Football improves strength in prostate cancer patients

Playing football has been found to have a significant positive effect on the quality of life of prostate cancer patients.

These findings have been published following a trial dubbed 'FC Prostate', which was jointly conducted by the University Hospitals Centre for Health Care Research at The Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet and the Copenhagen Centre for Team Sport and Health at the University of Copenhagen.

The randomised controlled trial involved 57 men aged 43‒74 years who had been undergoing treatment for prostate cancer for an average of  three years, and who were randomly assigned to a football training group or an inactive control group.

The football group trained twice a week for one hour for 12 weeks, with training taking place on the football pitch of the Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports at Nørrebro in Copenhagen.

An extensive testing protocol was used before the start of training and on completion of the 12-week training period, and found that the twice-weekly sessions produced an increase in muscle mass and muscle strength, despite concurrent androgen deprivation therapy.

The study authors have suggested that recreational football is a promising novel approach for health promotion in prostate cancer patients, as the participants can not only regain pride in their bodies, but also develop team spirit and mutual concern, increasing their motivation for long-term participation in sport.

Julie Midtgaard, a psychologist at The Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, explained that the attendance rate was high over the 12 weeks, with many of the participants still playing football two years after the project began.

"Just 12 weeks of football training resulted in the men regaining control and developing a unique exchange of feelings and recognition centered around the sport," she explained.

"The provision of football proved to be a good way of developing friendships between the men and a unique model for men with prostate cancer to take responsibility of their own health without giving up their claim to feel and behave like men."