Researchers of a recent study aimed to explore the impact of a nine-week pickleball intervention on self-esteem and psychiatric symptoms in individuals with schizophrenia. Despite the observed improvement in physical performance, particularly in reaction times and attention, the results did not show significant improvements in self-esteem or reductions in psychiatric symptoms, as measured by the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Brief Symptom Rating Scale. These findings differ from other research suggesting exercise could alleviate schizophrenia symptoms. The lack of significant results may be due to the short duration of the intervention, small sample size, or other confounding factors, including the varied physical and mental conditions of participants.

While the pickleball intervention did not significantly reduce psychiatric symptoms, it did show a positive effect on motor skills, particularly in attention and reaction time during the Dink ball tests. This aligns with findings from other studies that showed improvements in physical performance with similar exercise regimens. Researchers suggest that future studies with larger sample sizes, longer interventions, and more rigorous controls are necessary to better assess pickleball’s potential as a therapeutic intervention in schizophrenia.

Reference: Chien TC, Chen CC. Effects of Pickleball Intervention on the Self-Esteem and Symptoms of Patients with Schizophrenia. Sports (Basel). 2025;13(1):21. doi: 10.3390/sports13010021.