Classes, Collaboration with USA Pickleball and US Senior Pickleball Will
Help More Seniors Enjoy Benefits of Fast-Growing Sport
NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 20,
2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pickleball is one of the fastest
growing sports, and SilverSneakers® by Tivity
Health® is getting into the game to provide support
for members who participate and to encourage more older adults to
give pickleball a try. April is National Pickleball Month and
SilverSneakers, the nation's leading community fitness program for
seniors, has launched skills classes and open play opportunities
for members. In addition, SilverSneakers is partnering with
USA Pickleball and US Senior
Pickleball to support senior participants.
According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association,
pickleball grew in 2021 to 4.8 million players in the U.S., a
two-year increase of 39.3%. Of the "core" players who play eight or
more times a year, 60% are 55 or older, and 33.7% are 65 or older.
To support these players, SilverSneakers is now offering
"Pickleball Strength and Skills," and "Pickleball Open Play"
through SilverSneakers FLEX®, a network of community
locations. In addition, more than 1,000 SilverSneakers locations
nationwide offer pickleball courts.
"One of our foundational commitments with SilverSneakers is to
make fitness fun and accessible, and to support our members where
they are, and many of them are on the pickleball court," said
Tommy Lewis, Executive Vice
President and Chief Operating Officer at Tivity Health. "Not only
are we seeing more seniors participating in this sport, we're also
seeing more of our partner locations offer courts. We want to do
everything we can to provide seniors with tools and resources to
support healthy lifestyles, and we're excited to support
organizations that are champions of this sport."
SilverSneakers is a sponsor of the USA Pickleball, which promotes the development
and growth of pickleball in the United
States and its territories. In addition, SilverSneakers
collaborates with US Senior Pickleball and the Super Senior
International Pickleball Association to support seniors at
tournaments across the U.S., providing information and resources on
physical activity and the benefits of SilverSneakers.
"We're excited to partner with SilverSneakers to get the word
out about our sport and to provide older adults with more ways to
engage and train for this activity," said Stu Upson, Chief Executive Officer, USA Pickleball. "We encourage all active older
adults to give pickleball a try. There are many reasons it is
growing so quickly with this population. It can be enjoyed by every
level from beginner to expert, it's a great way to stay in shape,
and it is a wonderful community of players who support each other
and have fun together."
For more information, visit SilverSneakers.com,
usapickleball.org, and usseniorpickleball.com.
About SilverSneakers
SilverSneakers®, by
Tivity Health®, is the nation's leading community
fitness program for Medicare eligible Americans. The program was
founded in 1992 and is available to more than 18 million Americans
through many Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare Supplement
carriers, and group retiree plans. For more information, to check
eligibility or to enroll in the program or sign up for a
SilverSneakers newsletter, go to silversneakers.com.
About Tivity Health
Tivity
Health® Inc. (Nasdaq: TVTY) is a leading provider
of healthy life-changing solutions, including
SilverSneakers®, Prime® Fitness and
WholeHealth Living®. We help adults improve their health
and support them on life's journey by providing access to in-person
and virtual physical activity, social, and mental enrichment
programs, as well as a full suite of physical medicine and
integrative health services. We continue to enhance the way we
direct members along their journey to better health by delivering
an insights-driven, personalized, interactive experience. Our suite
of services support health plans nationwide as they seek to reduce
costs and improve health outcomes. At Tivity Health, we deliver the
resources members need to live healthier, happier, more connected
lives. Learn more at www.tivityhealth.com
Media Contact: Jill Meyer,
jill.meyer@tivityhealth.com
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SOURCE Tivity Health