Is Pickleball Good Cardio? What You Need to Know

Sports and games are played with enthusiasm and eagerness by people of all age groups irrespective of their gender. Pickleball is considered an excellent activity for remaining fit and active. Is pickleball good cardio?

Pickleball is a good game for cardio. It helps to boost the cardiovascular system and prevents the unwanted problems of older age like hypertension, stroke, and heart attack. Pickleball is an excellent aerobic workout that does not put much strain on the joints and muscles of people.

Is Pickleball Good Cardio?

Alike all other sports, pickleball is also a sport that helps in the fat burning of the player and is a good cardio game. It involves the movement of the complete body, and at the same time, this game does not put many strains over the joints, which minimizes the risk of joint and muscular injuries of the players.

Pickleball has many health benefits, which are only visible when a person participates in the game. If we talk about this game, it might sound silly, old-fashioned, and childish at first, but the truth is that this game has several health benefits that the players can gain from playing this game regularly.

Some of the health benefits of playing this game are discussed below.

1. Playing Pickleball Improves Weight Management:

Pickleball is a racquet sport, which is much similar to tennis when it comes to the nature of the game. This game is not as aggressive as tennis, while at the same time, this does help contribute to the weight loss of the players.

This game helps the player remain active, which is an important factor in weight management. It is also a fact that people who tend to play pickleball regularly start enjoying the game in a short period.

At the same time, the game helps the player start burning their body fat, which is a positive contribution towards weight management. Normal weight management prevents the person from all sorts of cardiovascular diseases.

2. Playing Pickleball Contributes to Improved Mental Health:

An observed benefit of playing pickleball regularly is that people who play and enjoy this game have improved mental health.

The reason is that people who play this game enjoy the game to its fullest. It helps to release the inside stress and tensions due to undesirable elements.

Also, this is a fact that quality mental health is vital for individual overall well-being, and pickleball contributes directly to this factor.

3. Cardiovascular Benefits:

Like all other sports, pickleball is also a game that provides several cardiovascular benefits to people who tend to play this game regularly. Numerous cardiovascular benefits are obtained by participating in this game, just like other sports, including tennis, badminton, and other similar sports.

Even though pickleball is not as aggressive as other similar sports are, it contributes prominently to the increased health of the cardiovascular system. This game is much more common in people of old age, and it plays a necessary role in helping in the prevention of heart diseases and strokes.

Reduces risk of heart attacks and stroke	Pickleball is a game that reduces the overall risk of heart attacks and stroke. It improves overall cardiovascular health in a significant way.
Heart becomes stronger	A Pickleball game, if played regularly makes the heart stronger and healthier. Pickleball is a great workout for the heart especially when the heart rate is up due to excess running.
Reduces stress	Sports and games are involved in reducing and managing stress. Pickleball also reduces stress and improves the individual’s heart health.
Release of hormones	Exercise is associated with the release of endorphins. It creates a feeling of happiness. Stress level is lowered during the feeling of happiness and the overall health of a person improves.
Lesser strokes	A better mood leads to less stress and provides great health benefits. When the heart is healthier and stronger, it is less likely for strokes and there are fewer chances of heart attack to occur.

4. Playing Pickleball Improves Flexibility:

Just as similar sports including tennis and badminton involve the movement of the whole body, in the same way, pickleball also involves the movement of all four limbs of the human body.

Because of the reason that this game requires the player to move in all directions in the court, thus this game plays a vital role in increasing the flexibility of the human body. It is a fact that the joints of the human body need proper and regular exercise to remain fit.

Playing this game helps prevent the joint problems that might arise in old age, or even at times before old age.

5. Osteoporosis Can be Treated by Playing Pickleball:

It is said that osteoporosis can be treated by playing pickleball. Osteoporosis is a medical condition in which the bones start losing their density and quality.

This condition is commonly observed in people who are aged 50 or are above the age of 50. Because pickleball is not an aggressive game in terms of its nature, it helps essentially in keeping the bodies of the old age people strong.

Also, it is highly recommended for people of old age to regularly take part and play this game to prevent themselves from developing this disease.

6. Pickleball Plays an Important Role in the Prevention of Diabetes:

People who have developed diabetes, lack the production of insulin in their bodies. Insulin is a crucial component in the human body, that plays its role in the regulation of blood sugar levels within the desired range.

Playing this game helps a person remain fit and active, which on the other hand improves the regulation and production of insulin in the human body.

7. Helps in Improving the Health of Legs and Arms:

Pickleball is a game that involves the physical activity and involvement of all four limbs of the human body. This game helps the player to keep their feet active. In return, it helps to improve the stability and balance of the player.

