{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,13]],"date-time":"2026-02-13T19:19:01Z","timestamp":1771010341829,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":39,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,13]],"date-time":"2026-02-13T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1770940800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100003451","name":"University of the Basque Country","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","award":["US20\/06; PPGA19\/53"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["US20\/06; PPGA19\/53"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100003451","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100003086","name":"Basque Government","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","award":["IT1538-2"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["IT1538-2"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100003086","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]},{"name":"Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities","award":["FPU 20\/06429"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["FPU 20\/06429"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS One"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The aim of the study was to evaluate the health-related effects of a 9-month walking-football (WF) season in already active older adults, comparing participants aged 50\u201359 and \u226560. The study employed a longitudinal pre\u2013post design conducted in a real-world community setting. The participants were 32 adults aged over 50 (including 2 women) who completed a 9-month, twice-weekly outdoor WF program. Baseline and post-season assessments included body measurements, blood biomarkers, cardiovascular fitness (Bruce protocol), muscle strength (countermovement jump, handgrip strength, and isokinetic measurements), physical activity, and health-related quality of life. Training load was monitored via heart rate and session rating of perceived exertion. Statistical analyses compared pre- and post-season outcomes, as well as differences between age groups (50\u201359 vs.\u2009\u2265\u200960 years). Anthropometric parameters remained stable over the season, with participants aged 50\u201359 showing higher weight, BMI, and muscle mass than those aged \u226560 (p\u2009&lt;\u20090.05). Reductions occurred in blood glucose, along with favorable changes in lipid profiles in older participants (p\u2009&lt;\u20090.05), and increased vitamin D (p\u2009&lt;\u20090.05). Creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and adiponectin decreased over the season (p\u2009&lt;\u20090.05). Although the differences were not statistically significant, older adults maintained peak VO\u2082, whereas younger participants exhibited a small decline. Muscle strength decreased across both age groups, specifically handgrip strength and knee extension (p\u2009&lt;\u20090.001\u20130.05). Physical activity levels showed a non-significant increase in total and high-intensity METs, especially among younger participants. In conclusion, walking football may help preserve cardiometabolic health, functional capacity, and quality of life in physically active older adults throughout a competitive season. Nevertheless, specific program adjustments\u2014such as higher training loads, the inclusion of strength or resistance components, and age-tailored modifications\u2014could be required to maximize outcomes, particularly among younger participants.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0341913","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,13]],"date-time":"2026-02-13T18:23:32Z","timestamp":1771007012000},"page":"e0341913","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Health-related effects of walking football in older adults: A real-world longitudinal study across a season comparing two age 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