A new study suggests that playing tennis, or other racquet sports, may help prolong your life. The researchers found that individuals who partook in racquet sports had nearly a 50 percent lower risk of death during the 15-year follow-up period of the study. The risk of heart disease was also lowered 56 percent.
Study senior author Emmanuel Stamatakis explained, “Our findings indicate that it’s not only how much and how often, but also what type of exercise you do that seems to make the difference. Participation in specific sports may have various benefits for health. These observations with the existing evidence should support the sport community together with other sectors to design and implement effective health-enhancing exercise programs and physical activity in general.”
The study looked at data from over 80,000 people. The aim was to determine which sports were most beneficial in reducing mortality.
Advertisement
The researchers also uncovered that swimming and aerobics were associated with a 30 percent reduction of premature death from any cause. Cycling reduced the risk by 15 percent. Heart disease mortality was 41 percent lower among swimmers and 36 percent lower among those who did aerobics.
The findings were published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Emily Lunardo studied medical sociology at York University with a strong focus on the social determinants of health and mental illness. She is a registered Zumba instructor, as well as a Canfit Pro trainer, who teaches fitness classes on a weekly basis. Emily practices healthy habits in her own life as well as helps others with their own personal health goals. Emily joined Bel Marra Health as a health writer in 2013.
