{"id":63023,"date":"2024-07-21T12:01:19","date_gmt":"2024-07-21T19:01:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kyla.com\/p\/?p=63023"},"modified":"2024-07-21T12:01:21","modified_gmt":"2024-07-21T19:01:21","slug":"sports-that-can-help-you-live-longer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kyla.com\/p\/blog\/sports-that-can-help-you-live-longer\/","title":{"rendered":"Sports That Can Help You Live Longer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Physical activity increases life expectancy<\/strong>. Study after study confirms this. People who exercise are less likely to struggle with obesity, heart disease, or diabetes. They are at a lowered risk for cancer. Not only that, they report feeling happier and more satisfied. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any exercise is better than none. Still, some sports add years to the average lifespan<\/strong>. Recently the Mayo Clinic examined research hoping to learn which sports are most associated with longevity<\/strong>. Turns out the best ones are about more than just exercise. Read on to find out which sports are associated with living longer and the surprising thing many of them have in common.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Study of Sport<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Researchers with the Mayo Clinic examined responses to the Copenhagen City Heart Study (CCHS), focusing on questions about the sort of activity respondents enjoyed. Using a quarter-century of data, they looked at the lives of over 8,000 participants from 1991 – 2017. Then they compared an individual’s life expectancy<\/strong> to the average lifespan<\/strong> of people who didn\u2019t engage in any physical activity. They singled out these sports or physical activities as helping to extend longevity<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Tennis Is The Number One Longevity Sport By Far\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    It wasn\u2019t even close. The average tennis player in the study enjoyed almost ten years of increased life expectancy<\/strong>. The top longevity<\/strong> booster is a high-intensity cardiovascular activity that improves stamina and endurance. It\u2019s an excellent way to improve eye-hand coordination and focus. However, what really sets tennis apart is how many of its players participate in the sport well into their 80s and even 90s. Although challenging to master, a few tennis lessons<\/strong> can help anyone learn the basics.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    So what makes tennis players different? It has a lot to do with their lung capacity. One of the best predictors of cardiovascular disease risk is a measurement of the maximum amount of oxygen the body can absorb and use during exercise. For most middle-aged adults, this VO\u2082 max measurement is between 30 and 40\u2005ml.kg\u22121.min\u22121. The number climbs to 50\u2005ml.kg\u22121.min\u22121 for middle-aged male tennis players and hits 44\u2005ml.kg\u22121.min\u22121 for female tennis players in the same age group. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    That\u2019s not all. The average middle-aged person has a resting heart rate of  75 to 90 beats\/min while men of the same age who play tennis average 54 beats\/min with middle-aged female tennis players averaging 61 beats\/min.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Whether playing or taking tennis lessons<\/strong>, consistency is key. The added longevity<\/strong> benefits accrue with just a few hours of play per week, every week. To play year round, most participants will need an indoor court which can be pricey. Still, despite its country club image, thanks to free public courts and inexpensive tennis lessons<\/strong> offered though local community centers, tennis is incredibly accessible. Equipment costs are minimal with decent racquets available at discount stores. That\u2019s one reason the sport\u2019s popularity continues to grow with nearly 24 million players in the U.S. alone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Although tennis does attract a fair share of affluent participants and people of means tend to be in better health and less likely to smoke, drink to excess, or eat highly processed food \u2013 even when accounting for differences in income and behavior, tennis playing extended longevity<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. Badminton\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      A less popular and slightly less rigorous racquet sport, badminton comes in second. Around seven million adults play the sport in the U.S.; it\u2019s much more popular globally. Badminton players enjoy more than half-a-dozen years of added life expectancy<\/strong>. Its effect on health hasn\u2019t been as widely researched as tennis, although a recent examination of studies found that teens who play had better posture and muscularity than their non-playing peers, while adults benefited from higher high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels \u2013 the so-called good cholesterol associated with a reduced risk of heart disease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The sport was also associated with better coordination, and better development of arms and legs amongst teen girls. Adult badminton players have improved bone density \u2013 a huge benefit as people grow older.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Regardless of sport, it\u2019s important to know the ways physical activity affects your body. That\u2019s where at-home testing comes in. No matter how healthy someone may feel, there may be hidden issues. Heart disease, for example, is called the silent killer for a reason. It\u2019s often symptom free and can greatly reduce life expectancy<\/strong>. Kyla offers a range of tests<\/a> that provide information on cardiovascular health, hormone levels, and kidney function along with vitamin or nutrient deficiencies. While many companies charge hundreds of dollars for similar tests, Kyla\u2019s is just $99.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Start your longevity <\/strong>journey by completing a health quiz. This will let you see areas that need improvement. Then select your at-home blood tests. In two-to-four days, you\u2019ll receive your blood test kit \u2013 complete with instructions for sample collection. Simply return it to our labs at no cost. After receiving your results, you\u2019ll have the opportunity to consult with a Kyla doctor who will offer personalized advice to improve or maintain your results. From there you\u2019ll be able to take control of your life expectancy<\/strong> by continuously tracking your progress using the Kyla app<\/a>. You\u2019ll discover nutrition and lifestyle enhancements while being empowered to set goals and take daily actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      1. Soccer<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        What the rest of the world calls football, soccer is another sport requiring stamina and endurance. It\u2019s also one with minimal equipment costs. However, many of the studies conducted on the average lifespan<\/strong> of soccer players were conducted with elite, professional athletes. While research suggests that they enjoy a higher average life expectancy<\/strong> than not only the general population but also elite athletes in other sports, there\u2019s limited data on non-pro players. That\u2019s beginning to change.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

