Tennis: The Model Sportfor Health and Wellness?

Brian Hainline, M.D.

USTA Chief Medical Officer

Kurt Kamperman

USTA Chief Executive, Community Tennis

How Can Tennis Help Society?

• America is in the midst of an unprecedented health crisis.

• Societal trends have shifted our behavior in unhealthy ways.

• Our medical system does not promote preventative care.

Societal Woes

Passive activities are causing more kids to be overweight and unfit

Societal Woes

Sedentary childhoodoften leads tosedentary adulthood.

Societal Woes

Schools are eliminating daily physical activity to provide additional classroom time.

Societal Woes

3 out of 4 high school students do NOT engage in the recommendedamount of physical activity.

Societal Woes

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults(*BMI 30, or about 30 lbs. overweight for 5’4” person)

1990 2000

2010

1990 2000

2010

Societal Woes

Societal Woes

Societal Woes

How Can We Combat These Issues?

Exercise Health Benefits

Exercise Guidelines

Exercise Guidelines

Exercise Health Benefits

Exercise Guidelines

Recommended levels of physical activity

Adults

•At least 30 min/day of moderate-vigorous physical activity at least 5 days/week •(ACSM, AHA, HHS)

Tennis Benefits…

Why Tennis?

Tennis Benefits…

• YOUNG CHILDREN– Tennis provides children with much-needed exercise and helps psychological skill development, improve bone growth and general fitness.

Tennis Benefits…

• PRE-TEENS AND TEENS – This age group will have tons of fun, increase their social skills and build friendships. Tennis helps pre-teens and teens increase their self-confidence, generally feel better about themselves and enhance their cognitive abilities.

Tennis Benefits…

• ADULTS (Ages 18 – 55) – Tennis is a great fitness activity and good social outlet that provides general wellness by improving the immune system. It also boosts cognitive skills & emotional well-being.

Tennis Benefits…

• SENIORS (ages 55 – up) – Tennis is a tremendous activity for strengthening the immune system, thus improving longevity. It also assists in the development of a healthier bone structure and the prevention of osteoporosis.

Tennis Benefits…

“I recommend seniors work out five or six days a week. A heart-thumping game of tennis can keep the older brain in top shape.” Dr. John Ratley in USA Today (Feb. 19, 2008)

Tennis is the ultimate exercise – both mentally and physically

Tennis-specific research has discovered:

Participating in tennis three hours per week at a moderately vigorous intensity cut in half the risk of death from any cause (Dr. Paffenbarger, who studied 10,000 people for 20 years)

Tennis is the ultimate exercise – both mentally and physically

Tennis-specific research has discovered:

Players scored higher in vigor, optimism, self-esteem while scoring lower in depression, anger, confusion, anxiety and tension than other athletes & nonathletes (Dr. Joan Finn, Connecticut State University)

Tennis is the ultimate exercise – both mentally and physically

Competitive tennis burns more calories than most other activities, including swimming, rowing, weightlifting, jazzercise, hiking & golf(Consumer Reports)

Tennis is the ultimate exercise – both mentally and physically

Source: Dr. Jim Gavin, The Exercise Prescription

Tennis is the ultimate exercise – both mentally and physically

Aerobic fitness Playing tennis burns fat, improves cardiovascular fitness and helps the body main tain higher energy levels.  

Anaerobic fitness Playing tennis builds muscle power, improves physical capacity. 

“If you start playing Tennis early and continue to play, it actually reduces your risk for a heart attack because of the cardiovascular workout it provides”

—Dr. Scott Bautch of the American Occupational Health Council

Tennis is the ultimate exercise – both mentally and physically

Agility: Tennis improves agility because it forces you to change direction as many as 5 times in 10 seconds during a typical point.

Balance: balance while moving – is as important in everyday life as it is in sports.

Coordination: Tennis develops incredible coordination

Stamina: Tennis increases stamina

Tennis is the ultimate exercise – both mentally and physically

Flexibility: Because tennis players continually stretch and maneuver to return the ball to their opponent they become more flexible.

Bone strength: For years, scientists/physicians have recommended “impact” exercises for peo ple who want to increase bone strength, density, and prevent osteoporosis

Health Benefits of Tennis

7 Ways Tennis Benefits The Mind And Body

Improvedbone

health

Less likely to be depressed

Improved function

with osteoarthritis

Heartattack riskreduced

TENNIS is the sport of a lifetime

Comparative Health Benefits Of Tennis

People who play tennis three hours a week cut their risk of death from any

cause in half

How Can Tennis Become a Model Sport?

Spread the word: health benefits of tennis

•Tennis for the Health of It website:

http://tennis-health.com/

•Public policy– Let’s Move– Wounded Warriors– Morehouse School of Medicine

How Can Tennis Become a Model Sport?

Spread the word: health benefits of tennis

•International Model Health Care:– US Open Tennis Championships– USTA Pro Circuit Events

•Promote and develop our greatest asset: – The Developing Player

10 and Under Tennis As The Model Youth Sport

10U Tennis is the opportunity for our sport to get it right

USTA Programming Encourages PLAY and FUN

USTA Tennis Youth Symposium

• As National Governing Body of Tennis, we shape the health of competition & long-term athlete development

• Tennis is a late-specialization sport

• The first stage of all athlete development is FUNdamentals

Bottom Line

We have the sport and the resources! Let’s promote TENNIS as the model sport for health and

wellness!

Questions?