Recently feature on the Today Show and in Vanity Fair magazine, pickleball is the fastest growing sports in the United States...and it's not just for "old people" anymore!
Fun, social and friendly. The rules are simple and the game is easy for beginners to learn, but can develop into a quick, fast-paced, competitive game for experienced players.
The Basics
- A fun sport that combines many elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong.
- Played both indoors or outdoors on a badminton-sized court and a slightly modified tennis net.
- Played with a paddle and a plastic ball with holes.
- Played as doubles or singles.
- Can be enjoyed by all ages and skill levels
Brief History
Pickleball was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, a short ferry ride from Seattle, Washington. Three dads – Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum — whose kids were bored with their usual summertime activities — are credited for creating game. Pickleball has evolved from original handmade equipment and simple rules into a popular sport throughout the US and Canada. The game is growing internationally as well, with many European and Asian countries adding courts.
Health Benefits
Hitting a Pickleball court is a great way to get accessible exercise and socialize with friends while you play.
Heather Milton, a senior exercise physiologist at NYU Langone’s Sports Performance Center, describes pickleball as an “approachable sport” that combines that benefits of cardiovascular exercise and social connections. Playing in close quarters means it’s easy to catch up with a friend — or three — if you play doubles!
“When you get on an elliptical or a treadmill, you’re moving forward the whole time,” Milton explained. “Pickleball gives you a much more well-rounded movement pattern because you are moving in multiple planes of motion and in different directions. It contributes to improving your agility, your muscular endurance as well as hand-eye coordination.”
Kine and Pickleball: Before and After
If you are already addicted to this rising sport (it's almost impossible to play "casually"!), let's talk about how Kine's range of products may be able to help you before or after hitting the court.
One thing we have learned about pickleball players is they absolutely love to play, a LOT. For those of you that can’t get enough of the game you enjoy and want to improve performance and your recovery, our CBD, CBG, CBN, and combination products may be right for you.
If you are an avid or even casual player, more than likely you have experienced some aches and pains that can impact your ability to play as much as you would like.
It’s true, pickleball can be hard on your joints and muscles. It’s not uncommon for players to leave the court or wake up the next day with a stiff knee or sore shoulder. Helping to alleviate this pain or soreness can improve your overall performance on the court. That’s where Kine's various cannabinoids may be helpful. And one of the best things about these cannabinoids is that they do not have any psychoactive effect. It’s all potential relief and no “high”.
CBD (and CBG) May Help Reduce Inflammation
Research indicates that CBD may be an effective treatment for athletic inflammation by reducing cytokines and increasing adenosine levels.
Fancy words for sure. But this is great news for sore pickleball players looking for a natural alternative to pharmaceutical pain relief options. Many can have negative side effects such as high blood pressure, kidney damage, erosion of the stomach lining, or worst of all, addiction.
CBD/CBG/CBN, on the other hand, don’t pose a risk of dependence and come in many easy-to-use forms such as Kine Balm, Kine Drops, and Kine Tincture.
CBD is Wildly Popular with Pickleballers: Pros and Rec players alike
Pickleballers put their bodies under a lot of stress. Even though it is not a contact sport, it is nonetheless hard on the knees, elbows, wrists and shoulders. Much like tennis, pickleball players are constantly maneuvering on a hard surface using their footwork to be in the best position for the next shot. Unsurprisingly, all that impact on joints and muscles leads to chronic inflammation and soreness. Though pickleball is played on a smaller court than tennis, it is still a physically demanding game.
So, with all this running, volleying, smashing, and dinking, it is not surprising CBD and its compatriots found popularity among pickleball players. They can serve as both a natural solution for muscle soreness and a way to keep the body’s inflammation in check.
The Benefits of Using CBD Before A Pickleball Game
Pickleball players can get several benefits from using cannabinoids even before they pick up a paddle and hit the court.
The medicinal properties of the hemp plant have been known for centuries, but it was only in the 1990s that the discovery of the endocannabinoid system shed light on exactly how it may help with pain and focus.
Generally speaking, the endocannabinoid system is made of receptors that help the body maintain homeostasis. These receptors interact with the cannabinoids to help boost the body's state of equilibrium.
This is why CBD, CBG, and CBN can potentially benefit pickleball players long before they step foot on the court. CBN may help promote deep sleep and CBD may relieve pre-game anxiety while increasing focus. This is why many players pop a Kine Drop or two before starting to play.
Research indicates CBD and CBG may help muscle damage or chronic inflammation over the long term with regular application of both CBD/CBG balms, lozenges and tinctures. This is why many pickleball players, coaches, and physical therapists are recommending a daily cannabinoid regime.
How CBD Helps Pickleball Players Recover After Games
The most common, well-known use for CBD and CBG when it comes to pickleball is as a potential treatment for pain from joint and muscle soreness. This is usually caused by inflammation, which isn’t uncommon after physical activity. Over the long term, however, the pain can become chronic.
Since CBD and CBG may have strong anti-inflammatory properties, it’s not surprising many people use Kine Tincture or Kine Balm for their muscles and joints to treat pain. Our extra-strength Kine Balm (2000mg of CBD/CBG combined in a 2oz tin!) is fast becoming a favorite in the sport. Kine Balm is a blend of CBD, CBG, organic double-infused arnica oil, soothing butters, and essential oils. It has a light scent and a smooth feel that melts into your skin.
Find out the other benefits of playing pickleball.