Profitable RACKETS

Anyone for tennis? Or padel or pickleball? A court-based sport can transform your health – whatever your age

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Although we may not aspire to the lofty heights of the athletes stepping on to the grass at SW19 this summer, we can play the sport at pretty much any age, and reap the benefits of it physically and mentally.
Because playing tennis is great for your health. It works the entire body, improving cardiovascular fitness and flexibility, and helping you maintain a healthy weight.
The benefits for older women make a particular difference. 'Impact activities, such as racket sports, are great for bone health,' says Woman's Weekly GP Dr Gill Jenkins. 'Bones are made from living tissue and they get stronger when you use them.'
The sport can also help improve your muscle strength and balance, and coordination and agility, making falls less likely. It's great for your brain too.

Not only cognitively, thanks to the hand-eye coordination necessary to hit a ball, and the shot selection and strategy required to play well, but also the social element of the game, which has been shown to reduce loneliness and cut your risk of dementia. It can help reduce stress, and improve mood and focus too.

And if tennis seems a little too daunting to start at an older age, what about emerging other racket sports such as padel and pickleball? They offer much the same health benefits but are less technical than tennis so are easier to learn. They're also played on smaller courts and in pairs, so can be physically less demanding.