on a mission:

to create connections between all types of people and enrich the lives of others through Pickleball, Pickles, located in Hanover, Massachusetts, just outside of Boston, has differentiated themselves from other clubs by partnering with a local physical therapy (PT) clinic to provide in-house rehabilitation and injury prevention services to players. Their facility, all completely indoors, features six tournament sized courts, two dinking practice courts, “The Kitchen,” which serves pre-packaged snacks and beverages including beer/wine, a retail shop, and a player’s recovery lounge which houses the PT. Each of these aspects of the club serve specific purposes which contribute to Pickles’ overall prioritization of member health and enjoyment of the sport.

The idea to offer PT at Pickles stemmed from a desire to enhance the overall player experience,” says Dustin DeMeritt, who co-founded Pickles in 2020 along with his wife, Lisa.

Through their partnership with Body Mechanics PT and Wellness (BMPT), a local PT clinic founded by David Barber, PT, DPT, Pickles is able to offer players a convenient and high-quality wellness experience that is specifically tailored to their pickleball goals. In establishing this partnership, one of the DeMeritt’s goals was to promote optimal wellness, foster performance improvements, and facilitate injury recovery among their loyal and dedicated player community.

Addressing pickleball related wellness issues both proactively and retroactively, this partnership allows Pickles’ players to elevate their game and limit injury-related time away from pickleball. Pickles considers their strategic collaboration with BMPT a game changer in the pickleball club industry as they strive to promote optimal wellness throughout their membership base and generate performance improvements.

In a press release announcing the partnership, the Pickles team highlighted that “the principles upon which BMPT was founded align seamlessly with their ethos…Driven by a goal to provide bespoke, one-on-one care for every patient, BMPT shares their dedication to understanding and advancing their members’ goals.” Pickles’ players can expect a high level of support in terms of physical wellness and health education not typically associated with most pickleball clubs through the resources Pickles has assembled via BMPT.

IN PARTNERSHIP

Pickles and BMPT originated when the two organizations connected at a private facility rental networking event. Early on, it was clear the two organizations had many shared values and goals that resonated well with one another. Further, Pickles received positive feedback about the partnership from their members, signifying there was already an internal demand for PT services. DeMeritt also notes that BMPT’s “expertise in physical therapy and relentless focus on a ‘preventative care - player experience’ approach (not just offering PT after an injury)” supports Pickles’ mission to give all members and guests a holistic care experience contributing to enhanced player performance. To establish a successful partnership, both parties must have complementary goals and vehicles through which these goals can be accomplished. Demeritt’s approach to Pickles’ partnership with BMPT hinges on three key tenants: Health and Wellness, Injury Prevention and Recovery, and Enhanced Experience. Both Pickles and BMPT are active participants in these three efforts, culminating in comprehensive care for players which includes physical fitness and recovery. Through providing this service to their players, Pickles is able to carry out their vision to “ensure holistic care for members, foster a community that values health and wellness, and provide services that go beyond just playing pickleball, including health education and injury management.” This vision is sure to give members a quality experience at the club and cultivate a deep appreciation for the physical side of pickleball. One of the most exciting aspects of this partnership for Pickles’ members is that the PT is offered in-house, giving players convenient access to proactive care and injury rehabilitation.

To account for the necessary space to host PT services, Pickles “undertook a buildout of space within their player recovery lounge, ensuring that members have convenient, immediate, player friendly access to the BMPT breadth of offerings.” Moreover, Pickle’s Silver and Gold Members received discounted services from BMPT adding value to their membership and further incentivizing preventative care and follow through on injury management.

While PT can often be associated with

elder care or acute injury rehabilitation, anyone participating in athletics, including pickleball, can benefit greatly from PT. Dr. Barber highlights that “PT can help lengthen a pickleball player’s playing career by addressing and preventing injuries, improving physical conditioning, and providing personalized guidance for recovery and performance enhancement.” PT can address common pickleball-related injuries such as strains, sprains, tendonitis, overuse injuries, and those pertaining to joint mobility. Further, PT is an extremely useful recovery tool when a player does require surgery. In addition to addressing injuries retroactively, PT “helps in preventing common sports-related injuries… and can significantly improve a player’s performance by focusing on specific muscles and moves used in pickleball,” says Dr. Barber.

Pickles hopes that partnering with a holistic care team, such as that at BMPT, will allow their members to enjoy the sport more for a longer period of time. Since the inception of this alliance, Pickles and BMPT have witnessed many success stories of players who have considerably benefitted from their utilization of BMPT’s PT services through Pickles. In one case, a player “who suffered from recurring knee pain experienced significant improvement and was able to return to playing regularly after undergoing a specialized PT regimen.” Though not an acute injury, pain can certainly limit and/or completely mitigate a player’s enjoyment of the game, making this PT regimen a game changer in this player’s pickleball experience. In another instance, Pickles had a senior player who committed to regular PT sessions which not only aided in their recovery from a minor injury but also “improved overall agility and strength, enhancing their game and allowing them to play more frequently without discomfort.” In both of these situations, PT dramatically improved the player’s ability to play the sport without pain or physical limitations, cultivating an even better pb experience for them.

The teams at Pickles and BMPT have many more stories such as these to share and enjoyed seeing not only a player’s pickleball play, but also their overall quality of life, improve through consistent PT services because of this partnership. Lisa DeMerit highlights that through Pickles’ relationship with BMPT they are “bringing together the best of pickleball and physical therapy, creating a platform where performance, wellness, and enjoyment are interconnected.” With such similar missions and unique vehicles by which they can achieve these goals, Pickles and BMPT have been able to build an especially beneficial relationship as they work together to improve the overall health and performance of pickleball players throughout the New England area.

Story published by Pickleball Club Magazine; Emma Watkins, Editor. Republished & Posted by Pickles NE LLC. ©2024

We warmly welcome our members to experience this new era of pickleball, where play, growth, recovery, and wellness coalesce under one roof.

Lisa DeMeritt, Co-Founder

lisa@picklesne.com | 781-816-5021  | picklesne.com | 357 Columbia Road in Hanover, MA