Another interesting fact is that when the legs of the player are constantly in motion and are constantly active at the same time, it reduces the risk of the development of blood clots. The blood clot is usually developed by the inactivity of the human body.

It has been seen that people who tend to take part in sports actively, do not have the risk of developing this disease, as compared to other people who do not play sports and are at a higher risk of developing blood clots.

8. Playing Pickleball Increases Muscular Health:

Flexible and strong muscles are essential for improving the blood flow in the body, which is proven to be good for the overall health of individuals. Strong muscles help people to perform a variety of other tasks as well.

9. Good for People Suffering from Memory Diseases:

Regular exercises help in the stimulation of the mind so that it can become able to function above ordinary routine activities. It helps in minimizing the conditions in which a person would not be able to function properly, like diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Dementia.

10. Increases Overall Physical Health:

Regardless of age, pickleball is a wonderful game that can help players in improving their overall health. Regular exercise helps keep the mind and body fit which improves the functions of different organs to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Pickleball is similar to tennis in many aspects but it includes a combination of different games. The game involves moderate exercise and it is good for people of old age as well since it helps to keep their bodies in good health.

Players can also benefit immensely from this game in different ways. Having a form of exercise you find entertaining is key to allow you to make it a regularity in your schedule; Pickleball can be the sport for you.

Is Pickleball Good for Old Age People?

Pickleball is a game played by people of almost all age groups. Unlike other sports, which are similar in nature to pickleball, cannot be properly played by people of all age groups.

Pickleball is considered to be a great means of exercise for people of old age because this game has a much smaller court as compared to other games. It causes less running on the court as compared to other sports like tennis and other similar ones. Running in smaller court results in reduced pressure over the joints of the lower limb including hip and knee joints.

Another apparent ease in playing pickleball is that this game is played by a ball of small size and lighter weight. It causes a reduction in the chances of injury that the player might face if the ball hits the player during the game.

The pickleball paddle is not made up of strings and is a low-intensity instrument, the reason being that the service is made under the arm, and is easy to cater for the players belonging to old age groups.

How Many Calories Does Pickleball Burn?

It is said that playing pickleball for an hour will burn up to 600 calories.

Pickleball is a game that works as a form of interval training, with sharp bursts of exercise. These exercises combined with periods of waiting to spring into action. According to the stats, running regularly on average burns 11 calories per minute.

According to this, pickleball can be played as a substitute for the daily morning run. The reason is that pickleball burns on average 8 calories per minute.

One set of pickleball is played for one hour and similarly, 2 sets will be for two hours. That is up to 1200 calories burned in one day, while you are having fun. According to this, it is evident that pickleball helps in burning calories very fast, if played regularly and consistently.

Also Read:

Is Pickleball Easier Than Tennis? All You Need to Know
What is a Fault in Pickleball? All You Need to Know

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Is pickleball considered a good cardio exercise?

Pickleball is a good cardio exercise and helps burn fat from the body. It is a perfect combination of cardio and hand-eye coordination training. It can be played by anyone desiring to correct their fitness abilities.

Can a person get fit while playing pickleball?

Pickleball game offers aerobic exercise and gives players a chance to move freely around the court. Pickleball moves at a slower pace than tennis and is easy on joints. It also improves balance, coordination, and agility.

How can players increase their stamina for pickleball?

Players can increase their stamina for pickleball by walking and running. They can continually brisk walk or run that will assist their game when they get back to court. It also assists them in their cardiovascular health.

Is pickleball involved in muscle building?

Pickleball does little help to develop muscle groups that are crucial for overall fitness. There are general rules for strength training. It is necessary to adopt the proper form of training to avoid injury and derive maximum benefit.

Which is the hardest shot played in pickleball?

The third drop shot is considered the most difficult and important shot in a pickleball game.

Is pickleball considered a hard game on joints?

Pickleball is an easy game for joints as compared to tennis. Pickleball does not require much running like pickleball and helps stay on the court. A person can sustain their health and robust knees while playing pickleball.

Is pickleball considered a hard game on shoulders?

Pickleball is sometimes a hard game for shoulders. A shoulder strain is common in pickleball. The players in the pickleball game serve and volley with paddles below their shoulders. They use a repetitive force to produce a rotator cuff inflammation.

How many calories are burned in a pickleball game?

In an average pickleball game, 250 calories are burned in 30 minutes in a casual play. If a player plays aggressively, they can burn approximately 360 calories in 30 minutes.