Chapter 4
IA, SPORTS ACCORDING TO HEALTH BENEFITS
Generalities about sports
Sport has been an essential activity in the history of mankind, playing a key role in health, culture, education and society. Practicing sport not only strengthens the body, but also promotes fundamental values such as discipline, cooperation and resilience.
Definition and Types of Sports
A sport is a structured physical activity, with established rules and with the aim of improving physical condition, competing or simply enjoying movement. They can be classified into various categories:
According to the intensity and type of effort:
aerobic: improve cardiovascular endurance (running, swimming, cycling).
Anaerobic: strengthen muscles and strength (weight lifting, sprinting).
Mixed: they combine resistance and strength (football, tennis, basketball).
According to the environment where they are practiced:
Land sports: athletics, football, gymnastics.
Water sports: swimming, rowing, water polo.
Air sports: skydiving, paragliding.}
Mountain sports: climbing, skiing, hiking.
According to the number of participants:
Individuals: Tennis, cycling, athletics.
Groups: Basketball, volleyball, rugby.
mixed: can be practiced alone or in a team (synchronized swimming, relays).
Benefits of Sport
The positive impact of sport is comprehensive, covering different aspects of life:
Physical benefits:
Strengthens the heart and respiratory system.
Improves strength, flexibility and coordination.
Helps maintain a healthy weight and prevent disease.
Mental benefits:
Reduces stress, anxiety and depression.
Increases self-esteem and self-confidence.
Promotes concentration and discipline.
Social benefits:
It encourages teamwork and respect for rules.
It promotes inclusion and socialization.
It inspires values such as perseverance and sportsmanship.
Analyzing sports according to their health benefits and importance can help us understand which one is best suited to different needs and lifestyles.
Importance of sports:
Beyond the physical benefits, sport has a key role in society:
Prevents diseases: reduces the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.
Promotes values: teaches discipline, teamwork and resilience.
Improves quality of life: helps maintain good mental and physical health in the long term.
We can classify them into several categories according to their main contributions:
Cardiovascular sports:
They improve heart health, circulation and physical endurance:
Athletics: strengthens the cardiovascular system, improves endurance and helps control weight.
Cycling: strengthens the heart and muscles without impact on the joints.
Swimming: beneficial for the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, with low joint impact.
Football and basketball: dynamic sports that combine endurance, agility
Strength and muscle toning sports:
They are ideal for improving muscle mass, bone density and posture:
Weight lifting: increases strength and helps prevent osteoporosis.
Artistic gymnastics: improves coordination, flexibility and body strength.
Climbing: works strength and endurance throughout the body.
Flexibility and balance sports:
These sports are excellent for improving mobility and preventing injuries:
Yoga: promotes relaxation, balance and flexibility.
Pilates: Strengthens the core, improves posture and reduces the risk of injury. Martial arts: Improves balance, discipline and coordination.
Sports for mental health and wellbeing:
Sport is not only physical, it also impacts mental health:
Golf: promotes concentration and reduces stress.
Hiking: connect with nature and improve your mood.
Surfing: releases endorphins and improves the mind-body connection.
Importance of sports
Beyond the physical benefits, sport has a key role in society:
Prevents diseases: Reduces the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.
Promotes values: Teaches discipline, teamwork and resilience.
Improves quality of life: helps maintain good mental and physical health in the long term.
Analysis of sports according to health benefits and their importance by age group
Each stage of life has specific physical and health needs. Below we look at the most suitable sports for each age group based on their benefits and impact on wellbeing. Each age group benefits from different types of sport. The most important thing is to choose an activity that suits individual abilities and needs to ensure a healthy and active life at each stage.
Childhood (5-12 years)
Benefits: motor development, socialization and healthy habits.
Recommended sports:
Swimming: improves coordination and respiratory capacity.
Football/basketball: encourages teamwork and cardiovascular endurance.
Gymnastics: develops flexibility and strength from an early age.
Martial arts: reinforces discipline, self-confidence and body control.
Importance: At this stage, play and sport are essential for physical and social development; they also help prevent childhood sedentary lifestyle.
Adolescence (13-18 years)
Benefits: muscle strengthening, cardiovascular development and stress control.
Recommended sports:
Athletics: improves endurance and speed.
Cycling: strengthens the heart and tones the legs.
Weight lifting (controlled): helps develop muscle strength.
Team sports (football, volleyball, basketball, rugby): encourage leadership and teamwork.
Importance: In adolescence, sport helps channel energy, prevent diseases such as obesity and reduce academic stress.
3. Young adults (19-35 years)
Benefits: weight maintenance, muscle strengthening and stress control.
Recommended sports:
Running: excellent for cardiovascular health and endurance.
