• The New York Times: Tennis vs. Pickleball: What’s a Better Workout?

    • The New York Times: Tennis vs. Pickleball: What’s a Better Workout?

    Tennis is often ranked as one of the world’s healthiest sports—but what about pickleball? A Saint Luke's cardiologist weighs in.

    1 minute

    Tennis has long enjoyed its status as one of the world’s healthiest sports, improving longevity thanks to its social and physical benefits.

    Now, with pickleball soaring in popularity in recent years, researchers are looking into the health benefits of the racket sport.

    Dr. James O'Keefe, director of preventive cardiology at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute, spoke with The New York Times about the strengths of tennis and pickleball, from cardiovascular benefits to improved balance and reaction time.

    Dr. O'Keefe also explains how the social and mental health benefits of racket sports may help people live longer.

    “You cannot be playing pickleball or tennis or badminton with people on a regular basis without becoming good friends — it’s just so joyous,” said Dr. O’Keefe.

    Read the entire article from The New York Times here: Tennis vs. Pickleball: What’s a Better Workout?