Is Tennis A Good Workout?

 As worldwide obesity rates continue to rise, and life expectancy rates are now predicted to fall, the need for us to be fit, healthy, and active, has never been greater.

As part of a healthy lifestyle, as well as eating right and enjoying certain vices in moderation, we also must ensure that we are physically active and that we get plenty of exercise. This could be in the form of a leisurely walk several times a week, workouts at the gym, or engaging in a sport such as tennis.

Tennis isn’t only an enjoyable and competitive sport to play, it’s also a great way to get active and stay in shape. The sport is both physically and mentally demanding and offers a huge selection of health and fitness benefits – some of which you simply wouldn’t get from other sports.

Here’s a look at some of the main reasons why tennis is considered to be so beneficial and such a great workout.

Physical Demands of Tennis

Tennis is not an easy sport to perfect. It takes years of practice to even master the basics, let alone the more advanced aspects of the game. Not only does it require a great deal of knowledge and skill, it also requires physical fitness.

Not only do you need to have great stamina and endurance, you also need to be physically and mentally strong, and have great balance and mobility.

Does Tennis Offer Cardiovascular Benefits?

With heart disease claiming more lives each year than any other illness or disease, it’s imperative that we take good care of our hearts and look after our cardiovascular health. This is one reason why tennis is so beneficial.

Tennis is a great form of cardiovascular exercise that can help to strengthen the heart, improve circulation, reduce blood pressure, reduce harmful LDL cholesterol levels, and improve physical fitness and endurance.

On top of that, as it is such a great form of cardio, you will burn more calories, making tennis ideal for losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight. As you know, obesity has been linked with a wide range of cardiovascular health issues, so maintaining a healthy weight is very important.

Which Muscles Do You Work During Tennis?

Tennis isn’t just a great form of cardio, it also provides resistance-based benefits as well.

Tennis works your glutes, your core, your quads, your deltoids, your upper back, and your forearms in particular. It is the perfect sport for working muscles in the upper and lower body, making it a great full-body workout.

Why Core Strength is Important in Tennis

Your core is responsible for your balance, coordination, explosive speed, and strength. All of which are needed when it comes to tennis. Your core muscles consist of your obliques, abdominal muscles, and core stabilizer muscles.

Your core connects the upper body with the lower body, and as you use upper and lower muscles during tennis, you can see why this is important. You also need good balance as you’re moving in all directions on the court. A strong core means good balance, which is why tennis players often work their cores so much.

Stress Relief and Relaxation Through Tennis

Tennis also offers a wide range of mental health benefits, especially in the form of stress relief and the promotion of relaxation.

To begin with, tennis can boost endorphin levels such as serotonin and dopamine. These can help us to feel happy, confident, and relaxed, thereby helping us to sleep better at night. Not only that, but it can reduce the production of stress hormones such as cortisol, so we can keep stress at bay.

Cognitive Benefits of Strategic Thinking and Quick Decision-Making

Finally, tennis is a sport that requires strategic thinking and quick decision-making. For each shot your opponent makes, you need to decide your next move, while also thinking ahead to how they’ll respond.

Experts have found that strategic thinking and the ability to make decisions on the spot can improve cognitive health by boosting short-term memory, making you a better problem solver, and helping to improve mental focus.

In the long run, there is also evidence to suggest that this could help to prevent cognitive decline later in life, and potentially prevent degenerative health conditions such as dementia.