Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, with over 36 million players in the US. While pickleball is a relatively low-impact sport, injuries do happen. Below, we’ll share some of the common pickleball injuries and ways that you can prevent them.
There are three major types of pickleball injuries:
- Soft tissue injuries, including muscle strain, tendonitis, and ligamentous sprains
- Bone fractures
- Repetitive strain injuries from overuse
Common pickleball injuries include:
- Shoulder Strain
- Pickleball elbow (similar to tennis elbow)
- Ankle & wrist sprains
- Achilles tendonitis
- Low back strain & spasm
- Fractures from falls
Preventing pickleball injuries
One of the best ways to prevent pickleball injuries is from the ground up with the right shoes. Well-fitting shoes will go a long way to help protect your feet. You need a shoe that will provide lateral stability during twisting and side-to-side movement. Cross-training or court shoes are a good choice.
Are you currently doing 150 minutes of aerobic activity every week? If not, consider beginning with walking, biking (outdoor or stationary), or swimming to increase your aerobic health. Then, gradually add pickleball into your exercise mix.
Before you begin competitive play, warm up with light jogging or gentle volleying on the pickleball court. Think of this warmup as a friendly game of frisbee (another good way to warm up).
This leads us to some universal advice to prevent injury in all sports: Stretch! Stretching helps you to relax and lengthen your muscles. Stretching improves your range of motion, and helps you move more freely and easily. To learn about some specific pickleball stretches, watch for our next blog post – 7 Pickleball Stretches to Prevent Injury.
The contents of this article are not meant to be diagnostic or prescriptive. If you have specific questions regarding sports and your health, speak to a physical therapist, physician, or athletic trainer before beginning a new physical activity.