Pickleball with Parkinson’s: It may be your next obsession

Have you considered pickleball for exercise? Even if Parkinson’s disease is limiting your movement, there’s a good chance you can find a way to play.

And it’s likely there’s a place on a court or in a class for you somewhere nearby, as new pickleball courts are popping up everywhere. My husband, Jon, and I recently found some on one of the Florida Keys!

Pickleball is a paddle sport with a smaller playing surface than a tennis court, so it’s easier to manage the space. The sport is kind of like badminton with a lower net, and it uses a hollow plastic ball that bounces.

 Is pickleball for you? Perhaps I can help you decide.

Pickleball is perfect for people with Parkinson’s who want to exercise and be sociable about it, too. The movements are simple and the rules easy to learn. 

Warning: It can be addictive.

I started playing pickleball at the urging of some friends who were into it so much that they installed a court in their backyard. 

I haven’t reached the obsession stage, but I see how that could happen. I find that pickleball gives me a break from my tremors, which are virtually absent when I play. 

Here are some of the benefits

• Mobility improvement: The combination of long strides and quick steps can help with balance and gait coordination problems.
• Easing of rigid muscles: Gentle overhead and side strokes loosen up the arms, and movement around the court limbers up the leg muscles.
• Cognitive enhancements: Pickleball requires hand-eye coordination and quick thinking, which can boost your mental skills.
• Aerobic benefits: The harder you work, the higher your heart rate and the more long-term benefits. Short-term benefits are pretty good too; I enjoy the natural “high” such activity brings when I’m done. Who needs dopamine?
• Sociability: I’ve met some amazing and like-minded people through playing pickleball. There are articles about groups with names like “Parkie Picklers.” However, because players come in many skill levels, you don’t have to be in a special Parkinson’s league to play pickleball at your particular level. 

Tips for players with Parkinson’s

• Check with your doctor: Anytime you start something new that’s physical, discuss it with the professionals who know your situation.
• Start with walking: If you’re not moving much now, begin walking regularly. It will give you more energy, which in turn will help motivate you to try something different.
• Get the right equipment: Lightweight tennis shoes are best, but make sure they have “grippy” soles for outdoor surfaces or gym floors. As for paddles, they’re lighter than tennis rackets (a bonus), but find one with a grip that you can hang onto well. It should feel balanced in your hand.
• Focus on your technique: You may not excel at speed and strength, so concentrate on what you can control. Learn the strategies and then work to improve them.
• Listen to your body: This is important for any exercise. Personally, I’m usually good for four or five games before I start to tire and get sloppy in my playing. At that point, it’s time for me to step away for the day.

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Players mostly play doubles, or two against two. Jon and I play as partners, but sometimes we mix it up. When the weather is nice, we also join “open invitation” pickup games at local parks.

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Well, have I persuaded you to try it? Pickleball is a sport proving to be beyond a fad. I believe it’ll be around for a long time. And the more I play it, the longer a healthier me will be around, too.

Photos by Lou Padron, Ben Hershey, Mason Tuttle, and Joan A. Zeka