        Discussing an upcoming study on older soccer players, Dr. Felipe Lobelo, an associate professor at Emory\u2019s Rollins School of Public Health, and a lifelong soccer player, explained that, \u201cIn the U.S., for some reason, most people stop playing sports, even on a recreational level, in their mid-20s. \u2026 We think soccer has the potential to move the needle when it comes to the epidemic of physical inactivity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        The challenge for older players may be finding leagues and other opportunities to play. However, for those who do it\u2019s clear playing the sport can extend average lifespans with the Copenhagen study crediting soccer for adding nearly five years to a player’s average life expectancy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n
        1. Bike riding<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          Offering total body support and for many, the best way to commute, bike riding has a surprising benefit. In a recent study conducted by the National Institutes of Health some 2,600 men and women were asked about their physical activity. What\u2019s compelling is that the participants\u2019 average age was 64 years old and far from being competitive athletes, many of them were overweight. Despite this, “bicyclers were 21% less likely to have X-ray evidence and symptoms of osteoarthritis compared to those who did not have a history of bicycling,” study author Dr. Grace Lo of Baylor College of Medicine told NPR.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Along with reducing osteoarthritis, bike riders have a higher VO\u2082 max reading than non-cyclists \u2013 leading to improved heart health and a higher average life expectancy<\/strong>. In fact, cyclists enjoy 3.7 additional years of life expectancy<\/strong> compared to the average. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Although suboptimal during the winter months, bike riders often turn to stationary bikes at their gym. Besides being one of the best exercises to lose belly fat<\/strong>, thanks to comfort bikes where the rider maintains an upright posture it\u2019s even one of the best exercises for lower back pain<\/strong>. What\u2019s more, in a different study, cyclists with diabetes had a lower risk of death from cardiovascular diseases and other diseases than non-cyclists. In fact, when people took up bike riding midway through the study, they enjoyed increased longevity<\/strong> as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Two things to keep in mind. E-bikes and other motorized bicycles are not as beneficial as ones that are \u201cpeople-powered.\u201d The other issue is that bike riding can be dangerous.<\/em> Every year more cyclists are hit by cars or are injured falling off of their bikes \u2013 with some 850 dying in collisions with motor vehicles in 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n
          1. Swimming<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

            Like bike riding, swimming supports the body making it ideal for anyone with back or knee issues. Many find it meditative, as long laps allow swimmers to \u201czone out.\u201d It\u2019s a great way to get in the day\u2019s \u201ccardio\u201d without feeling sweaty (although swimmers do perspire). While it requires finding a year-round pool, with the activity\u2019s growing popularity more and more fitness centers offer them.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

            Not only is swimming one of the best exercises to lose belly fat<\/strong>, but it increases lung capacity, improves cardiovascular fitness, and extends average life expectancy<\/strong>. One study compared walkers, runners, and swimmers. It found that compared to the other activities, swimming cut men\u2019s risk of dying in half. \u201cThese lower rates in swimmers compared with walkers and sedentary men might well be expected,\u201d pointed out exercise expert Dr. Stephen Blair, \u201cbut it is surprising that we also observed lower mortality in swimmers than in runners. Therefore, swimming appears to be a healthful alternative to other types of physical activity. Swimming provides a healthful alternative to traditional modes of exercise for improving cardiorespiratory fitness and health for the general population, as well as for patients suffering from chronic diseases.\u201d Indeed, swimmers tracked by the Copenhagen study boasted 3.4 years of additional life expectancy compared to those who did not exercise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

