Everybody can benefit from physical activity. And finding an activity that you enjoy can make it that much easier to stay active and healthy. On this episode of the For Health’s Sake podcast, we spoke with physical therapist Nathan Olson about pickleball, and what benefits can be gained from its unique middle ground between tennis and ping-pong.

“One thing I particularly enjoy about pickleball is that youth, seniors and anyone in between can all play and be relatively competitive depending on their experience level,” Nathan said. Our conversation also covered:

• Physical benefits of playing pickleball
• Mental benefits of playing pickleball
• Injury risk and when to talk to a doctor

Move your way

“Each of us has different variables that make various types of physical activity more appealing or accessible,” Nathan said. “The most important thing is to find what works for you with your unique physiological, financial, social and environmental factors, and to just stay active for the diverse health benefits.”

If you aren’t sure what would work best for your ability level or needs, talk to your doctor. They can make recommendations, address any questions or concerns you have and refer you to a physical therapist if you need more specialized guidance.