A study in this month’s Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise finds that young boys who play soccer may “reap more fitness benefits” than students enrolled in standard physical education class, Reuters Health reports. Researchers from the Canary Islands evaluated the body changes of 17 young males who played soccer for at least three hours a week and 11 boys who participated in two 45-minute standard gym classes per week. The researchers found that the participants—who were between eight and nine years old at the start of the three-year study—who played soccer had a “significantly higher bone density” and could “sprint faster” by the end of the study than students in the gym class. In addition, the soccer players developed a higher proportion of lean body mass and had no variation in percentage of body fat, while the other boys experienced an increase in body fat over the period of the study. The study recommends that parents encourage their children to play a sport and practice three or more times per week, particularly before puberty. Reuters notes that the findings likely apply to girls but that further research is needed (McCook, 10/18).

See abstract of article below

Abstract:
Purpose: To determine the effect of physical activity on bone mineral accrual during growth in prepuberal boys.

Methods: Seventeen soccer players and 11 matched (physically active) control boys (Tanner 1-2, at the start of the study) were followed over a 3-yr period. Bone mineral content (BMC) and areal density (BMD) was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. The maximal positive mechanical impulse (CJipos) and height jumped (Hj) during countermovement vertical jumps were assessed with a plate force. Additionally, 30-m running speed test (T30), 300-m run test (AC), and 20-m shuttle run test (MAP) were performed.

Results: The soccer players attained better results in MAP and AC than the controls (P < 0.05). At the end of the follow-up, the controls increased their percentage of body fat in 11 units (P < 0.05) whereas it remained unchanged in the soccer players. Lean body mass increased with growth but more in the soccer players than in the controls (P < 0.05). The soccer players exhibited greater BMC in the legs and greater BMD in all bone-loaded regions at the end of the study (P < 0.05). During these 3 yr, the soccer players gained twice as much femoral neck and intertrochanteric BMC than the control group (P < 0.05) and increased their femoral neck BMD by 10% and their mean hip BMD by a third more than the control group (both P < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis showed that the improvement in T30 and CJipos has predictive value for the enhancement of bone mass in growing boys.

Conclusion: Long-term soccer participation, starting at a prepubertal age, results in greater improvement of physical fitness, greater acquisition of bone mass and a lower accumulation of body fat.

©2004The American College of Sports Medicine