Pickleball: A Simple Way to Get Active

The warm weather is here for a while making it a perfect opportunity to get active and start developing habits for a healthier lifestyle. Dakota News Now joined a few of the experts on the local Pickleball scene to learn about the game and what makes it a great way to get some exercise. Jonathan Buchanan, MD, an orthopedics, sports medicine and internal medicine physician with Avera Orthopedics and Linda Erickson is one of the benefactors who helped bring more Pickleball courts to Sioux Falls.

How important is it to get some physical activity into our routine?

Jonathan Buchanan, MD: It's critical. if you want to get healthy, you have to get active. I think that the world now has an epidemic of inactivity. It' so easy with our conveniences to sit and have technology do our work for us, but getting up and getting out is the best way to keep your heart moving and your blood pumping.

What makes Pickleball an easy entry into fitness?

Jonathan Buchanan, MD: It's easy when you've got the availability and this location, the Linda Erickson Pickleball Complex, here is excellent, it's open to the public and people can come here any time. Getting involved in a league or just hitting the ball with friends starts a purpose for them. It's a social thing that is shared with someone else. You can also do that with a walk, but some people lack the motivation to do that. With Pickleball, you have a friend saying come on, let's go swing the paddle and it's a lot harder to say no.

What do you like most about Pickleball?

Linda Erickson: It is probably the most socially and community driven sport that I've ever participated in. I refer to it as a multigenerational sport so i can go out with my grandkids who are as young as 4 years old and play with them. I also play with people in their 80's out on these courts so to me it's a special sport because of the range in all of the people that can play the sport.

What's a Good Way for a Beginner to Start?

Linda Erickson: It's not a difficult sport to learn, but it can be difficult to master. Many people don't care about that though, it's just a fun sport to get out and play. Rules are easily found online as well as videos, but just come out to the court and someone will always be willing to help you out if you get stuck.

When did you start playing Pickleball?

Linda Erickson: I began playing in the summer of 2018 and it's opened up a whole new level of competition for me. I have a strong competitive spirit, so I'm able to travel across the country and play in tournaments wherever I am. I've met a lot of great people. it's a very social sport and it's just something that you have to try because it is not difficult to learn.