If you used to play soccer actively when you were young, you can still engage in the sport on a recreational level if you’re already in your 40s or 50s. There’s a benefit to playing this sport especially to older people.

A small study has found that one of the great benefits of playing soccer is reducing a adult’s high blood pressure. The British researchers in their study of 22 men whose ages ranged from 31 to 54 discovered that those who played the game for an hour twice a week had mild to moderate hypertension.

During their research that took six months, the scientists noted significant drops in the blood pressure of those who engaged in the sport. An estimated 75 percent of the men attained normal BP readings. Other findings include better lung function, lower resting heart rates and decreased body fat. The results of this study will be published in the March issue of the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.
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Originally posted on February 26, 2013 @ 1:37 pm