CrossFit / calisthenics: muscle development, flexibility and functional strength.
Tennis / paddle tennis: dynamic sports that combine strategy and agility.
Yoga / pilates: help improve posture and reduce anxiety.
Importance: At this age, sport helps to balance work stress and maintain a healthy body.
4. Middle-aged adults (36-60 years)
Benefits: prevention of cardiovascular diseases, bone strengthening and stress reduction.
Recommended sports:
Swimming: low impact and benefits for the back and joints.
Hiking: ideal for staying active without excessive impact.
Recreational cycling: improves circulation and prevents joint wear.
Maintenance gymnastics: gentle strength and flexibility routines.
Importance: Sport at this stage helps prevent diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.
5. Older adults (60+ years)
Benefits: Mobility, fall prevention, mental health and maintaining independence.
Recommended sports:
Daily walks: improve circulation and maintain mobility.
Tai Chi: improve balance and prevent falls.
Swimming or aquagym: maintain strength without impact on joints.
Golf: promotes socialization and mental well-being.
Importance: Staying active at this age is key to preventing muscle loss, improving mobility and prolonging independence.
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History of Sport
Sport has been present in all civilizations:
Antiquity: The Olympic Games originated in classical Greece in 776
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Middle Ages: jousting tournaments and sports such as hunting and fencing were practiced.
Modern Age: In 1896 the Olympic Games were resumed in their contemporary version.
21st Century: Technology has revolutionised sport with advances in equipment, performance analysis and electronic sports (eSports).
Importance of Sport in Society
Sport is a driving force of social, economic and educational development:
Education: It is included in school programs to promote healthy habits.
Economy: It generates jobs and boosts industries such as tourism and sports marketing.
Culture: It is a means of national identity and unifies peoples.
Public Health: reduces sedentary lifestyle and the risk of chronic diseases.
Most popular sports in the world
Football: the most widely practiced and followed sport globally.
Basketball: popular in the USA, Europe and Asia.
Tennis: notable for its combination of technique and endurance.
Cycling: with a great impact on recreational and professional sports.
Martial arts: include disciplines such as judo, karate and taekwondo.
Dance can be considered a sport, especially modern and competitive styles, due to their physical demands, technical structure and presence in international competitions. Although traditionally seen as an art, many dance styles require levels of preparation comparable to sports disciplines.
Why can dance be a sport?
For an activity to be considered a sport, it must generally meet certain criteria:
Intense physical effort: Many modern dances require strength, endurance, flexibility and coordination.
Rules and structure: Competitive dances such as breakdancing have defined rules. Systematic training: Professional dancers train as much or more than high-performance athletes. Competition: There are international tournaments and events in which performance is judged. Official recognition: The International Olympic Committee included breakdancing in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Modern dances that can be considered sports
Breakdance (Breaking)
Included in the 2024 Olympic Games.
It requires strength, endurance and acrobatics.
Hip Hop and Street Dance
They combine rapid movements, agility and coordination.
Competitions such as Red Bull BC One and the World Hip Hop Dance Championship.
Dancesport
Official category recognized by the World Dance Sport Federation.
It includes disciplines such as salsa, tango, cha-cha-chá and waltz.}
Jazz and Funk
It requires speed, precision and strength.
Frequently used in high-performance competitions and shows.
Zumba and Fitness Dance
More oriented towards health and cardiovascular endurance.
It is used in gyms as a high-impact exercise.
Benefits of dancing as a sport
Physical: improves cardiovascular endurance and muscle strength; increases flexibility and coordination.
Mental:
Reduces stress and improves mood.
It encourages creativity and emotional expression.
Social:
promotes teamwork and integration.
It is accessible to all ages and levels.
Modern dance is not only an artistic expression, but it also meets the requirements to be a sport in many of its forms. Its impact on health, its level of demand and its presence in international competitions position it as a legitimate sporting discipline. Sport is a powerful tool for physical, mental and social well-being. Its evolution and diversification have made it a global phenomenon, accessible to all ages and levels of physical fitness and with a great economic impact.
AI Opinion: This article is very well structured and covers in depth the benefits of sport at different stages of life. The mention of dance as a possible sport is also apt, especially in its modern, competitive forms.
Some suggestions to further improve the article:
Add specific examples of modern dance: You mentioned breakdancing, but you could include others such as hip-hop, jazz dance, or contemporary dance to reinforce your point.
Highlight the relationship between dancing and health: Explain how it improves cardiovascular endurance, flexibility and balance.
Include more on technology and sport: You already mentioned how technology has changed sport in the 21st century, but could you expand on wearables, performance analysis and advances in sports training?
Overall, it is a very thorough and well-founded article. Great job!
