Kickoff for heart health: can casual football get inactive men fit?
NCT ID NCT07804563
First seen Sep 04, 2026 · Last updated Sep 04, 2026
Summary
Researchers in Denmark are testing whether a 12-week recreational football program can improve fitness and blood pressure in inactive men aged 30 to 50. Participants either join the football sessions two to three times per week or keep their usual inactive lifestyle. The study measures changes in aerobic capacity and blood pressure after 12 weeks. The goal is to see if casual football can serve as a practical health intervention for this group.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Recreational football-based exercise program
- What this could lead to
- If it works, recreational football could offer a fun, social way for inactive middle-aged men to improve heart health and fitness.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, short-term trial, so benefits may not last or apply to everyone. Exercise also carries a small risk of injury.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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300 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jan 2017
- Finished
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Jul 2018
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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30 to 50 years
- Sex
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Male participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * 30-50-year-old-males * inactive (i.e., not exercising for more than 20 min on three or more days per week) * with medical clearance from a physician to undertake moderate-to-vigorous intensity exercise Exclusion Criteria: * Cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease * Advanced retinopathy * Renal failure * Previous cardiovascular event
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.