| Think back the last time someone told you that | | | | 3.3kg of fat measured using specialized x-ray imaging, |
| soccer is nothing more than just an act of | | | | compared with 1.8kg among joggers. In addition, the |
| showmanship. It hurts, doesn't it? You were wishing | | | | soccer players gained 1.7kg of muscles while joggers |
| that you had a way of debunking this. | | | | did not gain any measurable muscle mass. The soccer |
| Well, starting from today, do not allow people to talk | | | | players also posted a significant reduction in so-called |
| you into believing that soccer is detrimental to your | | | | "bad" cholesterol while there was no reduction for |
| health, much less an act of showmanship. Sure, due | | | | the joggers. Finally, the players' sprint time was found |
| to the robust nature of play, soccer players often | | | | to have improved significantly while the scores of the |
| suffer from a multitude of injures, fractures and | | | | joggers remained unchanged. Needless to say, those |
| sprains. A few of them even fall prey to the Sudden | | | | who had no exercise did not experience any health |
| Death Syndrome and perished on the pitch. But if | | | | benefits. |
| you currently an active soccer player, rejoice as the | | | | A possible explanation for the results is that soccer |
| latest scientific research has proven to a certain | | | | players are required to stop and go, speed up, slow |
| extent (which I will detail later) that soccer players | | | | down, while joggers generally move at an even pace. |
| are far superior athletes - mean and lean running | | | | In fact, part of the reason why the willowy David |
| machines with plenty of lung power. Here's proof | | | | Beckham once captained England was not because |
| taken from the recently concluded British Association | | | | he had silky dribbling skills or that he is pacy but |
| of Sport and Exercise Sciences Annual Conference | | | | because he inspired the rest of the team with his |
| 2007. | | | | superior fitness. But be warned: long-time couch |
| This study was led by Associate Professor Peter | | | | potatoes who see themselves as the next |
| Krustrup from the University of Copenhagen in | | | | Ronaldinho in the short run will run a high risk of |
| collaboration with Copenhagen University Hospital and | | | | landing on the operation table instead. |
| Bispebjerg Hospital. | | | | While the results of this study quantitatively |
| Krustrup and his team randomly selected 37 male | | | | demonstrate the fitness of soccer players, |
| couch potatoes and had them undergo three hours | | | | comparisons must be made against other sports with |
| per week of soccer, jogging or no exercise over a | | | | a high playing tempo such as basketball. But even if |
| continuous period of three months. It turned out that | | | | such comparisons are available, I still believe that |
| those who went through the soccer regime became | | | | soccer players will come out among tops given the |
| the fittest of the lot. | | | | rigors and robustness of the modern game. |
| After three months, those who played soccer lost | | | | |