Today, there are almost 18 billion tennis players in the US. As you can see, it’s a very popular sport, one that definitely keeps you on your toes.
Maybe you’re looking to get into shape for fitness and are considering playing tennis for your mental and physical health. If so, then you’re in luck.
In this article, we’ll discuss 14 health benefits of tennis you can get from playing this sport.
1. It Burns Calories
Just like with any activity you do, you’ll burn calories. Yes, even when you’re just sitting around or laid in the bed sleeping, you’re burning calories. This is because your body is working to keep everything running smoothly.
When you’re doing something that gets your heart rate going and makes you sweat, it’ll help you burn calories quicker. In fact, for someone who weighs 150 pounds, you’ll burn around 544 calories in an hour of medium-intensity tennis.
So is tennis a good workout? We’d certainly say so. If you’re struggling with weight loss, then this can be a very fun way of shedding those pounds.
2. It Builds Muscles All Over
Tennis is a sport where you have to use your entire body. Not only do you have to run around the court to hit the ball, but you also have to position your body just right. Plus, you have to have enough power behind your swing to return the ball to your opponent.
When you consider all of the above, then it makes sense that one of the benefits of tennis is a whole-body workout. From your calves to your shoulders, you’ll work out almost every single muscle when you run around on the court.
3. It Helps You With Coordination
We mentioned above that basically every part of your body is involved in the sport. You need to run to the right place, twist your body in the right way, and make sure the racket connects with the ball for a solid hit.
If you’ve always been clumsy, then picking up tennis can be highly beneficial. It may take some getting used to, as well as some bumps and bruises, but in the end, you’ll definitely be more coordinated.
4. You’ll Be Quicker on Your Feet
Most tennis ball serves go over 100 MPH. And when you’re rallying, they go around 60 MPH. If you think about it, that’s like trying to react to a car on the freeway that’s coming at you!
It should come as no surprise that picking up tennis will train you to have quicker and better reflexes. With each hit, you need to prepare for the next; the ball comes back to you within seconds, and this is repeated for as long as the rally goes on for.
If you play other sports, this can help you stay sharp while playing those too.
5. You’ll Get Better Endurance
If you’ve watched any professional tennis match, then you’ll know that games can last for hours.
When you pick up tennis, you don’t necessarily have to play matches that go on for hours. But you should always try to rally for as long as you can, even if it’s for 20 or 30 minutes.
As you get better and you build more endurance, you can slowly bump up your sessions to be longer and longer. Soon, you’ll be able to handle hours on the court in no time!
6. You Have a Lower Chance of Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a condition where your bones are brittle. This can happen due to older age (because of a change in hormones) and/or a lack of vitamin D and calcium.
When you’re active and play tennis, this can help immensely in maintaining the strength and density of your bones. Considering you reach peak bone mass at the age of 30, you need to be proactive in maintaining your bone health.
When you combine playing tennis with taking the right multivitamins and eating a rich diet, you’ll slow down bone loss as you age.
7. It Decreases Your Chance of Cardiovascular Disease
This sport involved a lot of intense exercise, which can help strengthen your respiratory system. In turn, this also strengthens your cardiovascular system; more importantly, your heart.
Your heart is a muscle and by exercising, you’re improving that muscle. This makes it easier for your body to pump blood all around.
In addition, it prevents bad cholesterol from building up. This is what can cause heart attacks and strokes, so as a result, you’re decreasing your chances of those health conditions.
8. It Decreases Your Chance of Diabetes
Along the same lines as prevention of cardiovascular disease, tennis can also prevent you from getting diabetes. In many cases, diabetes can develop from lack of exercise and a poor diet.
Of course, it’s also due to your genetics. But if you can eat healthier and also exercise regularly, this drives the chance of getting diabetes down.
This is because playing tennis helps eliminate unhealthy fats from your body, which is a major factor in diabetes. And if you already have diabetes, playing this sport can still assist in managing symptoms and keeping you as healthy as possible.
9. It Strengthens Your Immune System
Exercising on a regular basis strengthens your immune system. When you’re inhaling and exhaling rapidly during a tennis game, this can help you get rid of any bacteria.
In addition, physical activity promotes the production of both white blood cells and antibodies. So if you’re exposed to a cold or flu, your body will fight the infection off much better and quicker.
10. It Helps With Social Skills
Whether you’re playing solos or doubles, you’re almost always interacting with someone when you play tennis.
Whichever type of game you’re playing, you need to learn to work with others and have good sportsmanship. Every person has their own personality and quirks. When you’re on the court, you need to learn how to adapt to them and accommodate one another.
11. It Improves Your Moods
For those of you who struggle with anxiety and/or depression, getting some physical activity can be excellent for improving your mood. Tennis challenges your mind, and when you navigate your games successfully, this can give you a boost in your mood.
Plus, it naturally makes you release endorphins, which is a chemical that gives you a euphoric feeling. Playing tennis regularly can improve not just your moods, but also your self-esteem and decrease bouts of anger and anxiety.
12. It Teaches You Discipline
It takes discipline to stick to a sport and get good at it. For example, professional players like Prabir Purohit have gotten to where they are through hard work and perseverance.
If you want to get good at tennis, you must stick to a schedule and consistently practice; otherwise, you’ll never develop your skills at the game. This type of dedication can be applied to other areas of your life, which can help you find structure and motivation.
13. It Improves Brain Health
In order to develop those fast reflexes to respond to a game of tennis, your brain has to learn and create new nerve connections. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be well-equipped to handle all the quick movements and reactions.
When you play tennis, not only do you shape up your body, but you also sharpen your mind. Your brain will go through continuous development, which can help battle shrinkage that naturally comes with older age.
14. It Motivates You to Eat Healthier
Because tennis is such an intense sport, you need to ensure you’re eating healthy. Otherwise, when you’re on the court, you’ll feel sluggish and won’t perform your best. This means that if you’re used to eating fast food all the time, that won’t be sustainable if you want to take tennis seriously.
When you get serious about tennis, this can motivate you to eat a more wholesome diet. Not only will this help you play better, but it can also help your sore muscles recover quicker as well.
By changing your diet to a more nutritious one, you’ll also see improvements in other areas of your life. For example, you may not feel as fatigued in the middle of your workdays anymore.
Reap the Health Benefits of Tennis by Picking This Sport Up
As you can see, there are many health benefits of tennis. Not only does it keep your body in shape, but it can keep your mind sharp as well. In addition, it can be a social sport, especially when you play in teams.
So what are you waiting for? Buy a racket and some balls, and get to practicing on the court!
Did you like this article on the benefits of playing tennis? Then make sure you check out our other posts too!
