Page 16 - Boca Club News - October '23

Page 16, Boca Club News

From The Professionals’ Desks

Healthy Answers—A Guide To Healthy Living:

“Calling All Picklers!”

By Dale Brown, B.S., M.A., C.E.C. The following introduces a new approach to Ms. Brown’s Pickleball is often perceived as a fun and enjoyable sport,
Dale is a motivational speaker who series of columns devoted to many topics that deal with a significant motivating factor for older adults looking to
has spent many years as a Certified the mind/body connection and the importance of living a stay active. Picklers claim that it’s so much fun they don’t
Life Coach and has written numerous healthy lifestyle. Dale, a Bocaire resident, can be reached realize they’re getting exercise. Most points in pickleball
articles and e-books relating to self- at dalebrown@lovingmondays.com. are won on a line just seven feet from the net, so it’s easy
improvement and ways to build a What’s all this craze with Pickleball? Maybe it’s a way to chat between serves. When you hit a “smash” shot it’s
high-performance team. She is the for those over 50 to say, “We are still in the game.” This mini called a “dink” that’s hit into a zone called “the kitchen.”
author of the book, “Small Steps... version of tennis has given the scoring of “love” a whole That in itself is reason to laugh!
Big Changes: The Personal Stories new meaning. Everywhere you go, public parks, athletic Overall, the combination of lower physical impact, ease
of a Life Coach.” Her education and years of experience clubs, civic centers and country clubs are all building new of learning, social aspects and accessibility make pickleball
in physical fitness and training of elite athletes has enabled pickleball courts. I even have friends who decided to fill in an attractive option for many older individuals who are
her to sharpen her knowledge in many health-related areas. their unused pool and build a pickleball court instead. looking for a sport that is beneficial for their physical and
So, how did all this come about? social well-being.
Medicare is actually how it all began. The sport was first concocted room visits were due to pickleball injuries in people over
Surprisingly, building a pickleball court in a backyard
You Picklers Could Be In A Pickle!
Statistics reflect that approximately 86% of emergency
in 1965 by two men, Joel Pritchard and William Bell. They
were inspired to find a new, fun way to spend the summer
60. The most common were sprains, strains and fractures.
open enrollMent when they realized their families were bored with other It is estimated that there will be around 67,000 emergency
room visits, 366,000 outpatient visits and 9,000 outpatient
available sports.
They found a property with an old badminton court,

surgeries related to pickleball injuries this year.
some ping-pong paddles and a perforated plastic ball. Thus
With millions of people playing pickleball there is bound
began the first-ever pickleball game. It was fun and easy, to be an uptick in injuries, for obvious reasons. Beginners
may not have the proper technique of understanding of the
and soon everyone was playing together, spending time
for 2024 planning and inventing its rules. Five years later, the first game’s rules and strategies, leaving them more prone to
pickleball corporation made the game official.
accidents and injuries. Playing pickleball requires quick

Lots of people we know have recently joined the ranks of
be more susceptible to injuries due to decreased flexibility,
pickleball players (“picklers”). Although it’s a sport for all movements, agility and reflexes. Many older adults may
cHecK For ages you might say the pickleball boom is real, especially for muscle mass and bone density.

To reduce the risk of pickleball injuries, players should
the boomer generation. There are over 4.8 million pickleball
players in the United States, and it is considered the fastest
follow some simple rules:
eXcItInG growing sport in the country. So what’s the draw? • Warm up properly before playing.
Pickleball is a racket-type sport similar to tennis that you

• Wear appropriate footwear with good support and
can play in- or outdoors. It involves two or four players who traction.
use a paddle to hit a perforated ball across a court separated • Learn proper technique and rules of the game.
neW PLanS by a net. Pickleball is generally easier to learn and pick up • Play on safe, well-marked and maintained surfaces.
quickly, especially for those who may not have had previous
• Use protective gear when necessary, such as knee and/
and experience playing racket sports. The rules are simpler, and or elbow pads.

• Listen to your body and rest when needed.
the technique for playing can be less daunting for beginners.
aLL neW as fast through the air. The paddle is shorter and lighter than improve fitness and prevent injuries.
A plastic whiffle-like ball is less bouncy and doesn’t fly
• Consider training and conditioning programs to
a tennis racket and easier to handle. Since underhand serves

It’s important to note that, while there may be an
BeneFItS are played in pickleball, they are easier to hit and return. increase in pickleball injuries, the overall injury rate in the
sport is still relatively low compared to many other sports
The court size is smaller, so you run less and a shorter

distance to reach the ball. This can be more manageable for
and physical activities. Staying informed about injury
YoU are older players who may have reduced mobility or endurance. prevention and practicing safe play can help keep the sport
enjoyable for all participants. So go dink some shots into
Courts can be found almost everywhere in retirement
communities, recreational facilities, even in a neighbor’s
the kitchen…be careful and have fun!
entItLed to backyard.
neW! Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center
maY cHanGe PLanS 32nd Annual Phyllis & Harvey Sandler Center
JanUarY 1 tHrU marcH 31, 2024 Alicia & Jeff Spero
caLL WItH QUeStIonS Book & Author Luncheon

Peter Gratzon Presenting four best-selling authors

toP IndePendent Tuesday, November 7, 9:00 am

medIcare aGent Boca West Country Club

561-361-7173

c: 561-289-9396

time for a supplemeNtal plaN?
choose aNy
doctor/hospital/No referrals
aNywhere iN the couNtry
appoiNted with major iNsuraNce carriers
561-464-3086 • levisjcc.org/bookandauthor
No obligatioN/
No fees/
No commissioN
call for iN-home appoiNtmeNt Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center • Phyllis & Harvey Sandler Center • Toby & Leon Cooperman Campus
21050 95th Avenue S., Boca Raton, FL 33428 • Ph 561-558-2520 • levisjcc.org/sandler