Want to live longer? Take the stairs, stretch or toss a volleyball around, a new study suggests.
Those activities were among several tied to lower rates of early death in an Arizona State University study of nearly 27,000 U.S. adults between 18 and 84 years of age.
Researchers wondered which of the more socially oriented exercises — such as team sports — contribute to longevity. They asked participants in 1998 which types of activity they engaged in, then watched for causes of death through 2015.
While they found that any form exercise helps, stretching and volleyball were uniquely tied to a lower risk of early death. Fitness activities such as walking, cycling and aerobics were also beneficial. Only an association was seen between activities and death rates.
The findings suggest some kinds of exercise have special benefits when it comes to reducing the risk of early dying, but most have no effect on longevity, researchers said.