              \n
            1. Jogging, Calisthenics, and Working Out<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

              The Copenhagen study included jogging, calisthenics<\/strong>, and \u201chealth club activities\u201d as life expectancy<\/strong> boosters. While runners have an increased average life expectancy<\/strong> of just over three years compared to those who are sedentary, most studies are hampered by the lower average age of the runners who participate. In other words, older runners have not been studied long enough to see if the benefits are even more substantial. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

              Regardless, for ease of use few activities compare to running. There\u2019s no need to pay for club memberships or expensive equipment. It can be done literally anywhere, at any time of day. Some workers even jog on their lunch break. It\u2019s not recommended for those who don\u2019t exercise regularly but by shifting slowly from a brisk walk to a jog it\u2019s possible to get impressive benefits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

              For the average American, the inclusion of calisthenics<\/strong> may be surprising. A category than includes exercises like burpees, lunges, push-ups, planks, and crunches, it\u2019s helpfully defined by the website Health<\/em> as \u201c\u2026a form of resistance training that uses the weight of your body along with gravity to help strengthen your muscles, increase your endurance, and improve your mobility.\u201d A decent calisthenics workout<\/strong> can be done at home or while traveling. It doesn\u2019t require any equipment and with a few YouTube tutorials, even beginners can benefit. Practitioners not only enjoy increased muscularity but increased average lifespans<\/strong> as well \u2013 clocking three years more than those who don\u2019t exercise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

              The final inclusion on the list, \u201chealth club activities\u201d is less a sport than a diversion but it adds 1.5 years of lifespan. The bottom line is that exercise extends longevity<\/strong>. That\u2019s why experts recommend that Americans get two and one half hours of moderate-to-vigorous activity each week. Of course tennis players, bicyclists, and many other sports enthusiasts get that in a single session. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

              Examining a host of studies, researchers concluded that any<\/em> consistent physical activity can lengthen average lifespan while reducing the risk of everything from high blood pressure to diabetes to cancer. People who exercise regularly are less likely to die from any<\/em> cause than those who don\u2019t. Or as Pekka Oja, retired scientific director for the UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research in Finland, explained to Time<\/em> magazine, despite studies showing greater longevity among tennis players, for example, that doesn\u2019t mean everyone needs to pick up a racquet. \u201cThey are all good,\u201d Oja said. \u201cIt\u2019s up to individuals to decide what they like and their circumstances for participating in different activities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              The one difference with tennis, soccer, and many of the top-rated life-extenders? \u201cInterestingly, the leisure-time sports that inherently involve more social interaction were associated with the best longevity – a finding that warrants further investigation,\u201d researchers involved with the Mayo Clinic study wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              Sure, plenty of people have a work-out buddy at the health club while some tennis players spend hours hitting a ball against a wall. Still, most people who play tennis, badminton, or soccer do it in groups. So do many cyclists and runners. And a growing body of research suggests that not only can participation in social activities extend average lifespans but that it improves mental health as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

              \u201cWhile healthy networks of social connection provide powerful protective health effects, increasing odds of long-term survival by 50%, loneliness itself is associated with many distinct detrimental health impacts on sleep, physical health, and mental health,\u201dexplains Stanford University engagement research scholar Steven Crane, MS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              That\u2019s why prioritizing group fitness activities may be the key to longevity. Another key? Accessing the revolutionary, AI-driven anti-aging treatments offered at Kyla Clinics<\/a>. Not only can you take proactive steps to enhance your well-being with personalized recommendations. You can also take control of your well-being, prevent chronic illnesses, and extend your healthy years with at-home blood tests and personalized action plans.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

