Is Pickleball A Good Workout?

Baby boomers make up a large portion of pickleball players. The sport allows older adults and those who have joint pain to keep active and engaged in the world of sports. Many people love to play pickleball because it is a fun social way to bring exercise into their daily lives.

Before playing this game you will want to warm up your muscles. Try walking around the court for approximately five minutes. Walking helps increase the blood flow to your muscles.

Warming up before playing pickleball prepares your muscles for the strain the sport puts on them.

Pickleball is an international sport first created in 1965.  It has thousands of devotees who prefer this slow game to a more high paced game like tennis. Former tennis players unable to endure the physical demands of tennis often turn to pickleball as a suitable alternative.

Did you know that pickleball has a smaller court than tennis? The court measures 20 by 44 feet. This makes it easier to keep the ball in play and players moving.

As a result of the ball staying in play longer you get additional exercise from hitting the ball more often. Players get less exercise when they play doubles because players make less movements. Playing doubles keeps players from being overly exerted while participating in this slow paced game.

Because there is less running in pickleball participants experience less wear on their hips and knees. This game allows players with joint problems to remain active and enjoy a racket sport.

People with slow reflexes are able to enjoy this racket sport because of the light weight plastic ball used in pickleball. The light weight ball moves slower across the court than a harder ball would giving people with slow reflexes time to hit the ball.

In pickleball the racket does not have strings. When players use the light weight ball with this racket they experience minimal stress on the muscles and tendons in the arms. The underhand serve reinforces a low intensity arm workout that makes it easier for people with shoulder pain to participate in.

Pickleball helps improve a person's cardiovascular system by negating the effects of hypertension, stokes and heart disease that becomes more prevalent when you age. Pickleball remains a good workout that does not cause muscle and joint strain.

Dr. Aarron Baggish, director of the Cardiovascular Performance Program at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital, does not feel like pickleball should be a replacement for your regular exercise routine. He explains that pickleball works best as a compliment to your regular exercise program because it is not considered an aerobic activity. After all, players will not receive the same cardiovascular benefits playing pickleball as they would jogging for 30 minutes.

What makes pickleball a worthwhile exercise is that it engages a wide range of muscle groups. Players work their core, arms and legs when they play this sport.  Notably this weight bearing exercise is fantastic for players' bones health as well.

Playing pickleball can help improve your eye and hand coordination and keep your mind sharp. This increases an older participants' ability to play other sports and drive.

This sport helps people improve their balance and stability. This is a huge benefit to older participants who become less balanced as they age. Better balance helps prevent falls and injuries.

After playing an exciting game of pickleball participants should take a few moments to stretch their muscles. Players need to stretch their calf muscles, shoulders and wrists for about 30 seconds. Stretching helps to keep your muscles working well the next time you play pickleball.

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