Don't Skip the Stretch: Why Warming Up is Essential for Pickleball
Pickleball may seem like a casual game, but it demands surprising athleticism. To avoid injury and maximize your performance, a proper warm-up routine is crucial. Here's why stretching before you play is a winning strategy:
- Injury Prevention: Tight muscles are more prone to pulls and tears. Stretching increases flexibility and blood flow, preparing your body for the quick movements and sudden stops of pickleball.
- Enhanced Performance: Loose muscles allow for a wider range of motion, leading to more powerful swings and better reaction times on the court.
- Reduced Soreness: Stretching helps remove lactic acid build-up, a major contributor to post-game muscle soreness.
Take 5-10 minutes before every game to focus on dynamic stretches like lunges, arm circles, and leg swings. Your body will thank you for it!
Here are some links that you might find useful:
- Exercises and Stretches to Warm Up for PickleBall by Airrosti Rehab Centers
- Best Pickleball Warmup To Prevent Injury - This 5 Minute Pickleball Warm Up Works For All Ages by More 4 Life
- 5 Pickleball Warmup Stretches for Health and Success! by The Pickleball Clinic
- Denise's Pickleball Stretch | 5-Min by Denise Austin
- Pickleball Warm Up Exercises-5 Minutes to Play Better Pickleball by Better Pickleball These are just a few examples, and there are many other great pickleball warm-up videos on YouTube. It's a good idea to find a routine that works for you and that you can do consistently before you play.
