Pickleball Benefits for Women’s Health: Pickleball may appear easy, but beginners should approach it gradually. The sport offers significant physical and mental health benefits, especially for women with conditions like osteoporosis or osteopenia. As these conditions affect more women than men, particularly during menopause, it is essential to consider safe ways to play.
Health Benefits of Pickleball
Dr. Ross Spires, an OB-GYN at Riverside Women’s Care in Bluffton, South Carolina, emphasizes the importance of weight-bearing exercises.
“Weight-bearing exercises like pickleball, as well as supervised weight training, can strengthen women’s bones over time and prevent osteoporosis.” – (Dr. Ross Spires)
“Pickleball also helps with hand-eye coordination and neurologic sustainment as players age.” – (Dr. Ross Spires)
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends osteoporosis screenings for women 65 and older and younger post-menopausal women with risk factors.
Dr. Spires is participating in the Low Country Pickleball Classic on April 4, 2025. He describes pickleball as a strategic game, saying,
“Pickleball is more of a strategy game as compared to a hard-hitting game like tennis. It’s very quick and reactionary, and you have to be practiced and ready for it, or you won’t play well.” – (Dr. Ross Spires)
Safety Considerations for Beginners
Many assume pickleball is easy, but it is competitive and athletic, requiring coordination. The pickleball game involves quick reactions and returning drives, which can lead to injuries if players are not careful.
“An osteoporotic woman who is either premenopausal or postmenopausal can suddenly suffer an injury, like an ankle fracture, because it’s really easy to break a minor bone under the pretense that this sport is easy. It’s not.” – (Dr. Ross Spires)
Playing During Pregnancy
Dr. Spires notes that exercise during pregnancy can improve the chances of vaginal delivery.
“There’s nothing wrong with playing pickleball all the way to term if you regularly play. But if you haven’t already been physically active, pregnancy would not be the time to dive in for the first time.” – (Dr. Ross Spires)
Mental and Physical Balance
Playing pickleball also enhances hand-eye coordination and cognitive ability. Engaging in this sport helps players enjoy the outdoors, get vitamin D, and reduce anxiety and depression symptoms. Dr. Spires enjoys playing pickleball several times a week, mostly with his wife, Gena, who transitioned to pickleball due to joint problems.
Dr. Spires, a graduate of the University of Pikeville – Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine, has been an OB-GYN for 17 years. He practices robotic-assisted surgery, which offers patients less pain and faster recovery.
“Reproduction has been done the same way for millennia. So I try to let a natural process take place, and guide it if it becomes urgent or emergent.” – (Dr. Ross Spires)
News in Brief: Pickleball Benefits for Women’s Health
Pickleball offers significant health benefits, especially for women with osteoporosis or osteopenia. Dr. Ross Spires emphasizes the importance of gradual participation and highlights the sport’s mental and physical advantages. He warns about injury risks for beginners and supports playing during pregnancy for those already active.
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