Play Tennis, Live Longer!
Do you have a friend that consistently waxes lyrical about how good they feel after playing tennis? Well it turns out they they have a point! The results are in, and science is telling us that tennis is the best sport for extending a person’s life.
Health Study
A new study from Denmark concluded that playing tennis may extend your life by nearly 10 years. Peter Schnohr and his colleagues found this surprisingly large benefit in their Copenhagen City Heart Study entitled ‘Various Leisure-Time Physical Activities Associated with Widely Divergent Life Expectancies’. Scientists have known that exercise helps us live longer for many years now, with the general consensus being 1 to 1.5 years of extended life by being active. But what makes tennis so special?
Dr. Schnohr and his team looked at a variety of sports, with a sample size of almost 10,000 people and 25 years of data. They looked at the following sports and how they impact life expectancy – tennis, badminton, soccer, jogging, cycling, calisthenics, swimming, running, various cardio equipment, and weight training. Their list of findings are as follows –
- Tennis: 9.7 years gain in life expectancy
- Badminton: 6.2 years
- Soccer: 4.7 years
- Cycling: 3.7 years
- Swimming: 3.4 years
- Jogging: 3.2 years
- Calisthenics: 3.1 years
- Cardio Equipment & Weight Training: 1.5 years
Tennis players received easily the most significant benefit from their chosen sport. Dr. Schnohr and his colleagues used one sentiment to describe this – surprising. So what did the authors think the sports with higher benefits provide over the sports with lower benefits? Social interaction.
Start Playing Tennis
Instead of sticking the headphones in and heading for the treadmill or weights room solo, hit the tennis court with a Vamos coach instead. Learning and improving your game with a coach has unique effects that amplify the benefits of exercise. You will improve at tennis, which provides satisfaction and enjoyment, and still receive all the health benefits of playing tennis. Are you residing or holidaying on the Gold Coast or Brisbane? Vamos provides world-class tennis coaching that comes to your hotel, apartment or private residential court. All equipment is included and we employ the best tennis coaches to help transform your game and help extend your life.
Click here to find out how to get your free trial lesson.
