Sports: The Key to Living Longer?
Want to live up to 10 years longer? Then get involved in sports! In a study which followed 8000 individuals over a 25-year period (1), researchers found that participating in ANY sport improved life expectancy compared to being sedentary. Still trying to find the Fountain of Youth? Might be as simple as putting on your joggers.
This study which was published in 2018, looked at the effects of 8 different types of sports such as tennis, soccer and jogging on life expectancy (1). Through questionnaires conducted on healthy men and women, physical activity levels were tracked and analysed by clinical researchers. By adjusting for important factors such as socioeconomic status, medical records, age etc., this ensured that the outcomes were balanced and reliable.
When looking at the results, tennis topped the list with an increased life expectancy of 9.7 years (1). This is an encouraging finding given that tennis is a social sport where people of all fitness levels and ages can participate. The proof is in the pudding when considering that the International Tennis Federation (ITF) has a professional circuit dedicated towards 65–85 year old athletes. This was followed by badminton and soccer which also extended the timeline by 6.2 and 4.7 years respectively. Surprisingly, more common modes of exercise such as swimming and jogging also yielded significant health benefits but to a lesser extent with 3.4 and 3.2 years respectively.
Does this mean that everyone should play tennis to live a longer and healthy life? Nope. What this study seems to suggest is that any physical activity is beneficial compared to a sedentary lifestyle. In fact, the World Health Organisation recommends that only 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity per week can confer significant health benefits for ALL adults (including those over 65) (2). These activities could range from planned exercise to even household chores or walking the dog. Of course, for those who can, additional physical activity volume and intensity confers greater benefits.
So why is there such a contrast between tennis and sports like jogging and swimming? Authors in this paper have suggested 2 reasons which includes:
- Social interaction: Team and racquet sports such as soccer and tennis often require social interaction and building interpersonal relationships. This vital for preventing social isolation which is a huge risk factor for mental illness and mortality (3). By having a strong social support network and sense of belonging, not only does that help with wellbeing but also longevity.
- Interval vs. continuous activities: Another observation drawn from the analyses also indicated that sports played at repeated intervals of higher intensity exercise, was superior to those conducted continuously at a moderate intensity. This has been supported by mounting evidence which indicates that there are superior physiological benefits from bursts of high intensity physical activity.
At the end of the day, it would be inappropriate to assume that playing sports directly causes an increase in life expectancy. But what this suggests, is that physical activity is an important for your health and wellbeing. What also seems to be just as important, is mixing up how you perform your exercises and by participating in social settings. As some would say, if you lose what you don’t move. So better keep moving it.
Got a niggle from exercising too hard? Physical Healthcare prides itself on the implementation of evidence-based practice for managing sporting or general injuries. By working towards your goals such as returning to work and physical activity, we will work with you to tailor an appropriate management programme. We have various locations across Melbourne including Preston, Lalor, Taylors Lakes, Sydenham and Bulleen. Contact us on 1300 581 625 or visit https://www.physicalhealthcare.com.au/ to book in an appointment with one of our friendly physiotherapists today.
References
1. Schnohr, P., O’Keefe, J. H., Holtermann, A., Lavie, C. J., Lange, P., Jensen, G. B., & Marott, J. L. (2018). Various Leisure-Time Physical Activities Associated With Widely Divergent Life Expectancies: The Copenhagen City Heart Study. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, (12), 1775–1789
2. World Health Organisation. Global recommendations on physical activity for health. Retrieved from: https://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/publications/9789241599979/en/
3. Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T. B., Baker, M., Harris, T., & Stephenson, D. (2015). Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: a meta-analytic review. Perspectives On Psychological Science: A Journal Of The Association For Psychological Science, 10(2), 227–237.
