Neither cycling nor football: the sport that exercises the entire body and can extend your life.
In Spain, the message that experts recommend practicing some form of physical activity routinely for the sake of maintaining health is becoming increasingly popular. However, not all sports are suitable for everyone, nor do they offer the same benefits across the population.
A recent study conducted in Great Britain and published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine shows that, although the mere act of routine exercise is beneficial for optimal physical and emotional health, there is one sport in particular that offers the greatest number of benefits to those who practice it: tennis.
The most complete sport for longevity
Thus, the conclusions of this scientific research place outdoor racquet sports among the best possible ways to beat aging and achieve greater longevity. Running, swimming, cycling, going to the gym, or playing basketball are no match for tennis, which provides a complete workout for the body.
The results of this study are so overwhelming that it states that "those who practice racket sports (tennis, paddle tennis, badminton or table tennis) with great regularity are almost 50 percent less likely to die."
The sample surveyed more than 80,000 adults over nine years, with tennis leading the way, followed by soccer, cycling, and swimming , which alone reduced the risk of mortality by 28 percent. The conclusion is that racket sports involve a precise combination of anaerobic and aerobic exercise, with rapid, intense effort alternating with recovery periods, strengthening the heart and all blood vessels.
The benefits of practicing any racket sport
Tennis improves the physical and cognitive abilities of those who play it, according to experts. Through physical and mental coordination, this sport also improves balance and agility, reflexes, concentration, and mental acuity. Furthermore, racket sports engage virtually every muscle in the body, from the legs to the shoulders, allowing us to stay in physical shape.
The recent study mentioned above has suggested that sports participation is associated with a reduction in mortality in middle-aged and older adults. Adding the term "vigorous sport" to the equation further reduces the risk of all-cause mortality. Thus, regular tennis practice, according to the scientists who published the research, "could increase life expectancy and happiness by several years."
ReferencesPekka Oja, Paul Kelly, Zeljko Pedisic, Sylvia Titze, Adrian Bauman, Charlie Foster, Mark Hamer, Melvyn Hillsdon, Emmanuel Stamatakis . 'Associations of specific types of sports and exercise with all-cause and cardiovascular-disease mortality: a cohort study of 80 306 British adults'. UKK Institute, Tampere, Finland and Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh. Published in BMJ Journals. Accessed online at https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/51/10/812 on April 17, 2025.
20minutos
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