Few of us could resist a summer badminton knock-about to get the blood pumping.
Now scientists have discovered the racquet sport could offer health benefits beyond getting us outdoors and working the body.
For they have found the sport could be used to boost our mental capacity, as it sharpens the mind and improves concentration.
According to new research, the unpredictability of the speed and direction of the shuttlecock challenges the nervous system to become more sensitive, and therefore improves focus.
The effects are so great that academics from Chengdu Sport University in China believe it could be used as a key way to boost cognitive ability.
They said: ‘Compared to tennis and table tennis, badminton’s shuttlecock speed variation is faster and more unpredictable, which places higher demands on reaction speed and attention control.
‘The rapid changes and decision-making demands in badminton can enhance individuals’ focus and resource management abilities, improving their attention control and mental concentration.
‘The mental concentration in badminton helps train individuals to allocate and sustain attention under high-demand conditions, strengthening their attention control,’ they added.
Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto of Japan compete in the Women’s Doubles Final match at Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium in China on December 21
The researchers handed 762 badminton players a psychological questionnaire about the game.
They found that tracking the shuttlecock trajectory, predicting the opponent’s movements, and executing precise shots, required sustained cognitive engagement.
Writing in publication Frontiers in Psychology, the academics said: ‘Our study provides support for incorporating badminton into cognitive training programs aimed at strengthening attention.
‘Encouraging participation in badminton can serve as a preventive strategy to promote cognitive functioning.’
