Page 28 - Boca ViewPointe - October '23

Page 28, Viewpointe October 2023
Healthy Answers – A Guide To Healthy Living:

‘Calling All Picklers!’

By Dale Brown, B.S., So, how did all this come about? hit into a zone called “the kitchen.” That in itself is reason
M.A., C.E.C. Dale is a Surprisingly, building a pickleball court in a backyard is to laugh!
motivational speaker who actually how it all began. The sport was first concocted in 1965 Overall, the combination of lower physical impact, ease of
has spent many years as a by two men, Joel Pritchard and William Bell. They were inspired learning, social aspects and accessibility make pickleball an
Certified Life Coach and has to find a new, fun way to spend the summer when they realized attractive option for many older individuals who are looking for
written numerous articles their families were bored with other available sports. a sport that is beneficial for their physical and social well-being.
and e-books relating to self- They found a property with an old badminton court, You Picklers Could Be In A Pickle!
improvement and ways to some ping-pong paddles and a perforated plastic ball. Thus Statistics reflect that approximately 86 percent of
build a high-performance began the first-ever pickleball game. It was fun and easy, and emergency room visits were due to pickleball injuries in
team. She is the author of soon everyone was playing together, spending time planning people over 60. The most common were sprains, strains and
the book, Small Steps... and inventing its rules. Five years later, the first pickleball fractures. It is estimated that there will be around 67,000
Big Changes: The Personal corporation made the game official. emergency room visits, 366,000 outpatient visits and 9,000
Stories of a Life Coach. Her education and years of Lots of people we know have recently joined the ranks of outpatient surgeries related to pickleball injuries this year.
experience in physical fitness and training of elite athletes pickleball players (“picklers”). Although it’s a sport for all With millions of people playing pickleball there is bound
has enabled her to sharpen her knowledge in many health- ages you might say the pickleball boom is real, especially for to be an uptick in injuries, for obvious reasons. Beginners
related areas. The following introduces a new approach to the boomer generation. There are over 4.8 million pickleball may not have the proper technique or understanding of the
Brown’s series of columns devoted to many topics that deal players in the United States, and it is considered the fastest game’s rules and strategies, leaving them more prone to
with the mind/body connection and the importance of living growing sport in the country. So what’s the draw? accidents and injuries. Playing pickleball requires quick
a healthy lifestyle. Dale, a Bocaire resident, can be reached Pickleball is a racket-type sport similar to tennis that you movements, agility and reflexes. Many older adults may
at dalebrown@lovingmondays.com. can play in- or outdoors. It involves two or four players who be more susceptible to injuries due to decreased flexibility,
use a paddle to hit a perforated ball across a court separated muscle mass and bone density.
What’s all this craze with pickleball? Maybe it’s a way by a net. Pickleball is generally easier to learn and pick up To reduce the risk of pickleball injuries, players should
for those over 50 to say, “We are still in the game.” This mini quickly, especially for those who may not have had previous follow some simple rules:
version of tennis has given the scoring of “love” a whole experience playing racket sports. The rules are simpler, and • Warm up properly before playing.
new meaning. Everywhere you go, public parks, athletic the technique for playing can be less daunting for beginners. • Wear appropriate footwear with good support and
clubs, civic centers and country clubs are all building new A plastic whiffle-like ball is less bouncy and doesn’t fly traction.
pickleball courts. I even have friends who decided to fill in as fast through the air. The paddle is shorter and lighter than • Learn proper technique and rules of the game.
their unused pool and build a pickleball court instead. a tennis racket and easier to handle. Since underhand serves • Play on safe, well-marked and maintained surfaces.
are played in pickleball, they are easier to hit and return. • Use protective gear when necessary, such as knee and/
The court size is smaller, so you run less and a shorter or elbow pads.
OCTOBER IS distance to reach the ball. This can be more manageable for older • Listen to your body and rest when needed.
Breast CANCER players who may have reduced mobility or endurance. Courts • Consider training and conditioning programs to improve
AWARENESS can be found almost everywhere in retirement communities, fitness and prevent injuries.

It’s important to note that, while there may be an increase
recreational facilities, even in a neighbor’s backyard.
MONTH Pickleball is often perceived as a fun and enjoyable sport, in pickleball injuries, the overall injury rate in the sport is still
a significant motivating factor for older adults looking to stay relatively low compared to many other sports and physical
active. Picklers claim that it’s so much fun they don’t realize activities. Staying informed about injury prevention and
they’re getting exercise. Most points in pickleball are won practicing safe play can help keep the sport enjoyable for
on a line just 7 feet from the net, so it’s easy to chat between all participants. So go dink some shots into the kitchen…be
serves. When you hit a “smash” shot it’s called a “dink” that’s careful and have fun! 

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