The Benefits Of Pickleball For Senior And Adults

(Photo : Photo by Joan Azeka on Unsplash)

Getting older is something that we all love to hate.

Sure, with age, comes maturity and a better take on most things in life. But at the same time, maturity also comes with a few downsides as well.

I'm sure if you're old enough, you can already feel what I'm talking about in your hips, your knees, your elbows, or your back.

Yes, those old familiar bones. Creaking and cracking after decades of use, sometimes making you feel like a rusted iron skeleton, seized up in a junkyard.

But that's not the way getting older has to be, no matter how old (or young) you really!

In fact, there are many seniors and older adults that still live fully active lives.

And many of them could probably even give a young 30-year old whippersnapper like me a run for my money.

So with that being said, there's plenty of fun, exciting sports activities, which are all great for older adults and seniors that want to add some excitement to their lives.

Which is why, today, I'd like to take a look at pickleball, and go over some of the benefits you'll get when playing this awesome, yet often overlooked sport.

The Physical Benefits Of Pickleball

Of course, just like with any other type of sport, pickleball is an excellent activity that's going to get your body moving and your heart pumping at the same time. However, it's not quite as physical or intense as other sports like hockey or soccer.

According to FamilyDoctor, older adults need more than 3 hours of physical activity per week, whereas, seniors 65+ should be putting in at least 2.5 hours per week. So, playing a few rounds of pickleball each and every week is just enough time to get in that much-needed exercise for your body.

And on top of that, playing pickleball will also:

Boost your cardioactive health
Build and tone your muscles
Help you reduce and/or maintain a healthy body weight
Improve your brain function and fight fatigue
Decrease your risk of depression
Help you sleep better at night

The Social Benefits

We don't often think about it, but the truth is that many seniors or older adults end up feeling alone, or even isolated as they age, especially if they've been widowed or have recently gone through some type of large life event and are now living alone.

In fact, according to Stonegate, a survey by the University of California showed that over 40% of seniors experience loneliness on a regular basis.

The worst part is, these studies have also found a link between these feelings of disconnection or separation and serious health problems including the possibility of death. And even if there's still family around on a regular basis, spending a lot of time alone in the mornings, during the day, or in the evenings can be hard.

Fortunately, joining a pickleball team or league provides an excellent opportunity to get out of the house more often, and do something fun and rewarding with your time.

You don't need to join a seniors' league, but if you are a senior, it's a great way to meet others who are the same age as you and have a similar interest, like getting good exercise and having fun at the same time.

The Fun Benefits

In the end, the best part about playing pickleball is the fun that you'll have while doing it!

Not only will you be getting the exercise you need and meeting friends, but you'll also have a blast at the same time!

Pickleball is played using solid wooden or composite paddles to hit a perforated ball back and forth over a net. The sport was originally invented in the 1960s as a backyard game for children, but today is played by all sorts of people all over the world.

Pickleball combines elements of badminton, tennis, and traditional table tennis, and can be played by either two or four players.

It may not be the most intense sport, but depending on who you're playing against, it can still require a fair bit of dexterity and quick bodily movements, not to mention the fact that it's also quite challenging to try and not hit the ball too lightly or too hard.

So what are you waiting for? Learn the rules of the game and join a pickleball team or league today!