Time for Tennis
Playing tennis, it turns out, might be the best thing you can do to extend your life. It has long been established that exercise helps you live longer, but a 2018 study from Denmark showed that compared to a sedentary lifestyle playing tennis extends one’s life expectancy by a remarkable 9.7 years. While other sports all provided benefits, tennis was the clear winner. Here’s a summary:
• 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
• Health club activities: 1.5 years
Even the authors of the study were surprised at the result! They suggested is may be because, “belonging to a group that meets regularly promotes a sense of support, trust, and commonality, which has been shown to contribute to a sense of well-being and improved long-term health”, or because “short repeated intervals of higher intensity exercise appear to be superior to continuous moderate intensity physical activity for improving health outcomes.”
Whatever the reason, tennis is undoubtedly good for you, so if you want to add years to your life take up tennis! Royston is lucky to have a fantastic tennis club, with six courts located on the heath. Whether you used to play regularly or have never picked up a racket, and whatever your age, everyone is welcome!