Pickles Pickleball Club: Pickles, an indoor pickleball club located in Hanover, Massachusetts, is improving how players stay healthy by partnering with a local physical therapy clinic. Since 2020, founders Dustin DeMeritt and Lisa DeMeritt have aimed to make pickleball more enjoyable and safer. By teaming up with Body Mechanics Physical Therapy and Wellness, led by David Barber, Pickles now offers in-house injury recovery and health services. The goal is to help players perform better and avoid injuries, all in a player-focused environment.
A New Model for Pickleball Clubs
Pickles stands out by offering more than just courts. The club has six tournament courts, two dinking practice areas, a snack bar called “The Kitchen,” a retail shop, and a player recovery lounge. Inside the lounge, players can meet with physical therapists from Body Mechanics Physical Therapy and Wellness.
Dustin DeMeritt shared, “The idea to offer PT at Pickles stemmed from a desire to enhance the overall player experience.” The PT clinic helps with wellness and injury prevention. Players don’t have to travel elsewhere to get care—it’s already at the club.
David Barber, who founded Body Mechanics Physical Therapy and Wellness, believes this type of care can boost a player’s career.
“PT can help lengthen a pickleball player’s playing career by addressing and preventing injuries, improving physical conditioning, and providing personalized guidance for recovery and performance enhancement.” – (David Barber)
Pickles built out the recovery space to include room for the therapists. Their Silver and Gold members also get discounts on the services. This setup makes PT easier to access and more valuable to club members.
Helping Players Stay in the Game Longer
The partnership began when both groups met at a networking event hosted by Body Mechanics Physical Therapy and Wellness. They realized their missions were alike. Members also said they wanted more help staying healthy and preventing injuries.
Pickles believes that their shared focus on health and performance has made the partnership a success. Dustin DeMeritt explained that the club is focused on three key goals: “Health and Wellness, Injury Prevention and Recovery, and Enhanced Experience.” These goals are shared by both organizations.
The clinic treats common issues like sprains, strains, overuse injuries, and joint problems. Physical therapy can also help after surgery. It’s not just for older adults—players of all ages benefit from better strength, mobility, and recovery.
“PT helps in preventing common sports-related injuries… [and] can significantly improve a player’s performance by focusing on specific muscles and moves used in pickleball.” – (David Barber)
Lisa DeMeritt said that Pickles and the physical therapy team are “bringing together the best of pickleball and physical therapy, creating a platform where performance, wellness, and enjoyment are interconnected.”
Real Results for Local Players
Since the partnership began, many players have seen real benefits. One player with knee pain saw big improvements and returned to playing. Another senior player, after regular sessions, became stronger and more agile and now plays more often with less discomfort.
Both the Pickles team and Body Mechanics Physical Therapy and Wellness say they’ve seen many of these success stories. They enjoy watching players not only perform better but also feel better in their daily lives.
“The principles upon which BMPT was founded align seamlessly with [their] ethos…Driven by a goal to provide bespoke, one-on-one care for every patient, BMPT shares [their] dedication to understanding and advancing [their] members’ goals,” said the Pickles team in a press release.
By working together, Pickles and Body Mechanics Physical Therapy and Wellness have created a new model for how sports clubs can care for their players. Their focus on health, performance, and enjoyment may inspire other clubs to follow their lead.
News in Brief: Pickles Pickleball Club
Pickles in Hanover, Massachusetts has teamed up with Body Mechanics Physical Therapy and Wellness to offer on-site physical therapy for pickleball players. The partnership helps prevent injuries, supports recovery, and improves performance, making it easier for members to stay healthy and enjoy the game longer.
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