10 Amazing Health Benefits Of Playing Basketball

You must have heard that playing basketball regularly can help you grow taller and become swifter and stronger. Well, that’s true. But that is not all – as there are many other benefits of playing basketball that you may want to know.

Continue reading to explore the several other benefits of playing this sport regularly.

Workout Blueprint: Basketball

• Frequency: Thrice a week
• Benefits: Promotes physical health, mental clarity, and emotional well-being.
• Equipment Needed: Basketball
• Space Required: Large area
• Assistance Required: Not necessary.
• Who Should Avoid: Individuals who have been advised to avoid high-intensity activities or with existing injuries and cardiovascular issues.

Basketball – A Brief

Basketball is a much-loved sport all across the world. It is popular because it can be played as a competitive sport or a casual game on the local court. It is also a great way to work out as it involves using your entire body (1). Dr. Suzanne Manzi, MD, says, “Playing basketball is a great way to promote physical health, mental clarity, and emotional well-being. Research has consistently shown that basketball can help to improve physical fitness, body composition, and cognitive functioning. Additionally, it can help to reduce stress levels and provide an outlet for emotional expression.” It is a fast-paced game that involves a good deal of jumping and running which is a fantastic way to exercise. If you want a sport that helps you stay fit and healthy, basketball is the perfect choice as it comes with more than a few health benefits.

According to one study, approximately 14.4 million US youth (6–14 years old), or 39% of this age group, play basketball. With over 11 million participants, basketball is also the most popular team sport for children between the ages of 12 and 17.

Trivia

According to a survey conducted by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, basketball is the team sport that people in the US aged 15 years or older engage in most frequently (2).

Following are the health benefits of basketball.

Top 10 Health Benefits Of Playing Basketball

1. Promotes Cardiovascular Health

Basketball is one of the best exercises for heart health! Because you keep moving, your heart rate increases. It also helps in building endurance, which is important when you want to make sure that your heart is healthy. It will help lower the risk of stroke and heart disease later in your life (3).

2. Burns Calories

Do you want to shed a few extra kilos? Play basketball! All the quick lateral movements, running and jumping, gives you an aerobic workout that in turn can help you burn a lot of calories. For every hour of basketball, a person who weighs 165 pounds can expect to burn about 600 calories while a person who weighs 250 pounds can expect to burn approximately 900 calories.

3. Builds Bone Strength

The physical demands of this awesome sport help in improving and building bone strength and bone density. Any physical activity that involves weight-bearing allows the formation of new bone tissue, and this in turn makes the bones stronger (4). Both the muscles and bones in your body become stronger with basketball as it is a physical activity that involves the tugging and pushing of muscles against bone.

4. Boosts The Immune System

When you play basketball or any other sport, it helps in reducing stress (5). When stress is decreased, you will have more energy and focus to complete tasks. It also makes you more social, which in turns helps in preventing depression. When stress is lowered, your immune system gets a boost as well.

5. Provides Strength Training

By playing basketball, you get an excellent full-body workout. This helps in the development of lean muscle. It can help develop your lower back, neck, deltoids, traps and core muscles. It also makes your legs stronger, and the movements like shooting and dribbling help strengthen your arms, hand muscles and wrist flexors (6).

6. Boosts Mental Development

Basketball may be a fast-paced game that requires a lot of physical skills, but it is also a mind game that requires you to think on your toes(4)

. It requires you to have a strategy and a lot of focus so that you can accurately and quickly process the action on the court and make decisions that are effective with the ball. It also requires you to train yourself so that you can observe your opponents and teammates constantly and make quick decisions based on their actions.

7. Develops Better Coordination And Motor Skills

Basketball requires excellent hand-eye coordination as well as full-body coordination (5) When you play this sport, it gives you the training to help develop these skills. Dribbling gives you training for hand-eye coordination while rebounding shots that are missed gives you the training to develop full-body coordination (7).

8. Develops Self-Discipline And Concentration

As with other sports, there are rules that need to be followed when you play basketball. When you break these rules, it can lead to penalties for you as well as your team. The game requires commitment, dedication, and motivation. It helps you develop discipline, which is important as it encourages you to be more competitive and fair at the same time. It also keeps your mind focused and alert.

9. Improves Awareness Of Space And Body

Basketball is a game that improves spatial awareness

(8). You need to know where you are positioned to make that perfect shot or play defense effectively. When you have an awareness of the space and body, you will know exactly where you need to be when your teammate or opponent makes a shot or passes the ball. When your spatial awareness is improved, it also helps in keeping you in balance.

10. Boosts Confidence

One of the best benefits of playing basketball is that it truly boosts one’s confidence (9). Being a good player and being a member of a great team can do wonders to increase your self-esteem and help you gain more confidence. When your confidence is boosted, your faith in your skills is also increased. Being confident allows you to face life with an improved disposition and has a positive effect on every aspect of your life.

