What Types of Physical Benefits Can Be Obtained from Bowling?
What Types of Physical Benefits Can Be Obtained From Bowling? by Liza Blau, Demand Media
Bowling has one of the longest and richest histories of all sports, dating back approximately 4,000 years ago to Greece and Rome. If you love to play the game, you're not alone. According to The Bowling Foundation, more than 25 percent of Americans bowl each year, making it the nation's largest participation sport. Today, bowling is a $4 billion industry with nearly 3,000 bowling centers in the United States. Besides being a fun and competitive game, bowling also offers you numerous health benefits.
Weight Loss
Bowling helps you slim down by speeding up your metabolism. Although the game is restricted to a small area, your constant movement while playing helps burn excess fat. You're exercising your legs while walking back and forth between the lane and the scoring table, and working the rest of your body as you lift and swing the bowling ball down the lane. The average bowler walks approximately 6/10ths of a mile during a three-game series. Depending on your weight and amount of effort you put into the game, bowling can burn anywhere from 170 to 300 calories per game. An adult who weighs 200 pounds can burn up to 275 calories per hour while bowling, according to MayoClinic.com.
Muscle Toning and Strengthening
While bowling, your body and arms receive a weight-based workout. As you swing the balling ball, the repeated flexing, bending, twisting and stretching that occurs tones your shoulders, arms, chest and leg muscles. Your muscle tone, strength, balance and joint flexibility are strengthened and improved. The act of gripping the ball helps strengthen your hands. An average bowler using a ball that weighs 16 pounds swings a total of 864 pounds in a three-game series, which is more than one-third of a ton.
Reduced Risk of Disease
A sedentary lifestyle is one of the leading risk factors for heart disease, according to WebMD. Exercise, including bowling, lowers your risk
Bowling has one of the longest and richest histories of all sports, dating back approximately 4,000 years ago to Greece and Rome. If you love to play the game, you're not alone. According to The Bowling Foundation, more than 25 percent of Americans bowl each year, making it the nation's largest participation sport. Today, bowling is a $4 billion industry with nearly 3,000 bowling centers in the United States. Besides being a fun and competitive game, bowling also offers you numerous health benefits.
Weight Loss
Bowling helps you slim down by speeding up your metabolism. Although the game is restricted to a small area, your constant movement while playing helps burn excess fat. You're exercising your legs while walking back and forth between the lane and the scoring table, and working the rest of your body as you lift and swing the bowling ball down the lane. The average bowler walks approximately 6/10ths of a mile during a three-game series. Depending on your weight and amount of effort you put into the game, bowling can burn anywhere from 170 to 300 calories per game. An adult who weighs 200 pounds can burn up to 275 calories per hour while bowling, according to MayoClinic.com.
Muscle Toning and Strengthening
While bowling, your body and arms receive a weight-based workout. As you swing the balling ball, the repeated flexing, bending, twisting and stretching that occurs tones your shoulders, arms, chest and leg muscles. Your muscle tone, strength, balance and joint flexibility are strengthened and improved. The act of gripping the ball helps strengthen your hands. An average bowler using a ball that weighs 16 pounds swings a total of 864 pounds in a three-game series, which is more than one-third of a ton.
Reduced Risk of Disease
A sedentary lifestyle is one of the leading risk factors for heart disease, according to WebMD. Exercise, including bowling, lowers your risk