Older People Playing Pickleball Isn’t Risky – It’s Medicine | Letter

So what if a 2020 study recovered that 91% of pickleball injuries progressive group aged complete 50 (You should enactment your property – astatine slightest erstwhile it comes to exercise. Here’s why, 3 November)? Most pickleball players are complete 50! I’d alternatively spot active, smiling group pinch nan overseas strain than a procreation glued to nan sofa. The existent wellness situation isn’t overexercising – it’s inactivity.

Fitness is nan biggest predictor of semipermanent wellness and independence. Ageing is inevitable, but fragility is not. Women successful peculiar look an accelerated nonaccomplishment of bony and musculus done menopause, yet 84% of inactive women going done menopause want to beryllium much progressive and 90% would get progressive if advised by a professional. There is still a societal acceptance that it is OK to beryllium a vulnerable older woman down a Zimmer framework pinch nary bum successful her trousers.

Supervised spot training and joyful activity aren’t risks, they’re medicine. Let’s promote pickleball, hiking aliases dancing – thing that builds assurance and keeps group strong. Injuries we tin manage, frailty we can’t.
Christien Bird
Pelvic wellness physiotherapist; co-founder, Menopause Movement