ABSTRACT
We determined the coadjuvant effect of a recreational futsal (RF) programme versus standard care alone (CON) in men with treated arterial hypertension (TAHT). Thirty-nine men with TAHT were randomised to RF (N = 20; 48 ± 8 years; systolic blood pressure [SBP]: 122 ± 14 mmHg) with 2–3 one-hour sessions/week for 3 months, or to CON (N = 19; 51 ± 6 years; SBP: 126 ± 13 mmHg). Participants were assessed at baseline, at 3 months, and after 1 month of training cessation (4 months). Mean training attendance was 60 ± 23%. At 3-months, there were no between-group differences in BP parameters (SBP: 0.44 mmHg; 95% CI: −5.79, 6.67). However, compared to CON, RF was effective for peak oxygen uptake (2.76 mL.min−1.kg−1; 95% CI: 0.26, 5.26), time to exhaustion (1.15 min; 95% CI: 0.59, 1.69), Yo-Yo IE1 performance (365 m; 95% CI: 175, 556), resting heart rate (RHR; −5 b.min−1; 95% CI: −10, −1), glycated haemoglobin (−0.52 mmol/L; 95% CI: −0.84, −0.19), blood glucose (−0.25 mmol/L; 95% CI: −0.44, −0.06), left femur bone mineral content (1.96 g; 95% CI: 0.29, 3.65), and postural balance (−2.3 falls; 95% CI: −3.9, −0.6). Similar findings were observed after 1-month of training cessation, except for RHR and blood glucose that returned to baseline levels in the RF group. In conclusion, RF provides broad-spectrum fitness and health benefits but no BP effects in men with TAHT.
Acknowledgements
We thank all the participants for their committed participation. We also express our gratitude to the students and technicians of the Faculty of Sports, University of Porto and of the University of Maia, who assisted with the data collection and provided technical support.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Availability of data and material
Data is available upon reasonable request to the authors.
Consent to participate
All participants provided written consent.
Ethics approval
Ethical approval was obtained from Instituto Universitário da Maia Ethics Committee (57/2021). The study was prospectively registered in ClinicaTrials.gov (NCT05185297).
Supplementary material
Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2023.2300568
Correction Statement
This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.