Tennis

What Are the Health Benefits of Playing Tennis?

Tennis works out the body and the mind at the same time. Beyond the fun of the game, regular play is linked to real benefits for your heart, muscles, and mood.

Cardiovascular Health

Bjorn Borg has described tennis as "a thousand little sprints." A tennis match is made up of hundreds of short, intense bursts of movement, similar to interval training. Those intervals are good for the heart: a large study covered by Harvard Health Publishing found that people who regularly played racquet sports like tennis had a 56% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and a 47% lower risk of dying from any cause, compared to people who didn't exercise regularly.

Muscle Strength

Tennis calls on the legs, arms, and core all at once, moving side-to-side and forward-and-back at different speeds. A study published in Sports Health found that regular tennis players had greater upper-body grip strength and greater lower-body knee-extension strength than non-players, concluding that tennis is an effective way to build musculoskeletal health.

Tactical Thinking and Coordination

Tennis is also a game of strategy — reading your opponent, choosing shot patterns, and reacting quickly, all while keeping your balance and hand-eye coordination sharp. That mix of physical and mental engagement is part of what makes the sport feel rewarding match after match.

Mood and Self-Esteem

Tennis may also be good for how you feel about yourself. A study of competitive collegiate tennis players published in the International Journal of Physical Education, Fitness and Sports found that playing tennis can shift self-esteem in a positive direction.

Don't Let Sore Joints and Muscles Keep You Out of the Game

Tennis can be played at whatever level is comfortable for you — a casual rally with a friend or a competitive three-set match. When you're starting a new routine, it's common to feel some soreness in the first few sessions. Applying Super Blue Stuff OTC or Super White Stuff OTC before and after a match can help ease that soreness so you can keep pursuing the activities you enjoy.

The formula traces back to the original blue emu oil pain reliever, Blue Stuff, and combines menthol with MSM, emu oil, aloe vera, and arnica along with other therapeutic herbs and oils. The non-greasy lotion absorbs quickly, delivering relief in as fast as five minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tennis and Pain Relief

Is tennis a good cardio workout?

Yes. Tennis combines short, intense bursts of movement that benefit the heart — research covered by Harvard Health Publishing found regular racquet-sport players had a 56% lower risk of cardiovascular death.

Does tennis build muscle strength?

Yes. A study in Sports Health found tennis players had greater upper-body and lower-body strength than non-players, crediting the sport's mix of quick, varied movements.

Can tennis improve your mood or self-esteem?

Research suggests it can. A study of competitive collegiate tennis players found that playing the sport can shift self-esteem in a positive direction.

Is it normal to be sore after playing tennis?

Yes, especially when starting a new routine. Occasional soreness in the muscles and joints is common in the first few sessions of any new activity.

What can help sore muscles and joints after tennis?

Natural pain relief creams like Super Blue Stuff OTC or Super White Stuff OTC can be applied before and after a match to help ease soreness.

Sources

Created using Claude AI.
Edited by Stephen Eastmond.

Active — https://www.active.com/tennis/articles/nutrition-and-hydration-tips-for-tennis
Harvard Health Publishing — https://www.health.harvard.edu/exercise-and-fitness/large-study-indicates-racket-sports-offer-best-protection-against-cardiac-death
Sports Health (SAGE Publishing) — https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1941738119880862
International Journal of Physical Education, Fitness and Sports — https://ijpefs.org/index.php/ijpefs/article/view/284