Anyone for tennis? It’s good for your health
Cause a racquet! It’s ace for fitness, says sports expert ANDY BROOKS
WE may not have Murray this year, but with Wimbledon in full swing and the summer sun actually making an appearance, it may well be that you are considering dusting off your trainers and digging out your racquet. For a few weeks, tennis is back in fashion.
But what many people don’t necessarily realise, is that there are actually many reasons why tennis should be a lot more than just a summer fad, from boosting aerobic fitness to improving memory! In fact, with more and more ways to enjoy the sport all year round, tennis should be near the top of the table when it comes to family friendly fitness. Here are a few reasons why hitting the courts is ace.
MAX YOUR MENTAL AGILITY
MOST people would expect tennis to have physical benefits, but did you know it is good for your brain too?
The fast-paced, strategic nature of tennis makes it one of the top sports for improving mental concentration and as such, regular play has actually been shown to improve memory function and learning ability.
It actually supports production of new brain cells. Together with the mood enhancing benefits of endorphin and serotonin release that most exercise delivers, tennis is smash hit in terms of the feel-good factor.
SERVE MORE, STRESS LESS
STICKING with mental benefits for a moment, tennis is also a super stress reliever (and you don’t even have to adopt the pro ‘grunt’ favoured by the likes of Sharapova and Nadal!).
All physical activity – particularly aerobic sports that require a lot of muscle movement – provides an excellent outlet for getting rid of tension built up in the body. But the added action of powerful racquet play makes tennis a really good way to ditch daily troubles and, ultimately, feel more relaxed.
A HIT WITH YOUR HEART
TENNIS is great cardiovascular exercise. Quick sprints, jumps and turns – they all help get your heart rate up, oxygen pumping and lungs working harder. Subsequently, research has shown that playing tennis regularly will help to lower your resting heart rate and blood pressure. In turn this also helps prevent the long-term risk of cardiovascular disease, in some cases cutting the risk by as much as 56%.
LOVE THE WEIGHT LOSS
TENNIS gives you a great whole body workout. Every time you run, reach, swing and stretch for that match winning smash, you work all major muscle groups. It’s not surprising then that you’ll also burn a lot of calories.
Research suggests playing tennis can burn as much as 728 calories per hour, making it one of the top ranking sports for individual’s looking for a little sporting assistance to shed the pounds. Additionally the movements involved in tennis help tone the body meaning it’s great for shaping up too.
YEAR-ROUND RACQUET FUN
WATCHING Wimbledon may make us yearn for balmy summer days on the grass courts but that doesn’t mean that the fun has to stop as soon as autumn kicks in.
Most outdoor courts, grass or hardcourt, are open all year round, while indoor courts provide the perfect rainproof solution when the British weather does its worst.
Many local leisure centres will also work in partnership with clubs too, meaning that you and your family can get involved with regular activities throughout the year.
AN ACE ACTIVITY AT ANY AGE
PERHAPS the best thing about tennis is that is can be played and enjoyed by anyone of any age, individually or together.
Introducing toddlers to tennis at an early age (you can often find toddler classes) is a great way to help improve their balance, overall agility and co-ordination, and for younger children in general, softball and short game formats provide an easy and accessible route into the game.
At the other end of the spectrum, tennis also helps keep mind and body active as we age. In addition to the memory and heart benefits already mentioned, playing tennis – even at a gentler pace – can help keep bone strength and muscle mass optimized. The directional changes and co-ordination involved in tennis have also been shown to help with balance issues which in turn can help prevent falls.
So, while watching your favourite player battle it out for the Wimbledon trophy might be your initial inspiration for taking on a spot of tennis, don’t be deterred when summer stops. With so many health and fitness benefits all ages can experience, keep reaching for those racquets and stay fit as a family.