Have you been thinking of taking up a sport, but you’re not sure which one to choose? Every sport has tremendous benefits for our physical and mental health, but of course, it also carries certain risks. There is always a possibility of getting an injury, which could be a minor one or a really serious one that could trap you in bed for a longer period of time. If you want to find a sport that offers you a lot of benefits, but also has minimum risks of injuries, take a look at this list:
Year-round sports
- Walking – this is one of the easiest activities to take up. The only thing that you need is comfortable sneakers and clothes. The great thing about walking is that it’s good for your heart, as it increases cardiovascular activity, but it doesn’t put pressure on the joints. The risk of injury is even lower if you choose a flat route to follow instead of a hilly area, but this is a very safe activity to do nevertheless. Most types of weather are suitable for walking, so just get out of the house and don’t worry about the speed.
- Swimming – it can be done in any season, as there are always community pools somewhere. Swimming is a great physical activity – it increases muscular strength and cardiovascular endurance, while maximally reducing the impact on the joints and bones. Whether you opt for lap swimming or water aerobics classes, you’ll have fun no matter what your age is.
- Yoga and Pilates – These are both great activities, as they both provide low impact fitness. Yoga increases your flexibility through gentle exercises. The secret of its low risk of injuries is that you use your own body weight while making postures, with no additional weight added, meaning you are less likely to get injured.
Pilates combines relaxation and breathing techniques with low-impact fitness activities, it’s excellent for improving stability, balance and fight health conditions such as high blood pressure or arthritis.
- Dancing – Most people love dancing, it’s a great way to have fun. Whatever type of dance you choose, it will bring you benefits through mild stretching and exercise without you even knowing it.
- Tai Chi – Tai Chi is based on fluid, gentle movements without any additional equipment needed, but still building your muscle strength and aerobic capacity.
- Tennis or badminton – it’s a competitive sport where you have no physical contact with your opponent. What’s more, you get to choose the intensity of your game, depending on your readiness and overall physical condition.
Outdoor sports for warm weather
- Boating – canoeing is both fun and pretty low-risk activity. It’s even more fun if you have company, and you don’t have to worry about most injuries.
- Croquet – easy to set up in a park or in your own backyard on a warm day and enjoy this light activity with friends if you’re only interested in making your blood flow a little faster.
- Golf – enjoyed by young and elderly people equally, this outdoor activity can be played individually or with a group of other enthusiasts. Of course, it takes some time to catch up. You would need to have a high-quality golf training that includes working on your swing, which helps your joint work properly, without risking too much strain. Not only that, if you choose to walk from hole to hole, it’ll do you and your heart good.
- Biking – one of the activities you can’t get bored with because you change your scenery every time you do it, from minute to minute. A smooth path in a park is ideal for a relaxing ride. It’s better than running along that same path because biking is easier on your joints, while your cardiovascular system and muscles will be grateful to you, and your balance will be promoted. In case of bad weather, you can always resort to a spin class where it’s possible to set up the intensity for your specific needs.
- Volleyball – a team sport that gets your adrenaline high, especially if you are a competitive type. Whether you play in a duo or in a full team, volleyball is guaranteed to bring you great fun, and you don’t even get into physical contact with the opponents like in other team sports, where the risk of injuries are far greater because of that. This cardiovascular workout also helps you balance and hand-eye coordination, without putting too much pressure on your body.
All in all
Of course, any type of sport carries certain risks if you opt for it. However, the risks for your health are far bigger if you choose not to take up any physical activity at all. For this reason, the secret is to choose a sport in which you are ok with the potential risks and to make sure it doesn’t get to that at all. Surely, the joy will outweigh the risks.