| Health Benefits Over the past several decades, Americans have seemingly
become more interested in exercise and the health benefits associated with being
physically fit. Fad exercise programs have come and gone over time--the reason that
they come and go is because they are boring, torturous, and overall ineffective at
changing personal exercise and fitness habits.
For those who regularly play racquetball, the
following health facts and figures are probably not a surprise. It turns out that
racquetball is a wonderful exercise activity--and one that is extremely fun and
adictive. Unlike many exercise programs where your brain constantly tells your body
"this is exercise, not fun," racquetball is both fun and exercise.
Remember, you "play" racquetball. Through play, racquetball
builds physical endurance, exercises all major muscle groups, and gives a cardiovascular
workout.
If Americans would see weekend and late-night
infomercials on the health benefits of racquetball, the sport would probably see a
resurgence in participation that would rival the rates of the 1980s.
Be sure to also see the Reasons To Play page
at PlayRacquetball.org.
| FACTS & FIGURES |
The average number of calories
burned during racquetball play ranges from moderate at 640/hour [Prevention, 1995] to
794/hour [Men's Health, 1995] -- to a high level at 13.7 per minute (or 822/hour) [Sports
Training Institute].
An average game will take 20
minutes, during which a player will run a distance of approximately 3,650 feet -- or over
two miles in one hour of play. [U.S. Olympic Training Center]
Racquetball players work at a
constant rate of 75 to 85% of their maximum heart rate for the duration of a typical
racquetball game.
[USRA Elite Training Camp, 1992]
Racquetball offers both aerobic
and anaerobic benefits, with both sustained high level heart rate activity and quick
bursts of energy required during play.
Racquetball works nearly every
muscle group, including sustained, repetitive use of large muscles that increase calorie
burn and reduce fat percentage.
Facts and Figures from the USRA.org website and AmPRO Instructor's
Manual |
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