Exercise intensity during walking football game

Abstract

Walking football was born in United Kingdom around 2011, that is forbidden to running. In recent years, walking football has become increasingly popular as a sport that diverse people can enjoy together. However, it is not clarified exercise intensity and how they feel after playing walking football. We aimed to determine the intensity when playing walking football and investigated how mood change. Twenty-six men and women (18 males, 8 females) out of those who participated in walking football event agreed to the present study. Heart rate (HR) was measured using wearable device with photoplethysmography when playing walking football. Metabolic equivalents (METs) was assessed using a triaxial accelerometer worn on the waist. McGill pain questionnaire was used to assess pain sites and number. To assess change in mood, short version of physical activity enjoyment scale (sPACES) was used before and after playing walking football. Borg scale was measured before and after walking football. The HR and METs were respectively as follows; male, 111.9 ± 11.4 bpm and 4.3 ± 0.6METs; female, 118.6 ± 16.2 bpm and 4.8 ± 0.7METs. There was no significant difference between men and women in both HR and METs during walking football. The sPACES was indicated significantly positive changes in mood, and Borg scale was significantly increased after playing walking football, without increasing acute or chronic pain. The walking football is safe and moderate-intensity sports and induce positive changes in mood.