The sound of tennis can ease anxiety.
Research has revealed that the soothing noise of the thwack of a tennis racket against the ball can reduce stress levels by up to half among those who have been diagnosed with chronic anxiety.
The experts from China West Normal University believe that the frequency and other characteristics of the racket hitting the ball have a calming impact on the brain because the rhythm generated is comparable to the beat of popular music.
A study involved 100 people with chronic anxiety who were split into two groups, one of which listened to the sounds of tennis for five minutes, with stress levels measured both before and after.
The symptoms remained the same in the control group but reduced significantly in the tennis listeners.
The researchers explained how the stable rhythm of tennis enabled the brain to predict the next sound and create a sense of calmness.
