An ASICS experiment shows that just 15 minutes on the tennis court can reduce stress levels by 35%.
PARIS, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — An exclusive experiment conducted by ASICS prior to Roland Garros has shown that just playing 15 minutes of tennis can reduce stress levels by more than a third (35%). During the study, the mental state of Parisians before and after playing was measured and showed that more than half (51%) of the participants felt more relaxed and 20% happier.
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Uplift Court was inspired by a recent study that revealed that 65% of Parisians felt stressed, with the main problems being traffic (61%), air pollution (56%), public transport (48%), lack of parking (42%) and work (39%). These “stress points” came to life as targets in the Wall of the stress, intended to give Parisians the opportunity to release their tension directly on the tennis court.
World number one Iga Świątek, who joined Uplift Court from ASICS, said: “Being on the court playing tennis is where I feel most comfortable. It takes me back to when I was young, hitting a ball and feeling happier, which is a great experience going into this week. So to see all these people come to play with us at ASICS is great. You see that people feel freer and that they literally get rid of stress on the track.”
The doctor Brendon Stubbs He added: “This novel experiment furthers our understanding of the power of tennis to improve stress and positive feelings. The evidence in previous research was poor and the study design of this experiment provides a strong illustration of the positive impact that tennis can have on people’s stress and mental health in a short period of time. Given the high levels of stress seen in the ASICS research, the potential for tennis to play a significant role in addressing this factor is very timely and the results are significant.”
Uplift Court participants were asked to rate their perceived stress levels over the past month using a validated scale before hitting the court. Participants then played tennis for 15 minutes and nine seconds, a nod to the results of the ASICS Global State of Mind Index*, before completing an updated version of the test to capture their emotional health and stress levels after the match .
Gary Raucher, Executive Vice President of ASICS EMEA, said: “At ASICS, we are on a mission to help people experience the benefits of movement in the mind. Uplift Court was a diversion for Parisians, but it also backed up our data. This experiment confirmed what we already believed, that picking up a tennis racket and playing for just 15 minutes and nine seconds can reduce stress and make people feel happier. We hope that more people in Paris and around the world will turn to tennis to improve their minds and mental well-being.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
ABOUT ASICS
Based in Kobe, Japan, ASICS is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of high-performance sports footwear, apparel and accessories. Founded in 1949 by Kihachiro Onitsuka, the company name derives from the Latin saying Anima Sana In Corpore Sano (“A healthy mind in a healthy body”), which continues to guide the activities of the organization as a whole. ASICS has regional operations in Japan, the Americas, Europe, and Oceania, as well as in the South, East, and Southeast of Asia, distributing products to more than 150 countries and regions around the world. The company also operates with the classic Onitsuka Tiger and HAGLÖFS outdoor shoe brands.
More information in ASICS.com y #LiveUplifted.
INDEX METHODOLOGY:
The index was commissioned by ASICS and produced by RWB and BF Media. All surveys were conducted between April 21 and 25, 2022. The sample was made up of 503 Parisians.
* Acerca del ASICS State of Mind Index
The State of Mind Index is a pioneering study conducted by ASICS that analyzes the relationship between mood and physical activity around the world. The State of Mind Index is a score out of 100, calculated from the cumulative mean scores of ten cognitive and emotional traits, such as positivity, content, relaxation, concentration, and serenity. The study, conducted by Edelman Data & Insights, was conducted among a total sample of 37,000 respondents from 16 countries around the world, nationally representative by age, gender and region in each market. The countries included in the study are Australia, Brazil, ChinaFrance, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the UAE, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The generational breakdown included in the study was as follows:
Sample size: 2,510
Boomers & Silent (elder generation) – 57+
· Gen X – 41-56
· Millennials – 24-40
· Gen Z – 18-24
**Acerca del test Uplift Court Stress
The public and the media were invited to participate in this novel experiment. Participants completed anonymous data collection before and after the event. They were asked anonymously to rate their levels of perceived stress the day before the event over the past month using the Perceived Stress Scale. They were also asked to rate their levels of satisfaction, happiness and how relaxed they felt on a scale of 0 (not at all) to 100 (completely). Participants then participated in the Uplift Court experience and played tennis for 15 minutes and 9 seconds. Upon exiting the track, participants completed an updated version of the Perceived Stress Scale to rate their current levels of perceived stress and rated their current feelings of contentment, happiness, and relaxation. Change in perceived stress, satisfaction, happiness, and relaxation was calculated across the group as a percentage difference from before the event to after playing tennis to specifically identify changes in each outcome attributed to tennis practice. This pre- and post-test measurement using robust measures provides an accurate isolated measure of changes in results. The in vivo experiment is the first in the world to reliably measure the effects of stress before and after playing tennis.
Anima Sana In Corpore Sano, meaning “A healthy mind in a healthy body,” is an ancient Latin phrase from which ASICS is derived and the fundamental platform on which the brand stands. The company was founded more than 60 years ago by Kihachiro Onitsuka and today it is one of the leading designers and manufacturers of running shoes, as well as other types of athletic shoes, clothing and accessories. For more information, visit www.asics.com.
The stripe design that appears on the sides of ASICS® shoes is a registered trademark of ASICS Corporation.
