34 reasons to play tennis

Health, fitness, fun make sport excellent choice

by Jack Groppel, Ph.D., USPTA Master Professional

We’ve all heard tennis referred to as the "sport for a lifetime." But, is this really true?

According to world-renowned scientists from a variety of disciplines, there is no doubt that tennis can improve your overall health, including your mental and physical fitness.

Here are the facts:

• People who participate in tennis three hours per week at a moderately vigorous intensity cut in half their risk of death from any cause, according to the late Dr. Ralph Paffenbarger, who was an internationally recognized exercise authority and studied more than 10,000 people for 20 years.

• Tennis players scored higher in vigor, optimism and self-esteem while scoring lower in depression, anger, confusion, anxiety and tension than other athletes and nonathletes, according to Dr. Joan Finn and colleagues at Southern Connecticut State University.

• Since tennis requires alertness and tactical thinking, it may generate new connections between nerves in the brain and promote a lifetime of continuing development of the brain, reported scientists at the University of Illinois.

• Tennis outperforms golf and most other sports in developing positive personality characteristics, according to Dr. Jim Gavin, author of "The Exercise Habit."

• Competitive tennis burns more calories than aerobics or cycling, according to studies in caloric expenditures.

With these facts in mind, review the 34 specific reasons why you should consider playing regularly!