Last Updated:April 12, 2026, 08:29 IST
Is 10,000 steps a day enough? Experts explain why pickleball and other engaging workouts may offer better fitness benefits than step counting alone.
Alia Bhatt has lately been practising Pickleball frequently. (Photo Credit: Instagram)
For years, the idea of walking 10,000 steps a day has been treated as a gold standard for fitness. It’s simple, measurable, and easy to follow. But as lifestyles evolve and attention spans shrink, the question is becoming harder to ignore: is counting steps really enough anymore?
The Problem With Chasing a Number
“The idea of 10,000 steps as a universal benchmark is being questioned,” says Siddhant Jatia, Founder and CEO, Picklebay. “While step-counting promotes movement, it often lacks intensity, variety, and long-term engagement.”
That’s the core issue, step counts measure movement, but not necessarily meaningful movement. A slow stroll and a brisk walk may look identical on a tracker, even though their impact on the body is vastly different.
Dr. Deepak Agrawal, Senior Consultant in Cardiology, Narayana Hospital, Jaipur, reinforces this, “Routine daily steps are usually not brisk and rarely improve aerobic capacity, muscle strength, or metabolic health.”
Why Pickleball Is Gaining Ground
This gap is exactly where sports like pickleball are finding relevance. A one-hour session blends cardio, agility, reflexes, and functional movement, delivering a more complete workout in less time.
“It’s not just about burning calories,” Jatia explains. “It introduces competition and social interaction, which significantly improves consistency. People come back because it’s fun.”
That fun factor is driving a larger behavioural shift. Fitness is no longer just about discipline, it’s about experience. Younger audiences, especially, are gravitating toward activities that combine performance, community, and enjoyment.
Walking Still Matters, Just Not the Way You Think
Despite the criticism, experts are clear: walking isn’t obsolete. “For years, 10,000 steps has been promoted as a benchmark, but the number itself is largely arbitrary,” says Dr. Gaurav Singh Bhandari, Director and Unit Head of Orthopedics and Robotic Joint Replacement, Dharamshala Narayana Hospital, Delhi. “Research shows that even 7,000 to 8,000 steps can deliver significant health benefits.”
Walking remains one of the most accessible and sustainable forms of physical activity, particularly for older adults or those easing into fitness.
Intensity vs Consistency: The Real Trade-Off
The real difference lies in intensity. While walking offers consistency, sports like pickleball push the body into moderate-to-vigorous activity levels.
“An hour of pickleball can burn around 500 calories and improve cardiorespiratory fitness, coordination, and muscle strength,” says Dr. Agrawal.
However, it’s not without caution. “Like any sport, pickleball carries injury risks such as tennis elbow, shoulder strain, or ankle sprains,” warns Dr. Bhandari, emphasising the importance of warm-ups and moderation.
The Smarter Fitness Formula
So, is it 10,000 steps or one hour of pickleball?
The answer is neither and both. Dr. Agrawal suggests a balanced approach: aim for 6,000 to 7,000 steps daily as a baseline, and add 150 to 300 minutes of moderate exercise per week. In practical terms, that could mean daily movement combined with a few pickleball sessions.
The Bottom Line: Move Better, Not Just More
“Fitness today is about sustainability,” says Jatia. “And that comes from activities people genuinely enjoy.”
The real shift isn’t about replacing one metric with another, it’s about moving beyond metrics altogether. Because ultimately, the best fitness routine isn’t the one you can track, it’s the one you’ll stick to.
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First Published:
April 12, 2026, 08:29 IST
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