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Key Takeaways

• Tennis provides a full-body workout that can support cardiovascular fitness, weight management, muscle strength, flexibility, and bone health.
• Regular tennis participation may reduce cardiovascular risks while helping people burn calories and maintain a healthier body weight.
• Beyond physical fitness, tennis can support mental well-being by encouraging activity, confidence, social engagement, and stress reduction.
• Tennis can benefit people across different ages and physical abilities, with adaptive forms of the sport available for individuals with disabilities.
• Young people who play tennis may experience benefits that extend beyond fitness, including improved self-esteem, academic performance, and emotional well-being.

John Sobhani, DMD, has provided comprehensive and individualized dental care to patients in the Los Angeles area since 2022, offering services that range from routine preventive checkups to root canals, crowns, bridges, extractions, dental implants, and teeth whitening. After earning a sociology degree from California State University, Northridge, and a master’s degree in gerontology from the University of Southern California, he went on to complete his DMD at the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, where he also maintained a clinical practice. In his current role, he emphasizes leading-edge technologies and stays current through continuing education.

Outside of the office, Dr. Sobhani stays active through tennis, golf, and swimming, a personal interest that connects directly to the wellness benefits explored in this article.

Exploring the Health Benefits of Playing Tennis

Since 2024, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) has promoted tennis as the world’s healthiest sport. Although the claim is largely subjective, there is ample evidence to suggest that tennis is one of the healthiest physical activities a person can engage in.

Whole-body wellness is particularly important in the US, where up to 25 percent of adults lead completely sedentary lifestyles, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and only 24 percent follow the CDC’s guidelines for minimum aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities. Nationally, physical inactivity accounts for roughly 10 percent of premature deaths and costs the economy nearly $200 billion every year.

Individuals and families concerned about their activity levels should strongly consider taking up the sport of tennis, which provides an array of both physical and mental health benefits.

According to the USTA, tennis players can extend their lifespans by almost 10 years compared to Americans who lead sedentary lifestyles, partly thanks to a reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases. Heart disease is a major health issue in America, claiming more lives than any other illness or injury each year.

By playing tennis for just three hours per week, adults can reduce their chances of developing a cardiovascular condition by almost 60 percent. Tennis improves cardiovascular health and performance through interval training patterns that enhance heart function and circulation.

One study found that tennis players can burn up to 700 calories per hour, which not only improves the body’s cardiovascular processes, but also helps people maintain a healthy weight.

Weight management is critically important in the US, where about 74 percent of the adult population qualifies as obese or overweight, per the National Institutes of Health. Living at an unhealthy weight can lead to many serious health complications, including the development of type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and hypertension.

People who play tennis reap the full benefits of a total body workout. Tennis engages every major muscle group in the body, from the hamstrings and abdominals to the shoulders. Furthermore, playing tennis increases flexibility and improves bone health.

Tennis also provides various mental health benefits. Research suggests that the prevalence of strong mental health is 20 percent higher among people who regularly play tennis compared to those who participate in other sports and physical activities. Many Americans can benefit from the mental health boost provided by tennis, considering that over 19 percent of Americans have received treatment for depression symptoms, more than 31 percent of adults experience anxiety disorders during their lifetime, and up to 49 percent of the population experience significant stress on a daily basis, according to the American Institute of Stress.

Finally, virtually everyone can take advantage of physical and mental health benefits through tennis. The sport is open to players of every age, background, and physical ability, including several forms of adaptive tennis for people living with various physical disabilities.

Tennis can be especially impactful on younger Americans. According to the USTA, children and teenagers who play tennis are less likely to get in trouble at school, smoke or drink alcohol, and experience anxiety and depression. Young tennis players also experience improved self-esteem and are more likely to perform well in school and attend college.

FAQs

What are the main physical health benefits of playing tennis?

Tennis provides a full-body workout that can improve cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, flexibility, and bone health. Regular play can also support calorie expenditure and healthy weight management.

Can playing tennis support heart health?

Tennis involves repeated bursts of movement that can provide cardiovascular exercise and improve circulation and heart function. The article cites research suggesting that regular tennis participation is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular conditions.

Does tennis provide mental health benefits?

Research discussed in the article suggests that people who regularly play tennis may experience stronger mental health than those participating in other physical activities. Tennis can also provide opportunities for physical activity, confidence building, social interaction, and stress management.

Can children and teenagers benefit from playing tennis?

According to the article, young tennis players may experience improved self-esteem and are more likely to perform well in school and attend college. Tennis participation is also associated with lower likelihoods of certain negative behaviors and experiences such as anxiety and depression.

Is tennis suitable for people of different ages and abilities?

Tennis can be played by people across a wide range of ages, backgrounds, and physical abilities. Adaptive tennis programs and modified forms of the sport can also make participation more accessible to people living with physical disabilities.

About John Sobhani

John Sobhani, DMD, has served patients in the Los Angeles area since 2022, delivering comprehensive general, restorative, and cosmetic dental care that includes root canals, crowns, bridges, dental implants, clear aligner therapy, and teeth whitening. He earned a sociology degree from California State University, Northridge, followed by a master’s degree in gerontology from the University of Southern California and a DMD from the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Sobhani continues to prioritize continuing education and leading-edge dental technology in his practice.