The Many Benefits of The Current Fitness Rage
If you’re anywhere near a court, you’ll hear the distinctive sound…a fast-paced clatter, interspersed with grunts, groans and an occasional whoop. It’s pickleball, the sport that’s sweeping the nation. To many, it may seem like a johnny-come-lately, but the sport has actually been around for nearly 60 years. A blend of tennis, badminton and ping-pong that can be played indoors or outdoors, it offers a wide range of health benefits:
- It’s a solid overall workout—Because the court is small and the pace fast, it’s great for developing or improving hand-eye coordination. Many passionate club tennis players have turned to pickleball to hone their skills at the net. While it typically doesn’t involve a lot of sprinting, it requires solid footwork, coordination and balance.
- It can minimize the impact or onset or osteoporosis and osteoarthritis—While pickleball requires a lot of movement, it’s relatively low-impact, with virtually no pounding on your bones and joints. As a result, you can stay fit without the potential for bone or tissue loss.
- It’s great for your heart—The quick movements back and forth and side to side will get your heart rate up and into the zone. By doing that consistently, you’ll lower your blood pressure and keep cholesterol in check, minimizing the potential for heart disease.
- It can improve your mental health—Pickleball demands that your brain be active and alert. As you exercise, your body will release endorphins, hormones that activate your body’s opiate receptors, minimizing pain and causing a feeling of mild euphoria.
- Socialization—You can’t play pickleball alone and it’s even better when you play doubles. It’s a great way to establish new social networks, ones that are built on fitness and well-being.
A caveat—while virtually anyone can play pickleball, even people who haven’t been very active in a while, it’s still a fairly demanding sport. In fact, many physical therapists say it’s their biggest source of new patients. If you haven’t been very active in the past few years, slowly work your way into it. In addition, develop a regular routine of stretching before and after you play.
