ByDORON KUPERSTEIN

Jerusalem Post

A major Danish study shows that racquet sports like tennis, badminton, and even matkot reduce mortality by 47% and extend life more than any other physical activity.

If you don’t like running or swimming, we’ve got great news for you. A new, comprehensive study has found a different sport that leads the way when it comes to living a long and healthy life.
A study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings examined 8,577 participants in Denmark and found that those who engaged in racquet sports—especially tennis and badminton (and we’ll add our national summer sport, matkot)—showed the greatest life extension of any physical activity.

Tennis: added up to 9.7 years of life
Badminton: added 6.2 years
Swimming: added only 3.4 years
Running: added 3.2 years
A British study supports the findings
A separate study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine followed more than 80,000 participants over nine years. The results were even more impressive:

Racquet sports were associated with a 47% reduction in risk of death from any cause
Swimming reduced the risk by only 28%
Aerobics reduced it by 36%
But that’s not all—racquet sports have also been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and heart attack by 56%. By comparison, swimming reduced the risk by 41% and aerobics by 36%.
Why are racquet sports so effective?
• Advanced cardio fitness: Tennis, badminton, squash, and matkot involve constant movement, fast sprints, and frequent changes of direction while returning the ball. All of this raises the heart rate and gives the heart an intense workout.
• Efficient calorie burn: If you’re looking to lose weight, the fast pace of racquet games will help you burn calories efficiently. The principle is simple—you need to burn more calories than you consume, and racquet sports do that in a fun and varied way.
• Bone and muscle strengthening: The repetitive motions in racquet sports help stimulate bone growth and density—something that becomes increasingly important with age. The workout impacts the entire body and helps build and maintain strong muscles, while also improving flexibility and mobility.

Popular racquet sports in Israel
• Matkot: Well, everyone knows it. This beach sport has become Israel’s summer treat over the years. It’s suitable for all ages, involves a lot of movement, doesn’t require particularly expensive equipment, and brings people together. Plus, it’s great for tanning.

• Tennis: The classic sport that offers the greatest life-extension benefit. It can be played at any age and level—from table tennis to full-court tennis.
• Badminton: Becoming increasingly popular in Israel in recent years. A fast and accessible sport that requires less equipment and space. Suitable for players of all ages.
• Squash: An intense sport played on an indoor court. Excellent for burning calories and developing aerobic fitness.
While running and swimming are great for your health, the research clearly shows that sports involving a racquet offer health benefits far beyond any other physical activity. With the summer season starting and inspiration from international tennis tournaments, maybe now is the perfect time to grab a racquet and hit the court—or easier yet, the beach with matkot.
As they say: 47% less risk of dying and 10 more years of life—what could be more convincing than that?