The health benefits of pickleball

SALT LAKE CITY — Pickleball has gained so much popularity over the years, and it’s probably a good thing that there’s no sign of it dying down. Turns out it’s not just fun; it also has many health benefits for people of all ages.

In the latest Let’s Get Moving with Maria podcast episode, Maria Shilaos spoke with Dr. Sarah Turner-Pietruszka, Sports Medicine Physician with Intermountain Health, to learn why pickleball is a great way to get exercise.

 

Pickleball is similar to tennis, but the court is slightly smaller and the paddles are different. In fact, you can still play even if you don’t have to have a tennis background, Dr. Turner-Pietruszka said.

“You really just need to be someone who enjoys being around other people and playing a delightful game that you’re there to learn.”

There are several health benefits that come with playing pickleball. For one, you can gain strength from constantly moving across the court.

You can also work on your cardiovascular fitness, Dr. Turner-Pietruszka said. That means keeping your heart pumping and letting your blood circulate.

From a mental health perspective, you can gain social connection from being around other people.

Before starting a pickleball game, warm up!

Like it is for all other sports, it’s important to warm up your body and muscles first.

“You don’t necessarily have to start out by replicating the movements that you’ll do in that sport. Generally a quick walk is going to be really helpful,” Dr. Turner-Pietruszka said.

At the end of the game, you can do some gentle stretching and finish off with a slow walk.

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