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Interviewed expert: Liu Yong, associate professor of the Sports Anatomy Department of Beijing Sport University

Zhong Caifen, reporter of Global Times Health Client

"Life lies in movement", and movement is an important factor affecting human life span. There is no definite conclusion on how different types of movement affect life span. Recently, a research team from the University of Groningen Medical Center in the Netherlands published a paper in the international journal "Journal of Gerontology", pointing out that pole vaulting, gymnastics and other sports have a more significant effect on prolonging life.

To explore the relationship between exercise and life expectancy, researchers included a group of public data on international athletes, involving 95,210 athletes from 183 countries and 44 sports categories, of which 95.5% were men. These athletes were born between 1862 and 2002 and died between 1960 and 2021. The researchers divided sports into different categories according to their technical characteristics. For example, high jump, long jump and other track and field jumping events are classified as "jumping sports", judo, taekwondo and other events are collectively referred to as "martial arts", tennis and badminton are included in "racket sports", shooting and archery are "aiming sports", all sports involving horseback riding are classified as "equestrian sports", and shot put and discus belong to "throwing sports".

The study used the World Bank's "Life Expectancy" data (including life expectancy data for men and women in 236 regions from 1960 to 2021) as a reference to assess the length of athletes' lifespans. After analysis, the following conclusions were drawn: 1. Different sports have different effects on lifespan, and male athletes are more likely to benefit from sports than female athletes. 2. Among male athletes, pole vaulting and gymnastics are most closely related to life extension, extending by 8.4 years and 8.2 years, respectively; while volleyball and sumo have the most significant negative correlation with lifespan, reducing by 5.4 years and 9.8 years, respectively. 3. For female athletes, golf and racket sports (badminton and tennis) are conducive to extending lifespan, extending by 3.2 years and 2.8 years, respectively; most other sports are negatively correlated with lifespan. 4. Racquet sports are positively correlated with extended lifespan for both men and women, with men extending by 5.7 years and women extending by 2.8 years. The researchers speculate that the observed results may be related to the aerobic and anaerobic characteristics of each sport.

Liu Yong, associate professor of the Sports Anatomy Department of Beijing Sports University, said in an interview with the Global Times Health Client:Aerobic exerciseAnaerobic exercise refers to the process of the body using oxygen to continuously supply energy during exercise. Anaerobic exercise refers to the process of short duration, when oxygen is not supplied in time, and the body relies more on breaking down ATP (adenosine triphosphate, a substance involved in the body's metabolism) in the muscles.metabolismThe sports that increased men's life expectancy the most, such as pole vaulting and gymnastics, are typical anaerobic exercises that help improve cardiopulmonary function, increase muscle strength, and improveImmunity, promote fat loss. Racquet sports that promote longevity for both men and women combine both aerobic and anaerobic characteristics, and have both benefits. They can improve cardiopulmonary health, reduce blood pressure, body weight, and body fat percentage, and increase muscle mass and bone density, which are all important factors in promoting longevity. The negative impact of exercise on life expectancy may be more related to exercise intensity, confrontation, and injury. For example, volleyball players may face greater skeletal muscle pressure, and combat sports such as sumo are prone to injuries. Of course, extreme diets and overweight problems of some athletes may also be the cause of their shortened lifespan.

Why is it that for female athletes, most sports are negatively correlated with life expectancy? Liu Yong believes that this may be related to the "degree" of exercise. Professional sports are high-intensity competitive sports. Affected by physical conditions and physiological structure, women's acceptance of high-intensity exercise may be different from that of men. Frequent and intense sports activities for a long time may put them under relatively greater pressure, resulting in adverse consequences. Of course, as the study emphasized, the sample size of female athletes is much smaller than that of men, accounting for only 4.5%, so the representativeness of the research conclusions remains to be discussed.

Liu Yong also reminded that the intensity of exercise between professional athletes and the general public is very different, so the research conclusions may not necessarily apply to the general public; in addition, most athletes retire at the age of 20 to 30, and their subsequent careers, fitness, and lifestyle habits may have a greater impact on their lifespan. "But moderate exercise is undoubtedly good for physical health, which is also the significance of national fitness." Liu Yong suggested that the general public can do the following two things to give full play to the life-extending value of exercise.

Maintain a good exercise habit.Getting moving is more important than the form and technique of exercise. Don't just shout slogans without exercising. First, develop exercise habits, and then explore the form of exercise that suits you. You can try walking, running, swimming, and jumping. If you have knee pain, back pain, etc., then explore or consult techniques to avoid pain.

Focus on moderationStrength training。The main cause of aging is muscle loss. Strength training plays an important role in slowing down the loss of muscle and bone, which can effectively help improve the quality of life. Strength training includes dynamic training such as weighted squats, barbell bench presses, dumbbell curls, and static training such as wall squats and plank support. You can choose the training form that suits you. It is also recommended to use elastic bands or equipment for resistance training. ▲

Editor: Wu Mengyao

Editor-in-Chief: Zhang Tong