Study of US-Based Project Rally Shows Pickleball Helps Cancer Survivors Physically and Emotionally
When we say there’s a lot of reasons to pick up that paddle and play pickleball, we aren’t lying.
You get to be part of a close-knit, growing community.
You get to be fit and fab.
You improve your mental health, too.
It can even help alleviate medical conditions like Parkinson’s!
Now, it turns out, playing pickleball can also help cancer survivors physically and emotionally.
Yes, you read that right! Playing pickleball can help cancer survivors physically and emotionally.
According to the study “Feasibility, Acceptability, and Outcomes of Project Rally: Pilot Study of a YMCA-Based Pickleball Program for Cancer Survivors” published in MDPI Healthcare, cancer survivors who took part in a community-based pickleball program were able to increase their physical activity. The study also showed improvements in fitness and social support for the same group of cancer survivors.
“This study shows that pickleball is not only fun, but it can also be a powerful tool for improving the physical and emotional well-being of cancer survivors,” lead investigator Nathan Parker, PhD, of Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, said in a news release about the study.
Evidently, many of the characteristics of pickleball—accessibility, social interaction, and more—is making the sport perfect as a physical activity for cancer survivors, whose health are usually compromised by cancer treatments.
“Enjoyment, accessibility and social interaction have contributed to the enormous growth of pickleball, and these characteristics lend promise to increasing and sustaining physical activity among cancer survivors,” added the authors of the study.
How the Study Was Conducted: Investigating Project Rally
Parker and company evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes of Project Rally, a YMCA-based pickleball program for adult cancer survivors. The study included 21 cancer survivors and 7 cancer-free friends or family to be the patients’ play partners. Project Rally was held at Greater Palm Harbor YMCA on Florida’s west coast between September 2023 and January 2024.
All the participants received instruction and supervision from a certified pickleball coach and played two-hour pickleball sessions five days a week—alternately playing during the morning and during the evening. The participants were given in-person assessments of fitness, physical functioning, and anthropometrics before the start of the program and two weeks before its conclusion.
Along with these assessments, the participants were also asked to complete study questionnaires. A total of 18 cancer survivors and 5 play partners were given follow-up assessments as well.
The participants showed considerable improvements in physical activity and in fitness and physical functioning. The cancer survivors, in particular, increased their weekly moderate-to-strenuous activity by about 80 minutes while also extending their strenuous activity by an average of about 50 minutes.
They even demonstrated significant improvements in physical strength and endurance. Just as important, the participants, especially the cancer survivors, reported increased social support. They also agreed that the program was worth their time.
The Evidence Is Vastly in Favour of Pickleball
This latest study adds more evidence that pickleball can be a great form of physical activity for people dealing with or recovering from adverse medical conditions—cancer in this case. In the grand scheme of things, the study highlights the value of providing community-based fitness programs for cancer survivors so they can stay active and interact with others, with the end goal of improving quality of life.
“The success of Project Rally highlights how community-based programs can provide a meaningful way for cancer survivors to stay active, build connections and improve their overall quality of life,” Parker added. “The YMCA has been an outstanding research partner, and we’re excited about the potential to expand this program and help even more survivors.”
Parker is right. And we’re just as excited to see many more find out the wonderful benefits of playing pickleball.
