In short,yes. Regardless of your age, gender or levels of fitness, or studies display that it does more to benefit your health than nearly any other sportAbout 1.5 million people in the UK play “small-sided” football each week. The Football Association estimates that there are 30000 teams of between four and seven people playing regularly. But if you were thinking that five-a-side is just an excuse for unfit middle-aged people to possess a rapid/fast kickabout before adjourning to the pub,then an editorial in this month’s British Journal of Sports Medicine brings interesting news. “Recreational football is effective in the treatment of non-communicable diseases,” it says.
Football reduces the risk of heart and lung disease and diabetes by lowering blood pressure and body fat, or improving cholesterol levels and the efficiency of the heart. What is more,it does this for everyone who plays football, whatever their age or gender and however cramped they possess played before. Even more surprisingly, and perhaps,it is better at improving fitness than nearly any other sport, including swimming and cycling. Only running is its equal.
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Source: theguardian.com