The Physical and Cognitive Benefits of Pickleball Participation in Older Adults

Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in North America and is popular among older adults, yet the physical and cognitive benefits of this sport in older adults remain relatively unexplored. The purpose of this study was to address this gap in literature by measuring physical and cognitive data in older pickleball players.

A cross-sectional study compared pickleball players to a control group of non-pickleball players, all over the age of 55 years. The following dependent variables were measured: (a) balance, (b) grip strength, (c) leg strength (d) aerobic fitness, (e) cardiometabolic risk factors, (f) cognitive function, (g) self-reported physical activity, and (h) quality of life. Significant between-group differences were detected with independent samples t tests, where the alpha level was .05.

Fourteen pickleball players (Mage = 68.07 ± 6.86 years, 57% female) and 14 non-pickleball players (Mage = 69.36 ± 5.49 years, 50% female) participated in this study. Despite similar levels of self-reported physical activity (p = .47) between groups, pickleball players had significantly better balance (p = .02) and significantly higher leg strength (p = .01). No other significant differences in outcome measures were found.

This study suggests that pickleball is a beneficial sport for balance and leg strength in older adults, regardless of physical activity levels. Significance/Implications: Poor balance is a risk factor for falls in older adults. Implementing pickleball programs could help to reduce fall risk among older adults, even in those already active.