O2-8 Effects of a 12-week walking football intervention on cardiovascular disease risk factors in an older adult population: a randomised controlled trial in the UK

Abstract Background Interventions promoting physical activity and improved wellbeing delivered through professional football clubs have previously produced favourable changes in health in adult males (Hunt et al., 2014). Walking football has proven a popular variant suitable for older adults and studies have reported positive changes in health outcomes (Arnold et al., 2015; Reddy et al., 2017; McEwan et al., 2019). However, studies exploring outcomes following walking football interventions when compared to a control group in an older adult population are scarce. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to explore the effects of a 12-week walking football intervention on cardiovascular disease risk factors and quality of life in an older adult population. Methods Following ethical approval, participants (n = 23, one female; 68 ± 8 years old), were recruited through the Drink Wise, Age Well scheme; a local Lottery funded organisation and were invited to take part in a 12-week walking football intervention or control group. Intervention group participants (n = 17), were invited to one 60-minute walking football session per week consisting of a warm-up and small-scale competitive games, whereas control group participants (n = 6), continued with their normal habitual lifestyle. Outcomes measured were weight, resting blood pressure, non-fasting blood lipids, six-minute walk distance, and quality of life. Outcomes were assessed at baseline (week-0), midpoint (week-7) and post-intervention (week-13). Sessional RPE was recorded after each session. Preliminary data were analysed using a repeated-measures ANOVA. Results Adherence to the 12-week intervention was 83%. Mean (± SD) attendance for sessions was 68 ± 26% (range; 0-92%). Mean rating of perceived exertion was 6.3 ± 1 (range; 2-8). Analysis revealed a significant reduction in total cholesterol (p = 0.01) and LDL cholesterol (p = 0.19) in the intervention group. However, despite favourable changes in both groups for each variable, no significant difference between groups occurred between baseline, week-7 and post-intervention. Conclusion The study outlines the potential for individuals enrolled in a walking football scheme to engage in weekly moderate-to-vigorous PA as well as maintaining and improving a myriad of health outcomes. Engagement in other pre-existing health promotion schemes, such as walking football at other local organisations may have influenced outcome measures.


Background
Interventions promoting physical activity and improved wellbeing delivered through professional football clubs have previously produced favourable changes in health in adult males (Hunt et al., 2014). Walking football has proven a popular variant suitable for older adults and studies have reported positive changes in health outcomes (Arnold et al., 2015;Reddy et al., 2017;McEwan et al., 2019). However, studies exploring outcomes following walking football interventions when compared to a control group in an older adult population are scarce. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to explore the effects of a 12-week walking football intervention on cardiovascular disease risk factors and quality of life in an older adult population. Methods Following ethical approval, participants (n = 23, one female; 68 AE 8 years old), were recruited through the Drink Wise, Age Well scheme; a local Lottery funded organisation and were invited to take part in a 12-week walking football intervention or control group. Intervention group participants (n = 17), were invited to one 60-minute walking football session per week consisting of a warm-up and small-scale competitive games, whereas control group participants (n = 6), continued with their normal habitual lifestyle. Outcomes measured were weight, resting blood pressure, non-fasting blood lipids, six-minute walk distance, and quality of life. Outcomes were assessed at baseline (week-0), midpoint (week-7) and post-intervention (week-13). Sessional RPE was recorded after each session. Preliminary data were analysed using a repeated-measures ANOVA.

Results
Adherence to the 12-week intervention was 83%. Mean (AE SD) attendance for sessions was 68 AE 26% (range; 0-92%). Mean rating of perceived exertion was 6.3 AE 1 (range; 2-8). Analysis revealed a significant reduction in total cholesterol (p = 0.01) and LDL cholesterol (p = 0.19) in the intervention group. However, despite favourable changes in both groups for each variable, no significant difference between groups occurred between baseline, week-7 and post-intervention.

Conclusion
The study outlines the potential for individuals enrolled in a walking football scheme to engage in weekly moderate-tovigorous PA as well as maintaining and improving a myriad of health outcomes. Engagement in other pre-existing health promotion schemes, such as walking football at other local organisations may have influenced outcome measures. Keywords: walking football, cardiometabolic disease, community setting, controlled trial Physical activity policy Abstract citation ID: ckac094.017 O3-1 Key factors for sustainable implementation of community-based physical activity promotion with a focus on individuals with social disadvantages: a systematic review with narrative synthesis Natalie Helsper 1 , Jana Semrau 1 , Simone Kohler 1 , Lea Dippon 1 , Abu-Omar Karim 1 , Alfred Rü tten 1 , Pfeifer Klaus 1 1 Department for Sport Science and Sport, Friedrich-Alexander Universitä t Erlangen-Nü rnberg, Erlangen, Germany Corresponding author: natalie.helsper@fau.de

Background
According to the German prevention law ( § 20a SGB V) of 2016, statutory health insurances are legally bound to integrate sustainable setting-based health promotion in their activities. This includes the development of sustainable concepts for community-based physical activity promotion (cbPAP) with a focus on socially disadvantaged individuals (SDI) (e.g. individuals with low income, low social status) to improve health equity. The aim of the systematic review with a narrative synthesis is to identify context-specific factors for the sustainable implementation of cbPAP and further, to inform the project KOMBINE (German acronym for 'Community-Based PA Promotion to Implement National Recommendations') for a scientific and practice-based implementation of the National Recommendations for Physical Activity and Physical Activity Promotion in communities. Methods A systematic review with narrative synthesis was conducted. The search was carried out in the databases PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, PsycINFO/SportDiscus, and WebofScience. Searches were limited to only include studies published up until 04/ 2020, in English and German. Altogether, qualitative, quantitative, ''mixed-method'' studies, reports and reviews were considered. Articles referring to factors of sustainable implementation of community-based physical activity promotion with a whole-system approach were included. Although this was not an inclusion criterion, articles addressing accessibility for SDI were specifically taken into account. The framework by Schell et al. (2013) was used for data extraction and analysis, while the four main elements from Popay et al. (2006) were applied in the narrative synthesis process. Results 29 studies (13 qualitative, 1 quantitative, 9 ''mixed-method'' studies, 3 reviews, 3 reports) were included in the review. 137 references to sustainability factors were identified. According to the framework by Schell et al. (2013), factors were most frequently reported in domains of organizational levels (21), partnerships (18) and financial stability (16). Additional factors in the domains of accessibilities for SDI (11), infrastructure (7), participation (9), and cultural context (10) were identified by the authors. The relationship between the factors and the context of the programs are considered as well.

Conclusions
The identified factors for sustainability should be systematically addressed at an early stage in the conception of cbPAP measures for SDI to ensure sustainability after implementation.