Pickleball is one of the fastest-rising sports in the United States. People of all ages are starting to turn the fun racquet sport into a hobby because it is easy to learn and cheap to maintain. Pickleball combines the elements of ping pong, tennis, and badminton, which will attract a lot of players. Also, the racquet sport has a lot of health benefits, especially for children and seniors who love to maintain an active lifestyle. Here are some of the benefits you can get from engaging in Pickleball.
Remains a Friendly Sport for Middle-Aged Players
Players 50 and above are engaging in Pickleball because it is an attractive sport that is easy to learn. People will start to attract a lot of health issues as they grow old, which is why it is essential for them to find an activity they can maintain. Otherwise, they would risk developing adverse health problems like increased blood pressure, stress hormones, loneliness, dementia, and other physical ailments. It also helps improve aerobic capacity, which helps seniors maintain their health longer.
Improves Overall Physical Health
Pickleball offers you a sport that can help you improve your physical health, which is why it is a favorite hobby among seniors. Adults aged 60 and above need to maintain moderate exercises in their daily routine to keep themselves healthy. Pickleball is a great activity alternative to long walks. A 10-minute Pickleball match provides you with the same benefits that a 75-minute long walk will do. Here are more specific ways where Pickleball is helpful to your body:
- Immune System Boost
Your immune system tends to weaken as you age. A combination of cigarette smoking, unhealthy diet, and lack of sleep can speed up the process of deterioration. When you play Pickleball, the body will start to build up your immune system to make you less vulnerable to getting infections and diseases. Regular exercising for seniors will be hard to maintain, but Pickleball offers them a way to stay healthy and fit.
- Lower Blood Pressure
Pickleball helps regulate blood, which is essential for adults who have a history with high blood pressure. Aside from staying away from sodium, alcohol, and caffeine, adults will find that playing the racquet sport will work wonders for their blood pressure. Seniors with high blood pressure need to take their condition seriously because it may lead to numerous diseases. Pickleball provides them with senior-friendly sport and a fun activity. The game also improves cardiovascular health, which makes you less prone to suffering a heart attack.
- Stress Reduction
Stress comes from work, isolation, and other places that are already part of our daily lives. To eliminate stress, you can engage in sports like Pickleball. The advantage of playing Pickleball is that you can quickly learn the rules while playing it. When you are coming from a rough day at the office or taking a break from the toxic life in the city, you will need a way to release stress. A friendly match with your friends will help you release tension and feel positive. So if you are looking for a game that will be easy to learn and reduce stress, you can try playing Pickleball.
- Helps Prevent Obesity
Obesity is one of the most common diseases that Americans get. Most of the people suffering from obesity will blame it on a lack of physical activity. Pickleball is a great way to help you burn calories. You can also have fun with it by setting weight goals as you play. If you love to eat, you can balance your body by playing Pickleball with your family in your backyard. The pure racquet sport will help you combat obesity if you include it in your daily routine.
Accessible Exercise Routine
Pickleball is easy to maintain. The necessary equipment you need includes tennis shoes, paddles, balls, and a bag. You can play the racquet sport anywhere from your backyard to a public tennis court. Because of its budget-friendly upkeep cost, you will not have a hard time inserting the competition in your daily routine. Exercise is good for the body at any age. If you want to play a game that allows you to play anytime and anywhere you want, then you should consider playing Pickleball.
Develops Social Skills
You will need to have a person playing with you to engage in Pickleball since it is at least a two-person sport. Getting an opponent or a doubles partner will help you develop your social skills. Some will say that tennis and badminton are also great sports for a social experience. However, Pickleball requires a smaller playing field compared to its counterparts, allowing you to engage in laughter and conversation with your opponents. Laughing and talking to your playmates will help your wellbeing and reduce stress from isolation. Regular participation in Pickleball will help you maintain close friends and gain new ones, especially when you play in a public place.
You can also join a Pickleball group, which allows you to feel like you are a part of a community. A Pickleball community is excellent for building your self-esteem and develop better social skills. A Pickleball group will open doors for opportunities to participate in tournaments or social events, which is excellent for your emotional health.
Specializes in Hand-Eye Coordination
All types of racquet sports can help a person improve their hand-eye coordination, which will help keep your physical and mental health in check. However, Pickleball will give you a more natural path to development compared to other racquet sports. Hand-eye coordination is essential for the execution of daily tasks and reaction time. Since Pickleball provides you with a way to remain attentive to where the ball goes, it automatically improves response time. When you develop your hand-eye coordination, you get to improve your balance, fitness, physical agility, alertness, and awareness. You will also develop your memory and cognitive function, making Pickleball an enjoyable lifetime hobby.
Engages Players in Mental Challenges
Aside from the many physical benefits you can get, Pickleball also engages you in mental challenges. Losing a match will challenge you to improve your skills to beat your opponent the next time you face each other. The sport also challenges you to figure out the areas where you need improvement and aspects of your game that you must maintain. Pickleball provides you with a way to break mental barriers and reach your limits. Same as a young athlete trying to break his or her ceiling, you can achieve mental strength and surpass expectations while playing Pickleball.
Maintaining mental health is essential for people of all ages. Without mental challenges in your life, you are prone to getting anxiety and depression. Pickleball helps you maintain a positive outlook by encouraging you to look forward to the next match after a lost game. Pickleball also helps people boost their mood, especially when they start to become passionate about the sport. The psychological and mental benefits you can get from Pickleball is as helpful to you as its physical counterparts.
Adds Competitive Nature and Builds Goals
A lot of sports have requirements for athleticism and physical capacity. When you reach a certain age, you will notice that your body can no longer support the physical needs of sports like basketball, soccer, or football. However, the drive and competitive nature of an athlete will not disappear quickly. If you still love the feeling of competition, Pickleball will provide you with a chance to feel that again. Since Pickleball is a sport for all ages, seniors can engage in a friendly match with a couple of 20-year olds and still find themselves on the winning side. However, children may also have a chance to beat you in the game. The unpredictability of Pickleball makes it much more fun to play, and you do not have to get in peak physical shape to get competitive.
Also, Pickleball allows you to build goals. People yearn for accomplishment, which is why we set up goals and try to live the rest of our lives trying to achieve them. You will feel good about yourself when you achieve short-term goals like improving in every match or long-term marks like winning a Pickleball tournament.
Conclusion
Finding a sport you are good at is incredibly tricky, especially when you lack the basic physical needs for it. However, Pickleball is an exception to the rule. Everyone can engage in the racquet sport, and everyone can attain the many health benefits that it can provide.
