Rev. DERC (Online) 2021; 27(1): 24-31

Amateur American Football Players Present Reduction In Cardiorespiratory Fitness

Paula Koch

Lawisch

, Thiago

Dipp

DOI: 10.29327/22487.27.1-4

Abstract

Background:

American football (FA) is a sport of intermittent character and high intensity, which requires the athlete an adequate physical conditioning, depending mainly on oxidative metabolism.

Objective:

Evaluate the cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) of amateur football players.

Methods:

Cross-sectional study where maximum oxygen consumption (VO_2max) was evaluated by field test (YoYo Intermittent Endurance Test) and the level of physical activity with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ).

Results:

20 subjects with 29±9 years presented a significant reduction in VO_2max (35.9±5.1 × 45.6±2.3 ml/kg/min; p=0.001) and maximum heart rate (155±20 × 188±6 bpm; p=0.001) when compared to predicted values. 70% of subjects was scoring a high level of physical activity on the IPAQ, however, 65% of the sample was classified as CRF “weak” according to VO_2max values. Players with runner profile had test time (685.3±305.2 × 452.4±158.6 sec; p=0.04) and distance (1489.1±700.3 × 951.1±347.5 m; p=0.041) higher than players with blocker profile.

Conclusion:

Amateur football players have a reduction in CRF and physical performance is affected by player’s profile.