tech giant Appleshared the results of a research he conducted today. According to this research pickleball It is very beneficial to health.
The Apple Heart and Movement Study shows that tennis and the increasingly popular pickleball (Although there are some differences, basically tennis) Reveals its benefits on general healthIn this regard, the company explains in detail: conveys: “Researchers from the Apple Heart and Movement Study shared new information about pickleball, one of the fastest growing sports worldwide. Researchers turned to data to find out how this new sport differs from the long-established sport of tennis and how it affects overall health. Examining one of the largest observational datasets of pickleball activity collected using Apple Watch, researchers found trends in pickleball and tennis practice data that highlight the potential health benefits of both activities. It was observed that participants often practiced pickleball and tennis for long periods of time, and the peak heart rate during the recorded workouts reached an average of 70 percent of the predicted maximum heart rate. It was found that pickleball workouts took slightly longer than tennis workouts, and in tennis workouts, the average time spent in high-intensity heart rate zones was longer and a higher average peak heart rate was achieved.
YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN
Researchers also found a steady increase in the popularity of pickleball practices, with pickleball practices outnumbering tennis practices for the first time. Within the scope of the study, Utah ranked first among the states with the most pickleball practices recorded per capita.
The research found that both pickleball and tennis training were popular among all adult age groups, and were more popular among men than women.
Observing participant behavior along with activity and sensor data from Apple Watch helps researchers learn more about factors that influence heart health and mobility over time.
Professor Dr., a cardiologist at Harvard Medical School and principal investigator of the Apple Heart and Movement Study conducted at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Calum MacRae, MD, PhD. explains:
“The Apple Heart and Movement Study provides excellent opportunities for us to track changes in participants’ behavior and the effects of these changes on health. “Tracking the evolution of the sport of pickleball using Apple Watch data allows us to investigate new trends and the activity’s effects on a variety of health and fitness metrics that were previously unavailable to us.”
The Apple Heart and Motion Study is one of three publicly available research studies that Apple conducted with leading institutions and made available in its Research app. The research app allows researchers to expand the scale and scope of their work and uncover new scientific findings, further expanding Apple’s ability to develop new science-based features in the process.
YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN
Analyzing more than 250,000 pickleball and tennis practices recorded by study participants on Apple Watch, researchers found that pickleball practices took slightly longer on average than tennis practices (90 minutes and 81 minutes, respectively) and showed a higher variability in playing time.
Researchers analyzed heart rate data to assess the intensity of each type of workout. According to the data observed as an average of 152 beats per minute in tennis and 143 beats per minute in pickleball training, it was observed that the average highest heart rate was nine beats per minute faster during tennis training.
Heart rate zones offer another way to evaluate exercise effort. While the two sports showed similar trends in terms of time spent in each heart rate zone, tennis practices spent an average of nine percent more time in high-intensity heart rate zones than pickleball practices.
It was observed that the pickleball and tennis training sessions performed by the participants were generally long-term, and the highest heart rate during the recorded training reached an average of 70 percent of the maximum heart rate predicted for the participants. Regular physical activity is associated with higher quality of life and healthy aging.
YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN
The potential impact of exercise on mental health was one of the key issues researchers considered. The study offers participants an optional mental health survey that includes a depression screening tool called the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2). Results consistent with depressive mood were rare throughout the study.
However, it was observed that the distribution of PHQ-2 scores was lower among participants who frequently played pickleball and tennis. The odds of getting PHQ-2 results indicating depressed mood were 60.1 percent lower among participants who frequently played pickleball and 51.3 percent lower among participants who played tennis, compared to the general participant pool. These data support the potential benefits of physical activity on mental health.
“Research is an integral part of our health work at Apple. “It is equally important that we see the scientific basis behind the mental and physical benefits that activities such as pickleball and tennis provide to Apple Watch users.” Making the statement, Apple Vice President of Health Dr. Sumbul Desai continues her words as follows:
“Lack of physical activity represents a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease as well as various other chronic diseases. “No matter what racquet game they choose, finding an activity that people enjoy participating in can help them establish a routine.”
According to the study, the number of participants playing pickleball in a single month in July 2023 exceeded the number of participants playing tennis for the first time. While tennis training trends vary by season, a relatively steady increase has been noted in pickleball practices.
YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN
“We are pleased to have findings on pickleball included in the Apple Heart and Movement Study, a collaboration between Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the American Heart Association. “Pickleball courts offer numerous advantages for everyone of all ages and ability groups who want to have a healthy, social and active lifestyle.” says USA Pickleball CEO Mike Nealy, adding:
“As the national regulatory body for this sport in the United States, we think it is increasingly meaningful to see the scientific basis behind the sport of pickleball through fact-based data from Apple Watch. “Providing a low-tempo, casual and social activity compared to other sports, pickleball can offer a useful and enjoyable option for people who want to increase their movement and add more to their training.”
The research found that both sports are popular among different age groups, with higher popularity among men than among women. It was determined that players who recorded at least 10 pickleball practices were older on average than tennis players (51 and 45 percent, respectively) and the proportion of female participants in pickleball practices was higher.”