PICKLEBALL, A PADDLE SPORT that combines elements of tennis and badminton, continues to be the fastest-growing sport in America. While it appeals to a wide variety of individuals, cancer survivors, in particular, have numerous reasons to pick up a paddle. Research has found those who do are not only more physically active; they also gain social companionship.
In a YMCA pilot program called Project Rally, a certified fitness trainer and pickleball coach taught a group of 21 cancer survivors to play the sport. They participated in structured activities intended to increase their weekly exercise time. On average, players’ level of weekly moderate-to-vigorous physical activity increased from 162.5 minutes before the start of the program to 244.7 minutes after three to seven months of play, according to a study published Jan. 28, 2025, in Healthcare. These survivors also reported improved mobility and demonstrated better balance and muscle endurance over the course of the program.
“[Pickleball is] relatively accessible, there’s friendly competition, there’s motivation to improve skill and become better players over time, and there’s social interaction,” says Nathan Parker, the study’s lead author and an exercise oncology researcher at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida.
A physical therapist can help cancer survivors improve their balance.
Because pickleball requires quick bursts of movement, balance skills are a must. However, this can be a problem for people who experience numbness or decreased sensation in their feet after chemotherapy, warns Scott Capozza, an oncologic physical therapist at Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven in Connecticut. He recommends having a physical therapist assess your balance and prescribe specific exercises to help you improve.
Moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity is associated with many benefits for cancer survivors, including improvements in fitness, body composition, health-related quality of life and physical function, which helps survivors maintain independence, Parker says. Physical activity also helps reduce fatigue and can lower the risk for cancer recurrence and other chronic diseases.
Do you want to try pickleball but don’t know where to start? Because of the sport’s popularity, it’s likely you have friends and family who play. Ask them to teach you the basics, says exercise oncology researcher Nathan Parker. You can also look for free or low-cost clinics or groups for beginner-level players. Your local YMCA is a good starting point, and pickleheads.com can help you locate courts in your area.
Project Rally also increased social companionship. Participants met others with shared experiences and formed new friendships. These social bonds are important because isolation has been linked with depression, chronic health issues and physical inactivity in cancer survivors. “Lack of social support and lack of enjoyment make it more difficult for cancer survivors to adopt and sustain exercise,” but the program’s social benefits helped motivate individuals to keep showing up, Parker says.
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