Pickleball—a racquet sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping pong—is a whole-body workout that improves cardiovascular health, assists with weight loss, and can help with balance, coordination, and flexibilityUtah business owner Ed Wertz was looking for a way to stay active after his gym closed early in the pandemic. His wife suggested they try pickleball for a date night one evening. “We've played two to three times a week ever since," the 71-year-old says.
"Pickleball truly is a whole-body workout that improves cardiovascular health, assists with weight loss, and can help with balance, coordination, and flexibility," says Matthew Anastasi, a physician and sports medicine specialist at Mayo Clinic. "It also provides a great opportunity for socialization and can reduce stress and provide mental health benefits."
The regular social interaction that is common to pickleball both while playing and as participants rotate courts and partners is one reason multiple studies show the game "We encourage exercise, in part, because it helps to release endorphins and hopefully distracts from the stressors of our lives," explains Edwards. He says pickleball accomplishes these goals and more, "making it a useful tool for improving mental health.""Pickleball is a great workout for the whole body as it works both lower and upper extremities," says Hemendinger.
These benefits are especially beneficial in those 65 and older; individuals most affected by lower activity levels as aging occurs. "The combination of aging plus inactivity can accelerate the decline in fitness levels, which can markedly increase the risk for various chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease," explains Dalleck.and learned that the average senior pickleball participant increased their cardiorespiratory fitness levels by about 12 percent.