of first enrolment	01/06/2023
Date of final enrolment	01/08/2023

Locations

Countries of recruitment

Sweden

Study participating centres

Idrottshögskolan

Skånegatan 14B
Gothenburg
411 40
Sweden

The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences

Lidingövägen 1
Stockholm
11433
Sweden

Results and Publications

Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share	Yes
IPD sharing plan summary	Available on request
IPD sharing plan	The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study will be available upon request from Dr Andreas Caspers (andreas.caspers@gu.se)

Study outputs

Output type	Details	Date created	Date added	Peer reviewed?	Patient-facing?
Participant information sheet	Participant information sheet	11/11/2025	11/11/2025	No	Yes

Editorial Notes

13/08/2024: Study's existence confirmed by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority.