Research finds chair-based activities more physical than we thought

Research into the card game bridge challenges the definition of sport and suggests chair-based activities are more physical than we thought.

A study of 52 elite-level bridge players led by the University of Stirling claims the physicality of mindsports has been misunderstood. 
 
Author Samantha Punch, Professor of Sociology at the University of Stirling, challenges widely held beliefs that the mind and body are separate rather than interconnected, and that mindsports focus only on mental acuity.

Elite-level bridge uses body and mind interconnectedly and shows more physicality than has previously been acknowledged, says the study.

The bridge players interviewed in the study frequently talked about the challenges and opportunities involved in playing competitively with another player. However, the discussions went beyond in-game tactics to the need to understand and negotiate their partner’s physical performances so that they could adjust their game.

Professor Punch said: “Our research challenges the idea that mind and body are distinct when it comes to categorising sport and physical activity. It also shows that the physical presence of competing, and a player’s understanding of their bodily senses, are essential components of bridge and significantly influence a player’s ability to perform in a tournament setting.”

Professor Punch added: “The playing of tournament bridge can be physical in various ways. These can include the body language expressed during play, and the speed at which players play, and the energy and fatigue experienced throughout a competition. The players we spoke to place importance on the need to be physically fit as they prepare to compete at the highest level, because they say fitness helps their concentration and focus.”

Professor Punch recently began a four-year study exploring how bridge can be used educationally in schools. She leads the research project Bridge: A MindSport for All (BAMSA) at the University of Stirling’s Faculty of Social Sciences.

The paper The physicality of mindsports through elite bridge players’ sensorial experiences: Presence, confidence and bodies was published in The Sociological Review.