What is the best sport for longevity and health? Is it jogging or swimming or cycling? No.
Two major health surveys have produced many surprising results ... all of which are great news for tennis players!
A Mayo Clinic study of 8,577 Americans over the age of 25 found that playing tennis will increase life expectancy by nearly 10 years. This is more than any other sport! Tennis will extend your life more than three times longer than jogging.
As the list below shows, life-expectancy gains for tennis far exceed other sports:
- Tennis: 9.7 years
- 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: 1.5 years
Nine-yer study of 80,306 British adults with an average age of 52 showed more fantastic results for tennis players.
Risk of death (all causes):
- 47% lower among those who played racquet sports
- 28% lower among swimmers
- 27% lower among aerobics/keep fit
- 15% lower among cyclists
- No beneficial association for football/rugby or jogging
Risk of death from heart disease/stroke:
- 56% lower risk for racquet sports
- 41% lower risk swimming/36% aerobics/keep fit
- No association for cycling, jogging, football/rugby
These studies have been championed by Dr. Brian Hainline, a member of the USTA Vice President and NCAA Chief Medical Officer. He is also a Clinical Professor of Neurology with the Indiana University and New York University schools of medicine.
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