PICKLEBALL AS A TOOL FOR PROMOTING HEALTH AND SOCIAL INCLUSION OF ELDERLY PEOPLE

Abstract

Pickleball has emerged as a relevant active-ageing strategy by combining moderate cardiorespiratory stimulus, low joint impact and high social engagement potential; to examine this premise, an exploratory literature review was conducted in international databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus and SciELO) covering studies published from 2015 to 2024 that assessed adults aged 60 years or older, yielding 29 eligible papers. Synthesised findings show mean reductions of 6 mmHg in systolic blood pressure, improved lipid profiles, a 2.3 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹ increase in VO₂ max and a 1.8 % decrease in body-fat percentage; enhancements in balance (22 % decrease in postural sway) and lower-limb strength (12 % increase) suggest fall-prevention potential, whereas cognitive benefits include a 14 % improvement in Trail-Making Test B. Psychosocial outcomes reveal a 9.7-point rise in the WHO-5 Well-Being Index and a 21 % drop in the Geriatric Depression Scale, attributed to the game’s cooperative environment. Reported barriers involve limited awareness, gender stereotypes and transportation issues; conversely, low costs and court retrofitting favour adoption in public policies. It is concluded that pickleball represents a promising multifaceted intervention for enhancing physical, cognitive and social health in older adults, although national randomised trials are recommended to consolidate indicators within Brazil’s Unified Health System.