Page 22 - Boca Exposure - October '23

Page 22, Boca Exposure
Healthy Answers – A Guide To Healthy Living:

‘Calling All Picklers!’

By Dale Brown, B.S., introduces a new approach to Brown’s series of columns Pickleball is often perceived as a fun and enjoyable
M.A., C.E.C. Dale is a devoted to many topics that deal with the mind/body sport, a significant motivating factor for older adults
motivational speaker connection and the importance of living a healthy looking to stay active. Picklers claim that it’s so much fun
who has spent many lifestyle. Dale, a Bocaire resident, can be reached at they don’t realize they’re getting exercise. Most points in
years as a Certified Life dalebrown@lovingmondays.com. pickleball are won on a line just 7 feet from the net, so
Coach and has written What’s all this craze with pickleball? Maybe it’s a way it’s easy to chat between serves. When you hit a “smash”
numerous articles and for those over 50 to say, “We are still in the game.” This shot it’s called a “dink” that’s hit into a zone called “the
e-books relating to self- mini version of tennis has given the scoring of “love” a kitchen.” That in itself is reason to laugh!
improvement and ways to whole new meaning. Everywhere you go, public parks, Overall, the combination of lower physical impact,
build a high-performance athletic clubs, civic centers and country clubs are all ease of learning, social aspects and accessibility make
team. She is the author of building new pickleball courts. I even have friends who pickleball an attractive option for many older individuals
the book, Small Steps... decided to fill in their unused pool and build a pickleball who are looking for a sport that is beneficial for their
Big Changes: The Personal Stories of a Life Coach. Her court instead. physical and social well-being.
education and years of experience in physical fitness and So, how did all this come about? You Picklers Could Be In A Pickle!
training of elite athletes has enabled her to sharpen her Surprisingly, building a pickleball court in a backyard Statistics reflect that approximately 86 percent of
knowledge in many health-related areas. The following is actually how it all began. The sport was first concocted emergency room visits were due to pickleball injuries in
in 1965 by two men, Joel Pritchard and William Bell. people over 60. The most common were sprains, strains
Medicare They were inspired to find a new, fun way to spend the and fractures. It is estimated that there will be around
67,000 emergency room visits, 366,000 outpatient visits
summer when they realized their families were bored
with other available sports.
and 9,000 outpatient surgeries related to pickleball
They found a property with an old badminton court,
some ping-pong paddles and a perforated plastic ball. injuries this year.

With millions of people playing pickleball there is
open enrollMent Thus began the first-ever pickleball game. It was fun and bound to be an uptick in injuries, for obvious reasons.
easy, and soon everyone was playing together, spending
Beginners may not have the proper technique of
time planning and inventing its rules. Five years later,
them more prone to accidents and injuries. Playing
the first pickleball corporation made the game official. understanding of the game’s rules and strategies, leaving
pickleball requires quick movements, agility and reflexes.

Lots of people we know have recently joined the ranks
for 2024 of pickleball players (“picklers”). Although it’s a sport Many older adults may be more susceptible to injuries due
for all ages you might say the pickleball boom is real,
to decreased flexibility, muscle mass and bone density.
especially for the boomer generation. There are over 4.8
To reduce the risk of pickleball injuries, players should
million pickleball players in the United States, and it is follow some simple rules:
cHecK For considered the fastest growing sport in the country. So • Warm up properly before playing.
• Wear appropriate footwear with good support and
what’s the draw?
Pickleball is a racket-type sport similar to tennis that
eXcItInG you can play in- or outdoors. It involves two or four traction.
• Learn proper technique and rules of the game.

• Play on safe, well-marked and maintained surfaces.
players who use a paddle to hit a perforated ball across a

court separated by a net. Pickleball is generally easier to • Use protective gear when necessary, such as knee
learn and pick up quickly, especially for those who may and/or elbow pads.
neW PLanS not have had previous experience playing racket sports. • Listen to your body and rest when needed.
• Consider training and conditioning programs to
and The rules are simpler, and the technique for playing can improve fitness and prevent injuries.
be less daunting for beginners.

It’s important to note that, while there may be an

A plastic whiffle-like ball is less bouncy and doesn’t fly
aLL neW as fast through the air. The paddle is shorter and lighter than increase in pickleball injuries, the overall injury rate in
the sport is still relatively low compared
a tennis racket and easier to handle. Since underhand serves
to many other sports and physical
are played in pickleball, they are easier to hit and return.
The court size is smaller, so you run less and a shorter
BeneFItS distance to reach the ball. This can be more manageable activities. Staying informed about
injury prevention and practicing
for older players who may have reduced mobility or
safe play can help keep the sport
YoU are endurance. Courts can be found almost everywhere in enjoyable for all participants. So go
retirement communities, recreational facilities, even in
dink some shots into the kitchen …
be careful and have fun!
a neighbor’s backyard.
entItLed to
neW! Book Review: About Face
The title of this
maY cHanGe PLanS By Nils A. Shapiro book, About Face,

Although I would
JanUarY 1 tHrU marcH 31, 2024 like to believe that a published halfway
caLL WItH QUeStIonS recommendation from through the series
me would be enough
in 2009, is a play on
for some readers of this words that must have
column to consider this pleased the author to
Peter Gratzon month’s book selection no end when she came
deserving of your own up with it. For one of
toP IndePendent time and attention, I can the main characters
think of nothing more
is a once beautiful
medIcare aGent convincing than this young society woman
stunning fact: whose face has been
561-361-7173 by author Donna Leon about her leading character, disfigured, by what we
About Face is one of 33 detective novels written
assume to be excessive
c: 561-289-9396 Commissario Guido Brunetti, who solves mysteries cosmetic surgery – a fact of great significance in
in his hometown of Venice, Italy … and these novels
a storyline that includes three murders, the illegal
have won a sizable enough fan base to support 33 hauling and storage of nuclear and other toxic waste,
novels about the same character! and the pollution of Venice’s canals as other garbage
time for a supplemeNtal plaN? Having read this one example of author Donna piles up on city streets uncollected by gang-controlled
choose aNy Leon’s work, I can readily understand what has made truckers … even as the wealthy plan how to turn this
doctor/hospital/No referrals her books so appealing. To begin with, she is so into investment opportunities.

observant and her writing style so visually descriptive
For those already hooked on Commissario
aNywhere iN the couNtry that you find yourself convinced her dialogue would Guido Brunetti and his associates in Venice’s Police
serve as the script for a film and her narrative as Department – and who are familiar with Brunetti’s
appoiNted with major iNsuraNce carriers detailed instructions for the set designer. charming and wise wife, Paola, and her wealthy Count
As for the setting? Leon was born in Montclair, and Countess parents (here, Comte and Comtessa) –
No obligatioN/ N.J., but has lived in Venice for the past more than 25 this fast-paced novel introduces a new and fascinating
No fees/ years, and it shows. Time Magazine noted, “No one cast of characters and surprise ending.
Next, you will be looking for another of Donna
No commissioN knows the labyrinthine world of Venice or the way Leon’s Guido Brunetti mysteries. There are certainly
favoritism and corruption shape Italian life like Leon’s
call for iN-home appoiNtmeNt Brunetti.” many waiting for you … or rather, for us.