Badminton is a great sport to get into after not having participated in any real activity for a while. That’s not to say it won’t take it out of you. In fact, badminton is good for giving you a whole body workout as players need to utilise every muscle group. Although it has to be said tht the lower limbs and ankle joints do get the most testing activity, the legs, glutes, thighs and calf muscles will feel it after a while. The abdominals and upper body also see action, if the player is doing what they’re supposed to be doing. But a gentle run up to the sport is possible.
Playing badminton is a very positive activity from both physical and mental aspects and apart from keeping the player’s body and mind fit, the social side of the game is very strong. Other club players come along who you probably wouldn’t meet in the normal sphere of your work and it is really good to meet and mix with like minded folk who just enjoy the sport for what it is. As mentioned above, the whole body gets a full work out and there are additional benefits as well such as it requires rapid reaction to lunge or jump and the need to twist to reach the shots that whizz behind require core strength and balance. However, this doesn’t mean everyone has to be at olympic level. Far from it, there are clubs where relaxed fun play, without the competitive element are available. Some clubs offer a combintion of fitness and badminton training and others keep some of their time available for the less competitive player.