Badminton is one of the most popular sports in the world with more than 300 million active players worldwide.
As it is played by both males and females equally across a range of ages and skill levels, the health and social benefits of the sport are wide and varied.
To celebrate World Health Day, we’ve created a list of the top seven health and social benefits of badminton.
- Due to the running, lunging, diving and hitting elements of the sport, playing badminton burns fat at approximately 450 calories per hour.
- Its flexible pace makes badminton a great activity for those with heart conditions.
DID YOU KNOW: Regular play is also great for keeping hearts healthy, conditioning and strengthening the heart muscle, reducing hypertension and limiting the risk of blood vessels clogging.
There are 300 million active badminton players worldwide.
- Playing recreational badminton raises heart rates to 80-85 per cent of the players’ predicted maximum heart rate which is significantly higher for that of tennis.
- Racket sports with a strong and enriched social connectedness such as badminton can extend longevity by as much as nine years.
- During 20 minutes of badminton, players will make at least 350 changes in direction of 90 degrees or more, building speed, strength, agility and flexibility.
DID YOU KNOW: A strike of a shuttlecock demands full-arm swings of a racket – that’s more than other sports such as baseball and cricket.
- Badminton can reduce or eliminate your risk for many health problems, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.
- Badminton can help with weight loss and weight control because of its fat-burning and metabolism boosting qualities. Combined with proper diet, optimal weight loss may be achieved.
So, what are you waiting for? Pick up a racket today!
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