Key points from article :
A Danish study followed 8,577 people aged 20 to 93 from 1991 to 2017 to see how different sports affect lifespan. These participants answered detailed questions about their physical activities as part of the Copenhagen City Heart Study. The scientists discovered that playing tennis was linked to living about 9.7 years longer than people who did not exercise at all. Tennis added more years than badminton (6.2), football (4.7), cycling (3.7), swimming (3.4), jogging (3.2), and callisthenics (3.1).
Even health club activities like treadmill running or stationary cycling only added about 1.5 years. Researchers think tennis may be extra helpful because of its strong social aspect, which brings people together and can boost mental health too. They did note, however, that the study was observational, so it does not prove that tennis alone caused the longer lifespan.
Still, other studies also support these findings, showing tennis players often have stronger grip strength and lower risk of dying from any cause. The results were published in 2018 and highlight that staying active, especially through sports involving others, can add many healthy years to life. So picking up a racket this summer might be a fun and smart choice.
