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All golfers know that a game of golf is good for your body and your morale. Sometimes, the general public do not fully understand the benefits of golf for physical and mental health. So let’s take a look at the 6 main health benefits of golf for body and soul! And even lesser known is how this sport can also be great for women! It is a great social sport for women and can be very good for their general health. In addition, you may want to look at the best womens golf clubs.
Golf would increase life expectancy
Because it is difficult to make a better health promise, let’s go back to the most striking study of recent years in the field of golf. In 2008, the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports published a study of more than 300,000 licensed Swedish golfers of different age, gender and CSP *. The mortality rate for golfers was found to be 40% lower than an equivalent non-golfing population, resulting in an additional life expectancy of around 5 years.
Although it is not possible to establish a direct link between playing golf and lifespan, playing golf has been a protective factor. So how can golf have such a positive impact on our health, to the point of increasing our life expectancy?
Golf and cardiovascular health
Playing a round of golf on foot will make you walk an average of 6 to 9 km. Without even realizing it, you will have taken the 10,000 daily steps recommended by the WHO *. On a daily basis and because of our generally sedentary lifestyle, it is not always easy to navigate them. If you are lucky enough to be able to play 2 to 3 courses per week, then golf becomes your heart’s health ally. Golf is a moderate intensity, interval training activity, with recovery times between strokes. It can therefore be practiced by the greatest number, whatever your age or your physical condition. Golf has a beneficial health effect for everyone, including players with cardiovascular and respiratory pathologies, overweight, diabetics, excess cholesterol, etc. The regular practice of golf develops your endurance and it increases your “good” cholesterol. It also helps fight against high blood pressure. In short, golf is good for your heart!
Golf and weight loss
Because of the long distances traveled and the calories burned during a round, golf can help stabilize your weight. Also, for overweight people who would be less comfortable in harsher activities from a joint point of view, golf is a sport suitable for getting everyone back in motion.
Strength and muscle mass
The golf swing is one of the most complex movements. Indeed, it solicits about fifteen muscle groups 3 in less than 2 seconds! Thanks to the swing and the walk, you will strengthen the muscles which will give you strength, power, stability, speed and rotation. You will build muscle as follows:
- The lower body: thighs, buttocks, calves
- The upper body: arms, shoulders, back
- Golf therefore allows you to maintain your flexibility, your strength and even to develop muscles
Balance and coordination
A successful swing requires fine control of your movements, good coordination and flexibility. Golf is therefore an excellent exercise to work on your proprioception, that is to say your sense of balance associated with the good perception of your body in space. Improving your proprioception will help you gain regularity and precision when performing your swing.
The skills developed in golf therefore make it an excellent means of preventing falls in the elderly, whose balance and coordination diminish over time. These falls often mark the beginning of a loss of autonomy, golf therefore contributes to successful aging!
Golf and joint health: osteoarthritis
Golf requires around ten joints: shoulder, thorax, elbow, wrist, pelvis, and hip. This can be affected by osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is linked to the mechanical wear and tear of the cartilages. However, we can slow down its progress by practicing a physical activity that maintains strength, flexibility and a sense of proprioception.
Unlike basketball or football, golf is rarely the source of long-term disabling injuries. We can therefore enjoy playing for many years. As for injuries such as “golf elbow”, they are mainly linked to technical faults or unsuitable equipment. To help you correct these two points, get in touch with a coach who will quickly target the problems. Golf can also be indicative of back problems, for example. If playing causes you pain, do not hesitate to consult a physiotherapist to find the source of the issue.
Faced with the occurrence of repeated injuries, it will also be necessary to carry out a micronutrient assessment in search of an acid-base imbalance, oxidative stress or any other deficit or dysfunction that would weaken you. In summary, with an effective warm -up and stretching late in the game or in training, golf is not a traumatic sport at all. It’s relatively easy-going, which is great for people who don’t want anything too heavy. And for ladies, even better!
Golf and your brain health
During a game of golf, your brain is very busy with very different tasks. For example, you must think about the choice of the club, the trajectory, the distance to be covered, the impact of the wind, the analysis of the greens. In fact, this “brain training” improves concentration, visualization and makes you more responsive and helps to delay brain aging.
Golf to better manage stress
Beyond the sport itself, golf immerses us in a soothing environment. A vast green space in the open air, this contact with nature already allows you to recharge your batteries and reduce brain fatigue. When faced with a difficulty, whether it is a bunker, a water hazard or a difficult putt, the golfer will have to find, calmly and knowing how to manage their stress, a solution to the problem. This state of mind in the leisure context can contribute to better management of stress at work or in family life. It is for these reasons that more and more companies organize golf events for their executives.
Golf improves mental well-being
Socialization is a big factor in golf. One of the most positive effects of golf is undoubtedly socialization. Indeed, golf also allows you to:
- Play with people who are like you in terms of age group, level of play.
- Interact with people of different ages because it is one of the rare intergenerational sport.
- Meet new playing partners on the course if you come to play alone.
- Share a moment at the club house after a game.
- Engage in a relational fabric that limits the risk of isolation, especially for senior golfers: participation in group lessons, competitions, club membership, etc.
- These social interactions and all the other benefits discussed above have thus been correlated with a reduced risk of depression, anxiety and dementia.
Relaxation
In addition, golf in itself also has soothing virtues. According to Raphaël Gaillard, professor of psychiatry at the University of Paris, the fact of being focused for a long period on the fate of a white ball with each stroke, contributes to psychic well-being: “This long temporality is crucial in the benefits of golf on psychic state and mental health. Very few things in our current societies offer such a benefit”.
In short: golf is your best health ally!
In addition to the fun of a game of golf, you may have discovered new virtues in your favorite sport. The multiple health benefits are felt regardless of your age or physical condition. So do not hesitate to share your passion with people around you, even the most sedentary: you will offer them at least a walk of a few hours in a soothing environment and cut off from the stress of everyday life.
Is it recommended for seniors?
As the body ages, it is important to choose physical activities that are right for it. From a certain age, not all physical activities can be practiced. You have to choose them carefully. Here are some selections of exercises that can be done as you get older.
Walking
Walking is by far the easiest physical activity to practice and the most suitable for seniors. 15 to 30 minutes of daily walking is sufficient. It doesn’t have to be about spending time every day walking. Walking to your activities, taking your grandchildren for a walk, or getting off a bus stop before your stop are all opportunities for walking.
Some simple exercises to improve balance
The loss of balance is inseparable from aging. To avoid this, you can work on your balance through simple exercises like walking up and down stairs slowly, standing on heels, standing on one foot, or over an obstacle. Practice these exercises 1-7 times a week.
Other physical activities that can be practiced by seniors
There are a number of physical activities that can be practiced by older people such as yoga, gymnastics, swimming, golf or cycling. Note that not all movements in each of these disciplines can be performed. Only a few are suitable for the elderly. To know them, it is advisable to register in a club. Also, don’t forget that simple activities like running errands, crafts, or cleaning are already an opportunity to get active and stay in shape.
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