Despite the known benefits and guidelines for physical activity, between 53% and 83% of cancer survivors are not meeting the recommended levels of physical activity. Project Rally, a new community-based pickleball program is hoping to change those numbers and help survivors improve both their social and physical well-being. The program partnered with the YMCA of the Suncoast and is showing strong, positive results in terms of enjoyment, physical improvements, and participation.
Staying active is an important part of cancer survival, care, and research. Regular physical activity helps to reduce the negative effects of cancer itself and its treatments while helping to empower survivors to recover and live fulfilling lives. Additionally, staying active provides many benefits such as healthier body composition, improved heart and lung health, reduced stress, improved physical function, and a higher quality of life.
The Project Rally Pickleball Program
A pilot study investigating the program was recently published in Healthcare, and it included 23 participants of whom 18 were cancer survivors of various types of cancers between the ages of 47 to 76 years old and 5 were family members or friends with a median age of 58 years old without a history of cancer. Many of the cancer survivors had undergone surgeries, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy before entering the Project Rally pickleball program.
The study found that the Project Rally pickleball program was accessible and appealing with recruitment being successful having 95.5% of the cancer survivors and 77.8% of those without a history of cancer expressing interest in joining the program. Overall, 82.1% of the participants stayed engaged in the pickleball program until the end of the study from September 2023 to January 2024 with an adherence rate of 85.2% for the participants attending the recommended pickleball sessions.
Participants in the pickleball program reported significant increases in the levels of their physical activity. On average, cancer survivors increased their weekly moderate to strenuous physical activity over 80 minutes by engaging in pickleball. Project Rally also helped to increase participant social support, with the cancer survivors reporting experiencing more companionship involving their pickleball-related physical activity.
By playing pickleball not only did the participants increase their physical activity, but they also showed improvements in endurance and physical strength. The participants also enjoyed the social aspects of the program which included group activities and the opportunity to learn how to play pickleball together. Many participants reported making new friends and increasing their physical activity as the key benefits of engaging in playing pickleball. Additionally, they appreciated the support and encouragement provided by coaches from the YMCA.
“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,” said Nathan Parker, Ph.D., a researcher in the Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior at Moffitt and lead author of the study. “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. The YMCA has been an outstanding research partner, and we’re excited about the potential to expand this program and help even more survivors.”
Just The Beginning
These positive results are just the beginning for the Project Rally program which is designed to use pickleball to promote social connection, fun, healing, and fitness. The program has the potential to grow and serve more cancer survivors around the World, showing that pickleball and other community-based programs can help cancer survivors increase their physical activity to improve their overall health. Project Rally plans to expand to more locations and offer additional sessions to reach a broader audience and help more cancer survivors use physical activity to heal via the fun experienced by engaging in pickleball to improve their quality of life.
As with anything you read on the internet, this article should not be construed as medical advice; please talk to your doctor or primary care provider before changing your wellness routine. WHN does not agree or disagree with any of the materials posted. This article is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis, recommendation, treatment, or endorsement. Additionally, it is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
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References/Sources/Materials provided by:
TJ Webber at WHN
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13030256
https://worldhealth.net/news/pickleball-helping-people-have-fun-while-staying-fit/