              Kyla doesn\u2019t just believe in lengthening lifespans but in extending \u201chealthspans.\u201d That\u2019s the number of years when you are healthy, active, and loving life. So discover insights about your internal health and lengthen your healthspan by downloading the Kyla app today<\/a>. Combining physical activities with Kyla\u2019s insights is not only a great way to increase your longevity <\/strong>but the perfect way to love the life you live.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              Sources<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \n
              1. Schnohr, Peter. MD, DMSc, et al. \u201cVarious Leisure-Time Physical Activities Associated With Widely Divergent Life Expectancies: The Copenhagen City Heart Study,\u201d Mayo Clinic Proceedings. September 4, 2018. https:\/\/www.mayoclinicproceedings.org\/article\/S0025-6196(18)30538-X\/abstract<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
              2. Walsh, Karla. \u201cThese Seven Sports Are Associated With Living Longer, According to Research,\u201d Eating Well. April 5, 2021\u201c https:\/\/www.eatingwell.com\/article\/7897295\/these-sports-are-associated-with-longer-lifespan-according-to-research\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
              3. Marks, B L. \u201cHealth benefits for veteran (senior) tennis players.\u201d British Journal of Sports Medicine. May 2006. https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2577501\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
              4. \u201cTennis participation in the U.S. 2023,\u201d Statista. February 2024. https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/191966\/participants-in-tennis-in-the-us-since-2006\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
              5. \u201cBadminton: number of participants in the U.S. 2017,\u201d Statista. July 2018. https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/191754\/participants-in-badminton-in-the-us-since-2006\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
              6. Cabello-Manrique, David et al. \u201cPlay Badminton Forever: A Systematic Review of Health Benefits.\u201d International journal of environmental research and public health. July 26, 2022. https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC9330062\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
              7. Grinspan, Lautaro. \u201cSoccer as medicine? Emory study digs into the sport\u2019s health benefits,\u201dThe Atlanta Journal Constitution. May 29, 2024. https:\/\/www.ajc.com\/news\/georgia-news\/soccer-as-medicine-emory-study-digs-into-the-sports-health-benefits\/ZDTSS6523JGF3IUOKK3QHWQ6NY\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
              8. Aubrey, Allison. \u201cLike to bike? Your knees will thank you and you may live longer, too,\u201d Morning Edition, NPR. May 20, 2024. https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/health-shots\/2024\/05\/20\/1251561467\/biking-knee-pain-longevity-arthritis<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
              9. Lo, Grace H et al. \u201cBicycling over a Lifetime Is Associated with Less Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis: Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.\u201d Medicine and science in sports and exercise. April 11, 2024. https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/38600648\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
              10. Ried-Larsen, Mathias et al. \u201cAssociation of Cycling With All-Cause and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Among Persons With Diabetes: The European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) Study.\u201d JAMA Internal Medicine. September 1, 2021. https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/34279548\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
              11. \u201cBicyclists Injured in Motor Vehicle Crashes \u2013 The Troubling Statistics for 2022,\u201d NCSR Safety. September 11, 2023. https:\/\/ncsrsafety.org\/bicyclists-injured-in-motor-vehicle-crashes-2022<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
              12. \u201cBlair says there is no reason to believe that women would not show same benefits from swimming,\u201d Arnold School of Public Health. February 3, 2009. http:\/\/www.asph.sc.edu\/news\/blair3.htm<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
              13. Gordon, Sherri. \u201cWhat Is Calisthenics?\u201d Health. July 7, 2023. https:\/\/www.health.com\/calisthenics-7372164<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
              14. Laukkanen, Jari A. MD, PhD. \u201cObjectively Assessed Cardiorespiratory Fitness and All-Cause Mortality Risk: An Updated Meta-analysis of 37 Cohort Studies Involving 2,258,029 Participants,\u201d Mayo Clinic Proceedings. June 2022. https:\/\/www.mayoclinicproceedings.org\/article\/S0025-6196(22)00133-1\/abstract<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
              15. Park, Alice. \u201cThese 3 Sports Will Help You Live Longer,\u201d Time. November 29, 2016. https:\/\/time.com\/4585396\/sports-live-longer-exercise\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
              16. Smith, Carly. BS, MPH(c). \u201cHow Social Connection Supports Longevity,\u201d Stanford University Lifestyle Medicine. December 18, 2023.https:\/\/longevity.stanford.edu\/lifestyle\/2023\/12\/18\/how-social-connection-supports-longevity\/<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                The right activity is not just one you can do for life, but one that can extend your lifespan – here are six of the best to boost your life expectancy. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":63029,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[{"id":40,"name":"Anti-Aging","slug":"longevity","link":"https:\/\/kyla.com\/p\/blog\/category\/longevity\/"}],"tags":[396,397,395,394],"featured_image_url":"https:\/\/s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/kyla.com-wordpress\/p\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/21115719\/shutterstock_2484387739-1-scaled.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kyla.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63023"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kyla.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kyla.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kyla.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kyla.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63023"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kyla.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63023\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":63030,"href":"https:\/\/kyla.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63023\/revisions\/63030"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kyla.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/63029"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kyla.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63023"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kyla.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63023"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kyla.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63023"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}