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Essay / Recreational football: cardiovascular health, physical fitness and mental health
Football has now been the most popular sport in the world for several generations. Its popularity is partly explained by the simplicity and low barrier of entry required to participate in the sport. Unlike most places where equipment is required, all you need is a ball; this makes it easy to convince a patient when trying to motivate them to participate on a regular basis. When considering the use of physical activity to improve a patient's health, recreational soccer (RS) is a very attractive tool that can be used to achieve targeted health goals. Studies have shown that recreational soccer is just as effective and may be even more effective than high-intensity intermittent training (HIIT) in improving body composition, muscle fitness, and intermittent physical performance. Another study showed that SR is superior to rudimentary exercises like endurance running because it results in more pronounced improvements in blood pressure and heart rate; moreover, it induces greater fat loss as metabolic functions are improved. Physical and physiological improvements are not the only factors that can be affected by SR, mental health can be as well. Studies have shown that SR can have a positive motivating effect on people who need a lifestyle change and, because it can also facilitate social interactions, it increases the likelihood of adherence and compliance to the activity. Another study that examined the impact of R's on individuals' well-being also concluded that participation improves mood and overall psychological well-being. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Over the past 9 weeks, I have played soccer for at least 30 minutes. The initial total for my perceived stress questionnaire was 21 points. My baseline physiological values at rest were: blood pressure at 122/79 and heart rate and respiratory rate at 81 and 15, respectively. My initial physiological values after exercise were: blood pressure 130/65; heart rate and respiration were 108 and 25, respectively, with a dyspnea scale of 3. After 9 weeks of swimming, my total for perceived stress questions was 13 points. My resting physiological values before exercise were: blood pressure 123/78 and heart rate and respiratory rate were 80 and 14, respectively. My initial physiological values after exercise were: blood pressure 131/68; heart rate and respiratory rate were 107 and 25, respectively, with a dyspnea scale of 3. DiscussionOver the course of 9 weeks, playing recreational soccer decreased my total perceived stress questions from 21 (moderate stress) to 13 (low stress). Although I didn't see any major changes in my blood pressure or heart rate, I did notice an increase in my tolerance for participating in such intense exercise as the weeks went on. At the very beginning, my hands would drop to my knees after just 15 minutes of playing, but over time my breathing was less labored and my stamina improved a lot. My dyspnea scale did not change, it remained constant for most of the 9 weeks. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Conclusion The practice has been shown to..