Many active seniors love the chance of playing a game of tennis and flexing those forearms. It is a tiring game and you need to keep yourself fit to play it well. Although rather a complicated AND strenuous game, tennis is a favored sport among many seniors. But there are ones who question the suitability of this game for seniors. They are probably wondering whether all that running and sweating can be too strenuous for a senior? Well, unless your doctor has advised against strenuous activities, there is certainly nothing wrong in engaging yourself in a round of tennis. Any sport that gets you moving is good for the body and mind. This does not have to be a high-impact sport. Although you run and jump and sweat profusely, tennis is still considered a low-impact game suitable for any age and skill level. So, if you are still worried about all this running and jumping, at your age, let’s take a closer look at some of the health benefits of tennis.
Health Benefits of Playing Tennis
There are a number of health benefits of playing tennis. Let’s look at five that top the list.
- Tennis Decreases the Risk of Heart Disease – One of the most common problems with the aging process is the arrival of all those health problems. Every adult over the age of 50 worries about heart disease which is the most common disease affecting a majority of them. Playing tennis is extremely good for the heart. It helps lower your blood pressure, maintain your ideal body weight, helps lower cholesterol and reduces stress.
- Tennis helps with Balance, Coordination, and Flexibility – So, your balance is not what it was a few years ago. And maybe you are not able to bend down and touch your toes without bending the knees. Playing tennis involves your entire body. You use your arms to hit the ball, the feet to run to the ball and the rest of the body to send the ball to the other side of the court. Doing this repeatedly improves your balance, coordination, and flexibility.
- Tennis Gives a Boost to your Brain –Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease may be foremost in your thoughts once you pass a certain age. Keeping your brain active is one of the best ways of preventing dementia. Tennis increases your creativity, involves planning, strategizing and tactical thinking. What better way to keep the brain active than by playing tennis?
- Tennis Improves Bone Density – Bone mass loss is a common occurrence in the middle ages. You start experiencing bone mass loss once you pass the age of 30. The best exercise for improving bone density is weight training exercises. However, you can help increase bone mass and slow the loss of bone density also by playing tennis.
- Tennis Aids in Weight Loss – All that running, jumping, pivoting and sweating makes you lose many calories. In fact, playing tennis aids in more calorie burn than cycling or jogging, golfing or walking.
These are just some of the health benefits of playing tennis. So, what are you waiting for? Hit the courts today.
Tennis is a sport highlighted in many active adult communities. If you live in an active adult community, such as, Trilogy® at Ocala Preserve, or any of the many other active adult communities that come with tennis court facilities, both indoors and outdoors, then playing a game of tennis will be a daily affair. You will start feeling the benefits of this sport in no time. As with any sport or exercise, consider the advice of a medical practitioner before you begin.
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