If the prowess of the Lebrun brothers and Charles Noakes has inspired you to follow their example and practice ping-pong or badminton, be aware that these different sports are very beneficial for health at any age. We have listed for you 5 benefits of racket sports for the figure, the heart, and even the brain.
No matter whether you choose tennis, squash, ping-pong, badminton, or padel: all these racket sports have in common that they engage numerous muscles.
The first of their 5 health benefits is to sculpt the silhouette and limit muscle wasting linked to age or sarcopenia. Indeed, regular practice allows you to work:
• the thighs and glutes during movements on the court
• the abdominal and back muscles when receiving the ball or shuttlecock.
The heart, which is a muscle, is also engaged by playing racket sports. Tennis, ping-pong, or squash require aerobic efforts due to the speed of movement, the strength of hits, and the alternation between phases of effort and recovery.
The entire cardiovascular system works, so these disciplines develop endurance, cardio, and respiratory capacities in players.
These racket games are also an excellent workout for the elderly, provided they are adapted to each individual's physical condition. If you are looking for a sport for seniors this fall, you can be inspired by our Olympic and Paralympic medalists Félix Lebrun and Charles Noakes!
We don't always think about it, but racket sports don't just work out the legs, arms, and heart... They also engage the brain! It takes a lot of attention and even concentration to follow and anticipate the trajectory of the ball or shuttlecock.
Moreover, scientific studies have shown that players of ping-pong, tennis, or other similar sports develop their cognitive abilities, their sense of coordination, and their memory.
Since 2019, the France Alzheimer association and the French Table Tennis Federation have partnered to offer adapted ping-pong lessons for patients with Alzheimer's disease. The initial feedback from this experience is very encouraging because table tennis works on spatial orientation, coordination, and speed.
Among the 5 health benefits of racket sports, their playful aspect is one not to be overlooked. Before becoming sports and even, for some, Olympic disciplines, these games were invented for fun.
Whether you choose badminton, pickleball, or ping-pong, you will enjoy a fun physical activity that creates a bond with your opponents. The playful and relational aspect of this activity will not only boost your morale but also encourage you to persevere.
It is easier to be diligent and engage in regular physical activity as health authorities recommend when you find pleasure and enjoyment in its practice.
If you aspire to live as long as possible in good health, go buy your first racket right away! A study published in 2018 in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings proved that playing tennis regularly could give you an additional 9.7 years of life.
This study, conducted among 8600 Danes followed for 25 years, also demonstrated a gain of 6.2 years of life for badminton players, ahead of football (4.7 additional years), cycling (3.7 years), and running (3.2 years).
Even though these figures remain very theoretical, they highlight that racket sports have numerous physical and psychological benefits. They notably help maintain overall physical fitness, work on reflexes and balance, stimulate cognitive abilities... In short: to live longer while remaining autonomous and in good health.
Author Audrey on 07 June 2024
Sports and Leisure : Individual sports
Author Audrey on 08 March 2023
Sports and Leisure : Individual sports