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Pickleball and PTSD: Where Veterans Find Healing — and The Science Behind Why

For five years after returning from Afghanistan, Kory Kelly could barely leave his house. The Air Force veteran, who also served on special assignment to other government organizations, lived with severe PTSD that kept him isolated—going only to work and straight back home. Then his 80-year-old mother invited him to play a game with a funny name: pickleball.

“What pickleball has done for me? It brought me out of my house,” Kory shares. “The people are the treasure of this sport! The game is great, but it’s the people. I now have friends all over the country. It has changed my life! It has returned me to my wife and family.”

On this Veterans Day, as we honor those who’ve served, it’s worth celebrating an unexpected source of healing that’s bringing veterans back to themselves—one serve, one volley, one laugh at a time.

The Court Becomes a Safe Space

Army veteran Ernest Fox III didn’t want to leave his house either. After losing his mother, going through a divorce, and losing his son—all while battling PTSD—the thought of being around people terrified him. “People scare me. People make me nervous,” he admitted. But when he found the courage to drive two hours from Barstow to a veteran pickleball event in Glendale, something shifted.

“My guard is down, which it never is,” Fox said, his smile lighting up the court. “I can dance around, I can be me.”

This transformation isn’t unique. Across the Gulf Coast, Vietnam veteran Tom Linenberger has watched pickleball work therapeutic wonders for fellow veterans dealing with PTSD and other psychological challenges through programs at the VA Center. Veterans in these programs report making new friends, exercising regularly, and experiencing relief from both physical and emotional pain.

For Andre Harrell, who saw combat in Iraq, pickleball became part of his road to recovery after returning home with war scars that strained his relationships. Mike, a 55-year-old veteran participating in a VA clinic pickleball program, described the court as “a safe space” where he could focus on the game and forget his worries.

Why Pickleball Works: The Science Behind the Healing

The healing power of pickleball for veterans with PTSD isn’t just anecdotal—it’s grounded in solid research. Participation in racquet sports like pickleball leads to significant reductions in PTSD symptoms, including hyperarousal, anxiety, and depression. These improvements are often noticeable immediately after involvement in sports programs.

The benefits work on multiple levels:

Physical Activity Releases Natural Relief: The moderate-intensity exercise of pickleball triggers endorphin release, those natural mood lifters that combat anxiety and stress. Studies show that sports like pickleball can enhance mental health by 20% compared to sedentary activities, while also improving sleep patterns—a common struggle for those with PTSD.

Mental Focus Provides a Respite: The strategic nature of pickleball—anticipating shots, planning rallies, reading opponents—engages the brain’s prefrontal cortex. This cognitive engagement provides a mental break from intrusive thoughts and flashbacks, while keeping the mind active and improving decision-making abilities.

Low-Impact Accessibility: Unlike the high-impact exercises many veterans are accustomed to from military training, pickleball is gentle on joints and bodies that may be nursing injuries. It’s accessible regardless of age or physical condition, and the rules are simple enough to learn quickly while offering enough depth to remain engaging.

Predictable Structure Calms Emotions: The structured, predictable nature of the game—clear boundaries, consistent rules, turn-taking—provides the kind of stability that helps calm emotions and promotes confidence for those dealing with trauma.

The Real Game-Changer: Community and Connection

But perhaps the most powerful therapeutic element of pickleball isn’t the physical game itself—it’s the community it creates. Social isolation is one of the most devastating aspects of PTSD, and the social connections forged on pickleball courts directly combat that loneliness.

As one veteran from a Wounded Warriors pickleball event explained, being with peers who understand is especially therapeutic: “I could be out there doing this stuff with my neighbors, I guess, but it wouldn’t be the same as connecting with other vets”.

Kory Kelly puts it simply: “I started saying that pickleball was free therapy for me. I realized the game made my mood better, and the people I played with became my family.”

This sense of belonging is critical. The doubles format requires teamwork and cooperation, helping veterans rebuild trust and learn to work collaboratively again—skills that may have eroded due to PTSD’s isolating effects. Research confirms that social interaction in activities like pickleball significantly reduces loneliness, a key risk factor for depression.

Army veteran Lisa Maddox, who won gold at the National Veterans Wheelchair Games pickleball tournament, emphasizes this point: “Getting out, like playing pickleball, you end up meeting new people. And some of those people can become lifelong friends. There’s a common struggle that we go through… and once you get out of the military, it’s hard to find that in the civilian world”.

A Journey, Not a Destination

It’s important to note that while pickleball offers remarkable benefits, it’s not a cure-all, and it works best as part of a comprehensive approach to PTSD treatment. Research shows that while short-term sports programs demonstrate marked improvements in anxiety and PTSD symptoms, sustained participation is necessary to maintain these benefits over the long term.

Programs like the National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic have documented success, with participants showing reduced anger and depression, increased mindfulness, motivation, and positive affect after completion. But the key is consistency—making pickleball a regular part of life, not just a one-time intervention.

An Invitation to the Court

If you’re a veteran struggling with PTSD, depression, anxiety, or simply the challenge of reconnecting with civilian life, consider this your invitation. Your local VA may have pickleball programs. Community centers across the country offer veteran-specific events. The equipment is minimal and affordable, and many communities provide free access to courts and paddles.

You don’t need to be athletic. You don’t need to have played racquet sports before. You just need to show up—and when you’re ready, the pickleball community will be there, paddle in hand, ready to welcome you home in a different way.

As 81-year-old pickleball instructor and veteran advocate Marshall Pura says, pickleball “takes you to a different world.” For veterans like Kory Kelly, Ernest Fox, Andre Harrell, and countless others, that different world has become a path back to themselves, their families, and a community that understands.

The courts are waiting. Your journey to healing might just be one serve away.

If you’re a veteran in crisis or concerned about one, contact the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 (Press 1), text 838255, or visit VeteransCrisisLine.net. For information about PTSD treatment and resources, visit the VA’s National Center for PTSD at ptsd.va.gov.

Sources

Scientific Research:

Veteran Stories: Veteran testimonials and quotes featured in this article are drawn from news coverage, VA program features, and public interviews with veterans participating in pickleball programs, including coverage from the National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic, National Veterans Wheelchair Games, Wounded Warriors events, and various veteran pickleball initiatives nationwide.

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