Benefits of Pickleball
When I first started playing pickleball at the end of 2023 it was something that I thought my husband and I could do together. We had just moved to a new city, knew virtually no one and had not participated in any organized sports for a long time. Other than riding my horse and walking the dog, I did very little physical activity in the last few years prior to starting pickleball . I dabbled in doing some weights for strength but that was about it.
As I started playing pickleball I began to experience all the benefits of the game I now love and am addicted to. Now that I have been playing for over two years I can truly say that all the benefits are very very real.
As the fastest growing sport in the world, it’s popularity is fueled by these benefits. Lets explore them. I will tell you about my experiences and I would love to hear from anyone about their experiences.
One of the biggest benefits for me has been the aerobic aspect of the game for my heart. Pickleball gets my heart rate up, has substantially reduced my blood pressure and improved the circulation in my feet and legs. Prior to beginning to play I had a physical and my doctor was worried that my blood pressure was too high. She suggested that I start blood pressure medication, which I did not want to do. At my last physical she was amazed at how low my pressure was and blood tests showed that I no longer had any cholesterol issues. I truly believe that this is my greatest benefit from pickleball. Pickleball has been proven to improve heart health and it sure did for me.
As a plus size post menopausal woman, weight gain is always an issue. An hour on the pickleball court burns a lot more than walking. I usually play for 2 to 3 hours – three to four times a week. I know it has definitely helped me lose weight and has made me much more conscious of my food choices.
Having played tennis and jogged when I was younger, I do find Pickleball to be much easier than other sports. The knees and joints don’t take as much stress. I will qualify this by saying that it does really depend on the court surface you are playing on. Concrete and asphalt can be harder on the joints then surfaces designed specifically for pickleball.
Especially beneficial for menopausal women is the low impact movement that provides weight-bearing to prevent bone lose. While I still feel strong, after all I also ride a 1800 lbs horse, pickleball uses a completely different set of muscles. I also regularly use weights.
The quick back and forth movement together with the side to side has really helped with my balance. My reflexes are better and I feel much more stable on my feet.
Before starting pickleball I seemed to drop things if I didn’t concentrate on picking them up. My hand-eye coordination has increased dramatically along with faster reflexes. Watching the ball and placement of my shots has also enhanced my peripheral vision. I have found this has even made driving better.
I have always been a very high functioning thinker. Multi tasking and quick decision making was something that I do constantly. The last few years, especially during covid and my businesses slowing down, I was really missing the brain activity. My mind would race at night because it didn’t have enough activity. Pickleball has really sharpened my mind back up with quick thinking and decision making. I am sure that this will support my long term cognition.
Life stresses are something everyone goes through. We had our fair share the last few years with aging parents, selling our farm and even just life events in general. Both myself and my husband are so happy to be playing regularly. We have focus, a common interest that we share and the physical activity has dramatically improved our sleep.
I have to say that we eat better, have taken much more interest in our health and physical well being to make sure that we can keep playing at the level that we are currently enjoying.
Endorphins are released from physical movement that helps lower stress, depression and anxiety. I know my sleep has improved dramatically since playing pickleball. I don’t know if it is coincidental or not but since I started playing pickleball I have no more post-menopausal symptoms.
We know how important exercise is for our well being and the physicality of this sport is one of the reasons it is so popular.
Last but definitely not least is the social aspect of the game. We moved to a new city and before starting pickleball we knew nobody. The sport has brought social connections back into our lives that we thought we would never see again. Sometimes it feels like high school – although these times are rare. Mostly it feels like a great community. The pleasure of going out to the courts and having everyone say hi, how are you brings joy to my heart. When you haven’t seen someone for a while there are even hugs.
After a good session of games, my husband and I usually have so many things to talk about, whether we played together, against each other or only with others.
Pickleball has enhanced our lives in so many ways and I wonder sometimes where we would be without it now that we have been playing for almost three years.
And another thing – I wouldn’t have started this blog without pickleball. So Thank You.
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Medical Disclaimer: The information shared here is for educational purposes only. It does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never ignore professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read in this post. If you think you have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services right away.On
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