Badminton is a racquet sport similar to tennis and its increase in popularity over recent years is for good reason. In fact, many people are surprised to hear that badminton is among the world’s top 10 participated sports. Being an incredibly popular and accessible indoor sport, it is estimated that 220 million people around the world play it regularly. Not only is it a fun activity that can be enjoyed by all, but it also provides a means of maintaining physical and mental health.
Badminton Footwork Guide
The step by step guide on how to move faster and more efficiently around the court.
download nowIn this article, we’ll be sharing the top 10 health benefits of the great sport of badminton!
Let’s get right into it.
Improves Cardiovascular Health & Endurance
Like every physically active game, activity, or sport, badminton involves a tremendous level of cardiovascular strength and endurance. If you don’t currently have a solid cardiovascular base, don’t worry, badminton will certainly help with that!
Because of the fast-paced nature of the sport, badminton requires constant movement and precision to maintain the rally. At the most elite level, a shuttle can travel over 300 kilometers per hour! In fact, the current Guinness World Record for the fastest smash is held by Malaysian superstar, Tan Boon Heong, at 493 km/h. You can imagine, then, how quick and reactive you need to be on your feet.
Whether recreational or competitive, the game of badminton will inevitably produce stamina and endurance. As logic would have it, the more you play the greater the improvement!
Boosts Heart Health
Research suggests that consistent, rigorous exercise and physical activity play a huge role in increasing HDL, or good cholesterol levels. In short, improved cholesterol levels are associated with improved heart health and, as a result, reduces the risk of heart disease.
Moreover, badminton has been shown to be one of the most effective forms of exercise when it comes to improving cholesterol levels; better than most other forms of aerobic exercise in fact.
Moral of the story? Play badminton; improve heart health.
Supports Weight Loss
While weight loss is arguably th
e most popular goal of any health-conscious, physically active individual, it’s not likely that those who play badminton do it for that reason.
Nevertheless, it can’t be denied that it’s a pretty great added benefit.
In addition, for those that do have the primary goal of weight loss but haven’t yet considered badminton as the primary means of doing so, you may want to reconsider! Not only is badminton one of the most fun activities to participate in, but it breaks a damn good sweat while you’re at it!
In fact, badminton burns an average of 375-425 calories per hour. Increase the level of intensity and you’re looking at 500+ calories burned. A pretty good trade-off if you ask me.
Increases Mental Acuity & Cognitive Function
As mentioned previously, the sport of badminton is extremely fast-paced; the fastest racquet sport in the world, in fact. As such, the speed at which this game is played involves an extreme level of focus, concentration, precision, thought-processing, hand-eye coordination, and cognitive function.
If this isn’t something you’re particularly sharp in as of yet, badminton is certain to aid in developing it. So, if you’re looking for a fun and engaging way to improve mental acuity and cognition, consider badminton!
Builds Muscular Strength & Endurance
Builds Muscular Strength & EnduranceMuch like weight loss, building muscle and strength is arguably the most popular goal of those who are physically active or seeking to become so.
While badminton won’t help you become a bodybuilder, it will help tone muscle, increase strength, and build muscular endurance. You see, the sport requires the total functionality of the body, using several muscle groups at once.
Whether squatting or lunging to hit the shuttle or powering a spike with an exerted swing, playing badminton requires action from every major muscle group; from your quads, hamstrings, and glutes, to your chest, arms, and entire core.
Compound these efforts throughout an entire match and you’ve got yourself an all-in-one muscle toning, muscular endurance workout!
Develops Bone Density
Bone health is often an overlooked health marker when it comes to the health and fitness industry, however, it’s arguably one of the most important factors to longevity.
Not only do strong bones aid in longevity, but it also assists in joint relief, reduces muscular injury, and improves overall bone density, thus reducing the risk of early-onset osteoporosis.
In short, if bone health isn’t yet on your health radar, it should be. Luckily, if you’re an avid badminton player, you likely have nothing to worry about. Because of the constant movement on your feet and bearing your bodyweight for the entirety of the match, badminton is a fantastic activity for maintaining bone health and improving bone strength.
Increases Flexibility, Mobility, & Agility
Increases Flexibility, Mobility, & AgilityAt the risk of repeating the same statements, badminton requires a tremendous amount of flexibility, mobility, and agility to successfully hit the shuttle and maintain the rally.
Through lunges, squats, and dives, your body is being constantly stretched in every which way. Repetition of these stretches over time inevitably results in greater flexibility, mobility, and agility.
So, the next time you’re playing badminton, don’t shy away from stretching those few extra inches to hit the shuttle. Not only might you win the match, but you’ll become more flexible in the process!
Reduces At-Risk Health Biomarkers
While this benefit isn’t particularly exclusive to badminton, research suggests that following a healthy diet and maintaining a physically active lifestyle directly reduces the risks of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, hypertension, lung Complications, heart disease, osteoporosis, and more.
Moreover, regular physical activity has also been shown to reduce health biomarkers like blood pressure, heart rate, obesity, and cholesterol, among other factors.
By incorporating a physical activity like badminton into your lifestyle 2-3 times per week, you drastically improve your health and longevity.
Reduces Stress
As a great Segway, stress is also a large contributor to ailments like diabetes, hypertension, obesity, hypertension, and heart disease. By participating in regular physical activity, stress drastically decreases while mood and overall well-being increase.
Badminton is not only fun, but it’s a stress reliever too. You should try it out sometime!
Supports a Healthy Lifestyle
Supports a Healthy LifestyleLastly, and arguably most importantly, badminton provides a means to a healthy lifestyle. From a mental health standpoint, badminton helps reduce stress, improve mood, and stimulate those ever-desired endorphins elicited through physical activity.
From a social standpoint, badminton provides an outlet to interact with others. Because it’s not a one-person activity, badminton supports positive social interaction, friendship, and sportsmanship, among other things. It’s a great way to connect with friends, and even make new ones along the way.
And from a physical standpoint, there’s no denying the incredible benefits badminton provides. From weight loss and muscle building to flexibility, mobility, and agility.Overall, badminton is an incredible, all-encompassing activity that provides endless benefits.
