Football training
Football training has been studied in 7 papers since 2016: 2 trials and 5 observational studies in people. The newest paper, Sep 9, 2025: “Recreational football training preserves bone health in women over 9 years during the menopause transition”.
7 papers study it19 findingsUpdated
See all 7 papers on football training
At a glance
Independent labs found the same change in people. 3 independent labs in 5 countries.
“Leg bone mineral content (BMC) increased in EXE (time × group, P = 0.005) resulting in a 56 g [4;108] higher (P = 0.04) total leg BMC in EXE compared to CON.”
1 of its findings points the other way.
- 3 independent labs in 5 countries
- 1 finding against
- Funders: Syddansk Universitet and others
- 5 of 19 findings with company ties
- Human trial2
- Humans5
Studies in people
2 studies gave football training to people and measured what changed.
| What changed | Design | People | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
up: Increases bone mineral content56 g [4;108] higher up: Increases lean body mass+1.5 kg [1.0;2.1] up: Improves sprint performancemaintained in EXE vs declined by 10% in CON | Randomized trial9 years | 25 peopleWomen45 ± 4 yrsMidlife adults; Postmenopausal women | Biology of sport, Sep 9, 2025 |
up: Improves chair rising performance+32% chair-rising performance, −24% stair-ascent time up: Increases rate of force development+89% RFD, +18% hamstring strength | Randomized trial12 months | 9 peopleMen68.2 ± 3.2 yearsOlder adults | European journal of applied physiology, Apr 11, 2016 |
What did studies of football training find?
16Studies of football training measured 16 outcomes, among them telomere length, PINP and sprint performance.
Telomere length
upin humans2no changein humans1
2 studies
Telomere length
upin humans2no changein humans1
Football training is linked with higher telomere length in lymphocytes and MNCs compared to YC (22-24% longer).
“YF had 22-24% longer telomeres in lymphocytes and MNCs compared to YC.”
Humansin lymphocytes and MNCs compared to YCmononuclear cellsfemales
Football and team handball training postpone cellular aging in women
Scientific reports
Football training was not clearly linked with telomere length in humans (young football players vs young inactive controls).
“but there was no significant between-group difference in telomere length”
Humansyoung football players vs young inactive controlsmononuclear cellsmales
Progress in cardiovascular diseases
Football training is linked with higher telomere length in humans (elderly football players vs age-matched inactive controls) (+2.5% granulocyte, +1.3% lymphocyte telomere length).
“EF showed 2.5% higher (p = 0.047) granulocyte telomere length and 1.3% higher (p = 0.009) lymphocyte telomere length compared to EC.”
Humanselderly football players vs age-matched inactive controlsgranulocytes and lymphocyteslifelongmales
Progress in cardiovascular diseases
PINP
upin humans1
1 study
PINP
upin humans1
Football training increases PINP in humans (PINP +64% [29-100], CTX-I +95% [43;147]).
“Plasma CTX-I and PINP increased (both P = 0.001) by 95% [43;147] and 64% [29-100] following EXE only (time × group, P = 0.003 and 0.02).”
Human trial9 yearsfemalesn = 25
Biology of sport
Sprint performance
upin humans1
1 study
Sprint performance
upin humans1
Football training improves sprint performance in humans (maintained in EXE vs declined by 10% in CON).
“Finally, sprint performance was maintained in EXE but declined (P < 0.001) by 10% [5;14] in CON (time × group, P = 0.002).”
Human trial9 yearsfemalesn = 25
Biology of sport
Lean body mass
upin humans1
1 study
Lean body mass
upin humans1
Football training increases lean body mass in humans (+1.5 kg [1.0;2.1]).
“Leg lean mass increased (P < 0.001) by 1.5 kg [1.0;2.1] in EXE (time × group, P = 0.006).”
Human trialleg9 yearsfemalesn = 25
Biology of sport
Bone mineral content
upin humans1
1 study
Bone mineral content
upin humans1
Football training increases bone mineral content in humans (56 g [4;108] higher).
