Pickleball Wining Over Cycling: Pickleball’s rapid growth, with 36 million participants worldwide in 2023, shows its rising popularity. Although this number is modest compared to badminton’s 339 million players, both sports are noted for their accessibility and appeal across age groups. While racquet sports may not always be associated with elite athleticism, they are proving to offer physical and cognitive advantages.
A Wake-Up Call for Cyclists
Cyclists may need to reconsider their perspective on racquet sports. Recent research suggests that racquet sports, such as pickleball, tennis, and badminton, provide greater health benefits than cycling. Historically celebrated for its fitness advantages, cycling is now shown to fall behind racquet sports in terms of overall health and cognitive benefits.
Cognitive and Physical Advantages
According to a recent study by the National Cancer Institute, participating in racquet sports for at least 2.5 hours weekly between ages 59 and 82 can lower the risk of death by 16%. In comparison, cycling’s benefit stands at just 3%. This significant disparity highlights racquet sports’ superior physical and mental health benefits.
“Regularly playing a (racquet) sport like tennis for at least 2.5 hours each week between ages 59 and 82 could reduce a person’s all-cause risk of death 16 percent.” – (UK Daily Mail article)
The Cognitive Benefits of Open Skill Sports
Racquet sports are categorized as open-skill sports requiring players to adapt to continuously changing conditions. This is in contrast to closed-skill sports like cycling, which involve repetitive and predictable movements. The adaptability required in racquet sports stimulates cognitive functions such as perception, attention, and visuomotor integration, leading to substantial cognitive and executive function improvements.
Brain Function and Racquet Sports
Playing racquet sports engages the cerebellum and parietal lobe, critical areas of the brain involved in motor skills, balance, sensory processing, and cognitive functions. These activities enhance physical coordination and contribute to improved mental acuity and emotional regulation.
The benefits of pickleball extend beyond physical exercise, providing a significant boost to cognitive health that outstrips the advantages offered by cycling and other closed-skill activities.
