Top 5 Reasons Adults Should Get Back to Sports

September 22, 2020

Participating in sports has benefits throughout your entire life, but when teenage years hit, sport becomes an afterthought to many. There aren’t many people who never stopped playing the games of their childhood, but for those of us in the majority who aren’t involved with a sports academy, team, club or league, we’re missing out tremendously!

Despite the fact that it is most popular with youth, sport isn’t just for those who are young, athletic or competitive. With improvements to health and lifestyle to be gained at any point in your life, some of the best sports organizations are ensuring that everyone can participate.

If you’re questioning a return to the pitch, court or gym, here are five reasons why you should get involved without any further hesitation

1. Sports can be adapted to your fitness level.

If you think sports should exhaust you or leave you so sore you can’t move the next day, you’ve very wrong. Both individual and team sports offer adaptations for people of all skill and fitness levels. Seek out a sports club where you can move at your own pace, confidently and enjoyably. You can implement modifications too, and these allow you to participate as fully as possible. Some ways to do this are more taking frequent breaks, rule adjustments, modified equipment or alternate movements. For example, playing basketball on a half court reduces pounding on your joints and the need for long sprints. When you are playing for health and wellness, don’t feel constrained by the professional-level rules

2. Different sports cater to different restrictions.

After several awesome decades of living, you may have acquired injuries, niggles, or extra weight that make certain movements difficult. Instead of returning to a sport you loved as a child, you can ease in with lower or moderate impact activities. Walking, cycling, swimming, softball, kayaking or tennis lessons with a professional coach are great options to start. As your body feels more comfortable, increase your intensity or add in variety with other sports.

3. Playing sport protects your muscles.

While ageing naturally decreases muscle mass, it isn’t something to be complacent about. Instead of simply accepting that, according to Harvard researchers, you could experience a deterioration of muscle mass of 3-5% each decade when you hit your 30’s, playing sport can both reclaim and reverse this loss. In practice and competition you’ll work the different muscle systems in your body. Active muscles are less likely to wither away and this means you’re less likely to fall victim to the statistic.

4. Socializing is an important element of sport.

A poll by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation revealed that adults overwhelmingly do sport for their personal enjoyment. Health is an important element to them, but more than half of the participants said fun and social interactions with teammates keep them engaged in their sports league.

5. Sport extends an independent living.

Sport participation requires lots of coordination, reaction, balance and flexibility, all of which transfer to everyday life. A review of studies that was published in the Journal of Sport Health and Science found that sport do anything from slowing the process of ageing and challenging stereotypes about being older. Sports like yoga can even reduce the risk of falling for those who practice it. Factors like can keep you living a fulfilling and independent life for longer.

The verdict is in: adults who participate in sport feel better about doing so. With more than half of sport adults self-reporting benefits of stress relief, enhanced social life or improved mental and physical health, the evidence from researches, doctors to everyday people all draw the same conclusion. Getting involved in sport as an adult is a hugely positive decision. Even a few times a week going to the ice skating rink, golfing or shooting basketball hoops can have a big impact on your overall wellbeing, and it is never too late to start.