���۴�ý

Pickleball is popular among all ages for its straightforward rules and low-impact cardio. However, players are discovering their new favorite sport comes with risks of injuries like falls, fractures, strains and sprains.

There are easy things you can do to prevent injuries before picking up a paddle or setting foot on the court. While injuries may be on the rise, they don’t have to stop you from joining the fun. Below, are five tips to avoid the most common pickleball injuries.

Pickleball injuries: What players need to know 

Pickleball, like tennis, involves a lot of quick starting and stopping, twisting and lunging for the lightweight ball. These movements can result in minor and major injuries, sending many players to urgent care or the emergency department.

Injuries in pickleball typically fit into two categories: overuse and traumatic injuries. For instance, tennis elbow is an overuse injury caused by repetitive wrist and elbow movements. Traumatic injuries happen suddenly, like when you fall or make an explosive move. Traumatic injuries include things like rotator cuff tears and wrist fractures. 

“Although pickleball is easy to learn, sudden starts and stops on the court can lead to injuries,” said Adam McNulty, MD, orthopaedic surgeon with ���۴�ý. “People who haven’t played before or who aren’t that active find themselves making a lot of unfamiliar moves. As a result, we’re seeing more players coming to us with broken bones and sprains.” 

A study published in the Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine on 1,110 cases representing 66,350 pickleball-related injuries from 2013 to 2022 found that most injuries occurred in players ages 65 to 80. Falls were the most common cause of injuries, leading to seven out of 10 pickleball injuries. Fractures are the most common injury, making up about one out of three of all diagnosed injuries. 

A separate study in the Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine examined the number of pickleball-related fractures evaluated in U.S. emergency departments between 2002 and 2022. A total of 397 pickleball-related fractures were recorded during the 20-year time period, a 90-fold increase. Fractures were most common in women over 60 and occurred most often in the arm, specifically the wrist.

Five tips to prevent the most common pickleball injuries

Injuries in one of the fastest-growing sports haven’t deterred people of all ages from signing up. 

If you’re one of the millions of pickleball lovers and want to keep playing injury-free, there’s hope. Here are five tips to help you prevent pickleball injuries: 

1. Drink water: Make sure you’re staying hydrated all day. Staying hydrated reduces muscle cramps and spasms and regulates your body temperature. Keeping your temperature stable helps reduce injury and avoid dizziness from dehydration, which could cause a fall. A dizzy player is more likely to lose their balance, fall and suffer an injury like a fracture.
2. Warm up, cool down: Warming up by doing lunges, arm circles and leg swings can help prepare your muscles for sudden movements. Stretching after playing may help you avoid soreness and stay flexible. It may also help prevent muscle strains, sprains and pickleball elbow.
3. Play year-round: To stay healthy and stave off pickleball injuries, play regularly throughout the year. Playing year-round strengthens muscles, improves joint mobility and lowers injury risk. It helps prevent rotator cuff tears, pickleball elbow, knee sprains and plantar fasciitis. However, be sure to include enough time for rest so you don’t develop overuse injuries.
4. Wear the right shoes: One of the best ways to avoid slipping or falling is by wearing the right shoes. Tennis shoes or court shoes are best for pickleball since pickleball movements mimic tennis. Wearing the right shoes can help avoid an ankle sprain or Achilles injury.
5. If something hurts, stop: It’s important to listen to your body and notice when you’re hurting. Don’t push through pain or you could make your injury worse; a minor sprain could turn into a tear.

When to talk to your doctor

If you’re concerned about pickleball injuries, have a chronic condition or are inactive, you should talk to your doctor before you begin playing. It’s also good to take a lesson before picking up a paddle to learn the rules and more injury prevention tips.

You can manage most minor pickleball injuries at home. You may apply ice to reduce inflammation, wrap the injured area with a bandage and elevate it. A doctor should immediately treat injuries that cause throbbing pain, numbness, an inability to bear weight or loss of function.

If your pickleball injury doesn’t heal in a few days or results in sudden, intense pain, it may be time to call your doctor. Our orthopaedic physicians treat a variety of injuries and can help you get back to playing in no time. 

Visit uthealthcare.org/sportsmedicine for more information about our services or call us at 210-450-9300 to schedule an appointment.

Injured over the weekend? Visit our Saturday Sports Medicine walk-in clinic from 8 a.m. to noon at ���۴�ý Kyle Seale Parkway, 7946 North Loop 1604 West, San Antonio, TX 78249.