USTA’s Bold Claim About Pickleball: During the 2024 US Open, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) boldly branded tennis as “The World’s Healthiest Sport,” a claim prominently featured at Arthur Ashe Stadium. This assertion is supported by studies reviewed by USTA Chairman Dr. Brian Hainline, who has endorsed the slogan. Research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine in 2016 indicated that racquet sports, including tennis, badminton, and squash, were associated with a 47% reduced risk of death from any cause and a 56% lower risk of cardiovascular-related death. Furthermore, a 2018 study in Mayo Clinic Proceedings highlighted that playing tennis could potentially add nearly a decade to one’s life expectancy compared to a sedentary lifestyle.
Pickleball Enters the Discussion
In response to the USTA’s claim, TIME’s Senior Sports Correspondent Sean Gregory has raised an important question.
“How can tennis be touted as the healthiest sport if other sports, like pickleball, haven’t been included in these studies?” – (Sean Gregory)
With pickleball’s rapid growth and increasing popularity, it has emerged as a competitor to tennis, especially as pickleball courts replace traditional tennis facilities. Dr. Hainline acknowledges this competition, noting that pickleball is making significant strides, but he maintains that the current studies predominantly reflect the health benefits of tennis.
“Pickleball is a challenge to us. Where pickleball is really hurting tennis is infrastructure. It’s probably been over a billion dollars’ worth of courts that have been taken away.” – (dr. Hainline)
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Pickleball’s Health Potential
Dr. James O’Keefe, director of preventive cardiology at Saint Luke’s Mid-America Heart Institute, weighed in on the discussion, suggesting that if pickleball had been part of the original studies, it might show health benefits comparable to tennis. O’Keefe speculated that pickleball could potentially add six to ten years to players’ life expectancy, given its physical and social benefits. The sport’s emphasis on social interaction and physical activity aligns closely with the advantages reported for tennis.
“I have no doubt that pickleball would be like tennis. It would be like badminton. It would be six to 10 years of added life expectancy, even adjusting for everything else.” – (O’Keefe)
“Racket sports are fun to play for people who get into them. You just can’t do that and not come back happy and relaxed and ready to sleep well. It just makes you love life.” – (O’Keefe)
News in Brief: USTA’s Bold Claim About Pickleball
While the USTA’s claim of tennis as the “World’s Healthiest Sport” is backed by notable research, the rising popularity of pickleball has sparked a debate about the relative health benefits of the two sports. Experts like Dr. O’Keefe suggest that pickleball could offer similar health gains, possibly even extending life expectancy as tennis does.
Both sports contribute significantly to physical and mental well-being, making them attractive options for those looking to maintain an active and socially engaging lifestyle. The debate continues as pickleball challenges tennis’s long-standing health claims, showing the evolving landscape of racquet sports.
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