You likely know that eating a nutritious diet, getting quality sleep and staying physically active can lead to a healthy, long life. This golden trifecta decreases your chances of getting diseases like cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, improving your quality of life and allowing you to live longer, says Patricia Kolowich, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon at the Henry Ford Center for Athletic Medicine.
And while all movement is healthy for you, a Copenhagen-based study found that certain recreational sports may impact longevity more than others. Participants were followed for up to 25 years to see how a variety of sports may affect lifespan. Researchers found that:
- Tennis added 9.7 years onto someone’s life
- Badminton added 6.2 years onto someone’s life
- Soccer added 4.7 years onto someone’s life
- Cycling added 3.7 years onto someone’s life
- Swimming added 3.4 years onto someone’s life
- Jogging added 3.2 years onto someone’s life
- Calisthenics added 3.1 years onto someone’s life
So what is it about tennis that seems to increase longevity the most? “Tennis works both your upper and lower extremities,” says Dr. Kolowich. “You’re using your muscles, there’s cardio involved, it’s a very active sport. It’s also a sport you can play at any age: you can play it as a child, as an adult – even at 75 years old, although you might not be as aggressive with it.”
Go Where The Pros Go
But it’s not just that: tennis is also a social sport. “While you can hit tennis balls by yourself, it’s usually with other people,” says Dr. Kolowich. “And studies have shown that people who have social support live longer than those who live in isolation. People who have connections with others tend to be happier. They have a more positive view of the world. So if you combine those two factors – physical activity and social connections – you get even more health benefits.
“As you go down the list of sports that increase longevity, you can see they’re not sports you do alone. Badminton you don’t play alone, soccer you don’t play alone. While you can technically cycle alone, people often cycle in a group – they cycle and then have brunch together.”
The Bottom Line? Get Active With Friends
If you’ve never played tennis before, it doesn’t mean you have to start now. The takeaway is to sweat with friends.
“Get a couple of people together and go for a walk or go to a yoga class,” says Dr. Kolowich. “Pickleball is a popular recreational sport, it’s very social and fairly easy to pick up. Any physical activity is better than none – and turning it into a social outing is the best option. It will keep you coming back because you want to see your friends, and it will be a more consistent activity. You want it to be something you enjoy so that you’ll do it on a regular basis.”
Another important note? Your physical activity doesn’t have to be with friends seven days a week. “You should be physically active every day, but it doesn’t always have to be two hours of tennis with friends,” says Dr. Kolowich. “If you set yourself up for this goal but don’t have the time, you might get discouraged and stop altogether. Try a few days a week as social activity and the other days on your own. Aiming for 30 minutes of physical activity a day is best – and any type of exercise can really make a difference in your life.”
Reviewed by Patricia Kolowich, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon who sees patients at the Henry Ford Center for Athletic Medicine and Henry Ford Medical Center – Columbus.
