WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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In 1965, Congressman Joel Pritchard improvised a game of Badminton with Ping Pong paddles and a perforated plastic ball to play with his family over the weekend after being unable to find a complete set of Badminton rackets. As the game went on, they realized that a lower net would make the game better, and thus, in his house just outside Seattle, Pickleball was created.
The sport spread out around the US and grew throughout the decades, but it was only after the COVID-19 pandemic that Pickleball really became mainstream. Since 2020, the total number of players in the US went from 3.5 million to over 36 million as of January 2023.
The sport is especially known to be appealing to elderly people, as its low-impact nature and easy-to-play dynamic makes it easier for them. Brandon Mackie, co-founder of Pickleheads, a website where you can find people, courts, and equipment to play, played Tennis his whole life and made the switch to Pickleball when he saw the low-impact nature of the sport.
“Pickleball is definitely easier on the body […] later in life because of that,” said Mackie.
As the Medical University of South Carolina puts it, Pickleball offers a good workout without as much stress on joints and muscles. It also helps with hand-eye coordination, which is crucial for daily activities like eating or driving, and with balance, helping avoid falls. But that doesn’t mean that injuries do not happen. As CNN reports, 86% of pickleball injuries occurred in people over 60 years old; most of these injuries are sprains, strains, and fractures. To avoid that, Dr. Lora Giangregorio, a professor and Schlegel Research Chair in Mobility and Aging at the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, recommends that older people participate in muscle and balance training.
“The fact that we should be physically active is common […] balance training to maintain balance and prevent falls,” said Dr. Giangregorio.
To ease the transition to the court, Dr. Giangregorio advises people to start easy and slowly increase the intensity and volume of the workout. Another thing is that if you are planning on starting to play Pickleball, you should look at other activities that can prepare your body first so the transition to the court is easier.
“What’s really important is to understand what your abilities are […] physically fit enough to play the sport that you want to play,” said Dr. Giangregorio.
But Pickleball is not only for elderly people. The sport is attracting a younger audience, especially after the pandemic, as Mackie points out, and the rise in popularity among younger people can partly explain the spike in the number of players.
“For decades it was only played in senior communities […] more and more it’s going to continue to find its way to young people,” said Mackie.
And Bloomington is following the lead of bigger metropolitan cities. Alex Linn, a Bloomington resident, started to play Pickleball after a family trip to South Carolina and hasn’t stopped since.
“I probably only started playing about maybe a year ago now […] I absolutely love it,” said Linn.
As the sport becomes more and more popular, Dr. Giangregorio urges people of all ages to look at the National Physical Activities guidelines and try to meet them so they can be prepared to start a new sport.
“Also encouraging people to meet National Physical Activities Guidelines […] what are some exercises I can do to get me stronger, improve my balance, and those sorts of things,” said Dr. Giangregorio.
National Guidelines for Physical Activities can be found on the National Institutes of Health website.
For WFHB, I’m Leo Paes.
