A Growing Sport with Public Health Potential
Physical inactivity remains one of the world's leading public health concerns. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 1.4 billion adults do not achieve recommended levels of physical activity, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and mental health disorders. Researchers argue that affordable, inclusive, and enjoyable forms of exercise are urgently needed to address this challenge.
Petanque may fit that role remarkably well.
Originally developed in France in 1910, petanque is played by throwing hollow metal balls as close as possible to a small wooden target ball. Unlike many competitive sports, it requires minimal equipment, can be played almost anywhere on a flat surface, and welcomes participants regardless of age or fitness level. These characteristics make the sport accessible to children, adults, older people, and individuals seeking low-impact physical activity.
Although petanque has grown rapidly throughout Southeast Asia—including Indonesia, where it has become part of the National Sports Week (PON)—most previous research focused on athletic performance rather than health outcomes. The new review addresses that knowledge gap by examining evidence across multiple dimensions of health.
Reviewing More Than Two Decades of Scientific Evidence
Instead of conducting a new experiment, the research team performed a systematic review, a method that collects and evaluates findings from previously published studies.
Following internationally recognized PRISMA 2020 guidelines, the researchers searched eight international scientific databases—including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar—alongside Indonesia's GARUDA and SINTA databases. Studies published between 2000 and 2026 were considered.
From an initial pool of 340 publications, the researchers removed duplicates and screened the remaining studies according to predefined criteria. Ultimately, 25 studies met the eligibility requirements and formed the basis of the review. Most originated from Indonesia, while others came from France, Spain, and international collaborations.
Because the included studies differed substantially in design and outcome measures, the researchers synthesized the evidence narratively rather than performing a statistical meta-analysis.
Strong Evidence for Physical Health Benefits
Across the reviewed studies, petanque consistently demonstrated positive effects on several aspects of physical health.
The most frequently reported improvements included:
- Better hand-eye coordination
- Increased upper-body muscular strength
- Improved wrist flexibility
- Enhanced static and dynamic balance
- Better postural control
One study found that 100% of participating petanque athletes achieved excellent wrist flexibility, suggesting sport-specific neuromuscular adaptation. Another study reported that athletes with greater arm endurance achieved approximately 23% higher shooting accuracy than those with lower endurance. Research also showed that strength training produced larger improvements in performance than accuracy training alone.
The review concludes that petanque develops physical abilities particularly relevant to precision movement while placing relatively low stress on the cardiovascular system, making it suitable for people who may struggle with high-impact exercise.
Concentration Plays a Bigger Role Than Physical Ability
The review also highlights petanque's cognitive demands.
Among all psychological and cognitive variables, concentration emerged as the strongest predictor of successful performance.
One study found that concentration explained 23.32% of shooting accuracy, more than twice the contribution of hand-eye coordination, which accounted for 10.49%. Another analysis showed that concentration, kinesthetic perception, and hand-eye coordination together explained nearly 43% of successful pointing performance.
The review also found consistent evidence that mental imagery training improves concentration and shooting performance, reinforcing the importance of psychological preparation alongside physical practice.
These findings suggest that petanque trains not only muscles but also attention, motor planning, and decision-making.
Psychological Well-Being Also Improves
Mental health emerged as another important theme.
Although competitive anxiety was common among athletes—with 56.7% reporting high anxiety levels—the review found encouraging evidence that psychological interventions can significantly reduce stress before competition.
Several studies demonstrated positive effects from:
- Mindfulness training
- Problem-focused coping strategies
- Mental imagery exercises
- Sport psychology programs incorporating relaxation, self-talk, and goal setting
Researchers also observed a strong negative relationship between mental toughness and competitive anxiety, indicating that athletes with greater psychological resilience experienced lower levels of competitive stress.
Why the Findings Matter Beyond Competitive Sport
One of the review's most important conclusions is that petanque could become a valuable public health intervention rather than remaining solely a competitive sport.
Because it combines:
- Low-impact physical activity
- High cognitive engagement
- Social interaction through team play
- Minimal equipment requirements
- Low participation costs
the sport offers an attractive option for community exercise programs, especially in regions where sports infrastructure is limited. It may be particularly beneficial for older adults, sedentary individuals, and communities seeking affordable ways to increase physical activity.
The authors note, however, that most existing studies involved competitive athletes in Indonesia. More randomized clinical trials and long-term community studies are needed before firm conclusions can be drawn about health effects in the general population, including older adults and people living with chronic conditions such as Parkinson's disease or mild cognitive impairment.
As Gede Wirabuana Putra and colleagues from Sniper Petanque Club, Politeknik Kesehatan Kartini Bali, Universitas Pembangunan Nasional Veteran Jakarta, Universitas Udayana, and Universitas Mercu Buana Yogyakarta conclude, the current evidence already supports integrating sport psychology services and expanding research into petanque as a community-based health promotion strategy.
Author Profile
Gede Wirabuana Putra, is a researcher affiliated with Sniper Petanque Club and Politeknik Kesehatan Kartini Bali, specializing in sports science, public health, and petanque performance. The study was conducted with Putu Erma Pradnyani of Universitas Pembangunan Nasional Veteran Jakarta, Made Rania Deviyanti and I Gede Candra Adi Parwata of Universitas Udayana, and Ni Wayan Nita Diah Tamayanti of Universitas Mercu Buana Yogyakarta, whose expertise includes sports science, health sciences, physical education, and behavioral health.
Source
Article Title: Health Benefits of Petanque Participation Across the Lifespan: A Systematic Review of Physical, Cognitive, and Psychosocial Outcomes
Journal: International Journal of Sustainable Applied Sciences (IJSAS), Vol. 4, No. 6
Publication Year: 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59890/ijsas.v4i6.8
URL: http://ijsasjournal.my.id/index.php/ijsas
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