Not everything that can help extend our lifespans has to be something we don’t enjoy. In fact, finding a hobby that keeps you physically active through your later years can be one of the best ways to live longer and healthier. Now, longevity researcher and author Dan Buettner says getting into pickleball can be one of the better ways to increase your chances of living longer.
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Racket sports can be especially beneficial for your health.
In a recent video posted to Instagram, longevity expert Buettner says that walking, swimming, and jogging every day can add about three extra years to your lifespan. However, sports that involve a racket can add the most extra birthdays in the long run.
“Badminton, for example, adds about six years to your life expectancy, and tennis adds over nine years,” he explains. “That’s more than golf and way more than things like boxing or football, which run the risk of head trauma and can actually lower your life expectancy.”
Research supports these longevity claims.
Scientists have also examined how playing different sports can affect someone’s lifespan. In a 2016 study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, a team of researchers calculated the risk of death due to cardiovascular disease for 80,306 people—54 percent of whom were female—between the ages of 30 and 98, per Harvard Health Publishing. Over the course of the nine-year study window, 8,790 participants died, including 1,909 from cardiovascular causes.
Results found that participants who engaged in running and soccer saw no change in their death risk by any cause, while cycling saw a 15 percent decline, aerobics 27 percent, and swimming 28 percent. Cycling, running, or soccer also didn’t see any drop in cardiovascular-related death risk, while aerobics and swimming saw a 36 percent and 41 percent change. But it was racket sports that topped the list in both cases, decreasing death risk by any cause and cardiovascular disease by 47 and 56 percent, respectively.
The team noted that participants who played racket sports more often were most likely to see the greatest benefits. They also pointed out that the top activities require the use of both the upper and lower body, which provides a more strenuous cardiovascular exercise experience.
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Pickleball is especially good for us as we age.
Even though it’s not the only option for racket sports, Buettner says that pickleball is still his pick to make your life expectancy “soar.” Specifically, he says this is because it’s also the easiest to learn—and it’s especially social.
“You can’t help but meet people when you get on the pickleball court!” he says in his video. “It’s regular, it’s something you can do every day, [and] it’s something that’s available to just about anybody for very cheap.”
The takeaway.
It might be time to pick up a racket: Some experts say that pickleball is an ideal activity for longevity. Research has shown that racket sports significantly decrease the risk of death by all causes and cardiovascular-related death. However, pickleball stands out for its relatively easy learning curve, affordable setup, and unique social element that can keep participants active and engaged for years.