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Volume 18, Issue 3 (2026)
Iran J War Public Health 2026, 18(3): 1001-1011 |
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Ethics code: IR-KHU.KRC.1000.289
History
Received: 2026/08/7 | Accepted: 2026/08/18 | Published: 2026/06/20
Received: 2026/08/7 | Accepted: 2026/08/18 | Published: 2026/06/20
How to cite this article
Mahrouqi S, Ebrahimi E, Davoodeh S, Khosravi M, Mousavi S, Nourbakhsh S. The Effect of an 8-Week Pickleball Program on Balance, Fear of Falling, Quality of Life, and Executive Function in Male Older Adults: A Quasi-Experimental Study. Iran J War Public Health 2026; 18 (3) :1001-1011
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Abstract (156 Views)
Aims: This study examined the effect of an 8-week pickleball program on balance, fear of falling, quality of life (QOL), and executive function in older adults.
Methods: Thirty-four male older adults (aged between 60 and 75 years) were divided into intervention and control groups, with the intervention group (IG) performing an eight-week pickleball program. Balance, fear of falling, quality of life, and executive function were assessed using the Timed Up and Go test under a dual-task condition, the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I), the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36), and the Tower of London test, respectively.
Findings: It was found that IG showed a significant difference compared to CG for the total score (P = 0.026, η²p = 0.150), total time (P = 0.044, η²p = 0.125), and number of errors of the TOL test (P = 0.020, η²p = 0.163), respectively, reflecting an improvement in executive function. Regarding FES-I, IG showed a significant difference compared to CG (P = 0.006, η²p = 0.217), indicating decreased fear of falling after intervention. Additionally, IG showed a significant difference compared to CG for the TUG test (P= 0.031, η²p = 0.141), indicating a greater improvement in balance. For SF-36, IG demonstrated a significant difference compared to CG (P = 0.033, η²p = 0.138), suggesting a positive effect of the intervention on the QOL.
Conclusion: These findings contribute to the growing body of evidence suggesting that participation in physical activities such as pickleball should be interpreted as preliminary and associative rather than causal.
Methods: Thirty-four male older adults (aged between 60 and 75 years) were divided into intervention and control groups, with the intervention group (IG) performing an eight-week pickleball program. Balance, fear of falling, quality of life, and executive function were assessed using the Timed Up and Go test under a dual-task condition, the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I), the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36), and the Tower of London test, respectively.
Findings: It was found that IG showed a significant difference compared to CG for the total score (P = 0.026, η²p = 0.150), total time (P = 0.044, η²p = 0.125), and number of errors of the TOL test (P = 0.020, η²p = 0.163), respectively, reflecting an improvement in executive function. Regarding FES-I, IG showed a significant difference compared to CG (P = 0.006, η²p = 0.217), indicating decreased fear of falling after intervention. Additionally, IG showed a significant difference compared to CG for the TUG test (P= 0.031, η²p = 0.141), indicating a greater improvement in balance. For SF-36, IG demonstrated a significant difference compared to CG (P = 0.033, η²p = 0.138), suggesting a positive effect of the intervention on the QOL.
Conclusion: These findings contribute to the growing body of evidence suggesting that participation in physical activities such as pickleball should be interpreted as preliminary and associative rather than causal.
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