“Leg bone mineral content (BMC) increased in EXE (time × group, P = 0.005) resulting in a 56 g [4;108] higher (P = 0.04) total leg BMC in EXE compared to CON.”
Human trialleg9 yearsfemalesn = 25
Biology of sport
MIR1303
downin humans1
1 study
MIR1303
downin humans1
Football training is linked with lower MIR1303 in humans.
“Football training down-regulates miR-1303 expression in muscle from VPG compared to CG”
Humansskeletal muscle
Regular football training down-regulates miR-1303 muscle expression in veterans
European journal of applied physiology
Mitochondrial DNA copy number
upin humans1
1 study
Mitochondrial DNA copy number
upin humans1
Football training is linked with higher mitochondrial DNA copy number in lymphocytes and MNCs compared to YC (19-20% higher).
“YF showed 19-20% higher mtDNA copy number in lymphocytes and MNCs compared to YC.”
Humansin lymphocytes and MNCs compared to YCmononuclear cellsfemales
Football and team handball training postpone cellular aging in women
Scientific reports
TRF2, Ku70 and POT1a mRNA expression
upin humans1
1 study
TRF2, Ku70 and POT1a mRNA expression
upin humans1
Football training is linked with higher TRF2, Ku70 and POT1a mRNA expression in humans (young football players vs young inactive controls) (3.2-fold TRF2, 2.3-fold Ku70, 2.2-fold POT1a).
“telomere repeat binding factor (TRF) 2 mRNA expression (3.2-fold, p = 0.003), Ku70 mRNA expression (2.3-fold, p < 0.001) and POT1a mRNA expression (2.2-fold, p = 0.002) compared to YC”
Humansyoung football players vs young inactive controlsmononuclear cellsmales
Progress in cardiovascular diseases
Telomerase activity
upin humans1
1 study
Telomerase activity
upin humans1
Football training is linked with higher telomerase activity in humans (young football players vs young inactive controls) (4.2-fold).
“YF had higher telomerase activity (4.2-fold, p = 0.001)”
Humansyoung football players vs young inactive controlsmononuclear cellsmales
Progress in cardiovascular diseases
Telomerase activity, TRF2, Ku70 and POT1a expression
no changein humans1
1 study
Telomerase activity, TRF2, Ku70 and POT1a expression
no changein humans1
Football training was not clearly linked with telomerase activity, TRF2, Ku70 and POT1a expression in humans (elderly football players vs age-matched inactive controls).
“No significant between-group differences (p > 0.050) were observed in telomerase activity or anti-senescent factors (TRF2, Ku70 and POT1a) for EF vs EC.”
Humanselderly football players vs age-matched inactive controlsmononuclear cellslifelongmales
Progress in cardiovascular diseases
More on Telomerase activity, TRF2, Ku70 and POT1a expression
Rate of force development
upin humans1
1 study
Rate of force development
upin humans1
Football training increases rate of force development in humans (+89% RFD, +18% hamstring strength).
“football training mainly resulted in enhanced hamstring strength (18 %, P < 0.05) and RFD (89 %, P < 0.0001)”
Human trialskeletal muscle12 monthsmalesn = 9
European journal of applied physiology
Chair rising performance
upin humans1
1 study
Chair rising performance
upin humans1
Football training improves chair rising performance in humans (+32% chair-rising performance, −24% stair-ascent time).
“24 and 18 % reduced stair-ascent time, and 32 and 21 % increased chair-rising performance in FT and ST, respectively”
Human trial12 monthsmalesn = 9
European journal of applied physiology
All 16Fewer
What is football training linked with?
1Studies link football training with body weight.
Body weight
downin humans1
1 study
Body weight
downin humans1
Football training is associated with body weight in humans (78.2 ± 6.5 vs 91.2 ± 11.2 kg).
“These findings were associated with a healthier body composition in trained than in untrained men [body weight: 78.2 ± 6.5 vs 91.2 ± 11.2 kg”
Humansmales
European journal of applied physiology