Manilka Fernando, a blogger, shared the different benefits of playing basketball. He said, “In basketball we need self confidence on defense, as well as on offense. Whenever I play a game I have this thought in my mind, “YES I CAN DO IT”. So I have absorbed it into my life, now when I’m doing an activity I have the confidence to make it happen (i).”

Playing basketball is not just good for your body. It is also great for your social life! Playing on a team helps you make friends, learn how to work together, and improve your communication skills. The friendships you build on the court can last a lifetime.

Basketball is a team sport, so you have to work together to win. You win together, you lose together, and you encourage each other to do better. This helps you learn how to collaborate, talk to others clearly, and even become a leader. These skills are important both on and off the court.

The fast-paced action involved in basketball makes it one of the most exciting games to play and watch in the world. The fact that it provides numerous benefits is an excellent bonus. It is no wonder that the President of the US has made it a part of his regular workout regimen to keep himself physically and mentally fit. It is a great game for both adults and children. If you are looking to play a sport that gives you multiple benefits, both physically and mentally, this is the one for you.

Despite the many benefits of basketball, it does have its fair share of downsides. Learn more about them below.

Disadvantages Of Playing Basketball

• It is a high-impact sport that may lead to injuries like sprained ankles, knee injuries, fractures, and concussions (10).
• Since it requires a lot of running and jumping around, it may cause stress on your joints, especially if you are overweight or obese.
• It is an expensive sport as the equipment like basketball, hoop, and the specific shoes needed for it can be costly.
• It is a team sport, which means you cannot play it on your own.
• If you do not enjoy playing basketball, you are less likely to stick with it in the long term, which may not be ideal for you if you are plating it for weight loss.

Here are some tips you can follow to avoid the major downside of basketball – injuries.

Tips

• Always warm up and stretch your joints and muscles before you hit the court. Make it a point to stretch and cool down after a game as well.
• Basketball is a physically demanding game. It is important to have plenty of fluids on hand so that you can rehydrate your body at regular intervals.
• Because of the physical demands, it is important that you keep yourself flexible and strong.

Quick Tip

Mix up your basketball games with some low-impact sports like swimming or golf to prevent overuse injuries.

Infographic: Top Health Benefits Of Playing Basketball

Basketball helps you gain endurance and strength, among many other health benefits that improve your overall well-being. While we have covered all the benefits of basketball playing in the article, you must note a few important points. See the infographic below to learn more about the top health benefits of playing basketball.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is basketball a good sport for girls?

Basketball, like any other sports, is good for anyone with a liking for it, irrespective of their gender. It helps provide bone and muscle strength, improves stamina, and keeps you fit and active.

Why is women’s basketball not popular?

Given ample opportunities and the required exposure and training, women basketball can get equally popular pretty soon.

Is basketball good for high blood pressure?

Yes. High blood pressure can be lowered by playing basketball for 70 minutes, three times per week, with an exercise intensity of 50% to 80% of your heart rate reserve (HRR) (11).

Illustration: Amazing Health Benefits Of Playing Basketball Regularly

Image: Dall·E/StyleCraze Design Team

Playing basketball can be great for your health. From improved cardiovascular health to increased coordination, check out the video below to know more about why you should include this sport in your life.

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Reviewer Expert Author Editor Fact Checker

Alex CrockfordFitness Coach

   

Alex is a certified personal trainer with 11 years of experience. He is a well known personality in the fitness industry with a large social media following of over 1 million followers across various platforms. He is also the owner and director of the #CrockFit Fitness App and an ambassador for leading supplier of health and fitness supplements and Sports nutrition BULK (since 2021).

Read full bio of Alex Crockford

• 
  Dr. Suzanne ManziMD Dr. Suzanne Manzi, MD, is a physiatrist with over a decade of experience. She serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Medical School and has a private practice as well. She continues to advocate for patients in improving their quality of life and function through her education and trainings in pain medicine, functional medicine, and obesity medicine.
  
  Dr. Suzanne Manzi, MD, is a physiatrist with over a decade of experience. She serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Medical School and has a private practice as well. She continues to advocate for patients in improving their quality of life and function through her education and trainings in pain medicine, functional medicine, and obesity medicine.

Shirin MehdiHealth & Wellness Writer

 

Shirin is a health and wellness writer with three years of experience and specializes in writing articles on yoga and has extensive knowledge about the postures of the asanas. Prior to joining Stylecraze, she interned with an advertising firm as a copywriter and as an editorial intern for a luxury fashion magazine.

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Arshiya SyedaCo-Editor-in-Chief

Arshiya Syeda is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of StyleCraze with 8 years of experience. Prior to that, she was a content writer who combined her writing and research skills to write over 200 high-performing articles on hairstyles, hair care, and skin care.

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Himanshi MahajanHealth & Wellness Writer

Himanshi Mahajan is a Certified Health & Nutrition Life Coach. She has a bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences from Guru Nanak Dev University and two years of experience in writing SEO-based and research-backed content across health and lifestyle genres.

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