Can Paintball be Good for your Health?

Participating in sports can really be good for a person health. For those who are too lazy to go to the gym, there is something worth trying and that is the game of paintball. This extreme sport has been around for some time and almost anyone can play it. All it takes is some protective gear and a gun for the person to go out into the field.

Some people think that engaging in this type of sport is unsafe since the bullets travel at fast speeds, and a person could get injured. Contrary to that belief, statistics show that this is safer than other contact sports such as basketball and football.

This physical activity burns calories as the player has to walk up on the enemy without being detected then has to run when retreating or charging. It is better than running on a treadmill that many find boring since the scenery does not change.

Paint ball can be played in a small area or in a large area. With all the running, sweating will occur which can help with weight loss. Studies have shown that some exercise programs are not effective after a period of time. By adding this extreme sport to the exercise regimen, some pounds could be lost again.

Running burns more calories per minute than any other type of cardiovascular exercise and keeping the body active increases the metabolic rate. Playing paint ball on weekends - such as twice a month can help a person burn calories faster and that way, one will be able to eat most anything without gaining weight.

Paint ball is a team sport and nothing is better than winning a game against an opponent. Exercise improves the mood since it releases chemicals in the brain called endorphin: eating chocolate has a similar effect. This game helps you sleep better since it releases energy which takes time to recuperate.

Engaging in any form of exercise can be beneficial. It is known to prevent several diseases such as high blood pressure, depression, heart disease and various types of cancer.

Paintball is one form of exercise that can help prevent some of these high risk diseases as well as being an enjoyable game.

Need a New Workout? . . . Try Paintball

There are a growing number of paintball players in the America alone; the number has increased to more than 10 million according to a recent survey taken by the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association in 2005. The National Xball League was developed in 2003 and many people became interested. The interest spread to other countries when the NXL celebrity games were televised.

Doctors began noticing the game too and started studying its effects on a person’s health. Dr. Brian Jacobs, a sports medicine expert from South Bend, Indiana commented in an interview that paintball is a source of cardiovascular exercise and is really good for the heart. He tried to play the game twice and observe how injuries were acquired and the trauma it could cause to a paintball player. Codes were developed to categorize the injuries caused by the paintball game such as: E922.5 which is an accidental injury caused by a paintball gun; E985.7, a paintball gun injury which was inflicted on purpose or by accident; and E955.7, is a self-inflicted paintball gun injury.

Regardless of the previous observations, the paintball game provides aerobic benefits and creates a workout option for people who are not always physically active. Some doctors advise patients to try the basics of the game because of its health effects.

According to the American College of Sports Medicine rules, the paintball game provides substantial benefits to the body. This observation was based on a study that was conducted by Tara Kammel, a fitness expert from Maplewood, Minnesota, who attached heart monitors to fifteen paintball players. During the paintball game, players reached the maximum level of adrenaline as the heart rate surged up to 69 to 74% and a CO2max level of 57 to 65%.

It might at times be dangerous to play paint ball, but if the players follow their physicians’ advice then everyone can enjoy the game.

• Play the game where there are safety rules to follow and first aid is available.
• Do not play without protective gear for the eyes and neck.
• Wear loose fitting clothes for flexibility.
• Get in shape with exercise and eat a balanced diet when preparing to play the game.

If the game is played for sport, it is a sure way of keeping physically active. It does not only contribute to the physical well being but to a player’s emotional and intellectual abilities as well. One recent finding by American researchers says that paint ball decreased violence since it is a way to release tension.