Pilates can improve your pickleball game
A UBS study reveals that pickleball-related injuries could cost Americans up to $500 million this year*.
These injuries translate into staggering healthcare expenses, including 67,000 ER visits, 366,000 outpatient visits, and 9,000 surgeries. Alarmingly, 86% of these ER visits involve senior citizens. The most common injuries affect the knees and lower back, attributed to the game's quick start-stop nature, frequent bending due to the low bounce height of the ball, and a compact court size leading to sudden direction changes, resulting in sprains, strains, tears, and falls.
This injury trend parallels pickleball's swift expansion. The number of players has grown from 3.5 million in 2019 to 8.9 million in 2022, representing a 154% increase. Predictions indicate that the sport will reach 22 million players by the end of 2023, marking a 148% rise!
This sport is so popular because it appeals to an older demographic. Many people can easily pick this sport up for the first time in their 50s and 60s, but quite often their bodies aren’t as used to all of the twisting and pivoting movements required. You should slowly build up to increased activity instead of jumping straight in.
For those looking to enhance their pickleball game and reduce injury risks, the strength-training of Pilates with pickleball offers numerous advantages.
Pilates exercises target multiple planes of motion, strengthening the core and aiding the lateral movements in a racquet sport.
Pilates enhances glute strength, stabilizing the knees for those powerful lateral movements. It also benefits shoulder health by strengthening the rotator cuffs, vital for your strokes.
Pilates improves spine flexibility and stability, essential for your powerful rotations.
Pilates enhances the mind-body connection and proprioception, leading to increased agility and coordination on the court.
The flexibility gained through Pilates can help prevent falls on the court by enabling smooth, balanced motions.
If you play pickleball and already do Pilates, kudos to you! If you play, but you don’t enhance your game with Pilates, try one of our Intro Offers before you possibly become a Pickleball injury statistic.
*Business Insider