Learn about pickleball injuries, prevention tips, and recovery methods to stay safe and improve your game. Avoid strains, sprains, and overuse injuries on the court.
Naturally, pickleball is one of the most popular sports anymore. This particular kind of sport enables one to play tennis and badminton as well as ping pong all in one.
However, the list of common pickleball injuries makes this entertaining activity dangerous, too.
According to Arkansas Research & Economic Development, pickleball injury statistics show that pickleball players got 30% of fractures, 17% of sprains, and 7.2% of internal organ injuries.
Nonetheless, you can still make it fun and injury-free gameplay. Playing pickleball without getting any injuries is an ideal situation.
And by following early prevention you can avoid the most common pickleball injuries. Curious to know how?
Let’s get started.
13 Common Pickleball Injuries You Probably Didn’t Know
Ankle Sprains
The most common pickleball injuries among all is ankle sprain. It only happens when the ligaments in your ankle are stretched to a large extent or torn.
The sudden change in direction, improper foot placement, or uneven court surfaces can expose you to ankle sprain.
Achilles Tendonitis
The repetition of stress can result in an Achilles tendon. This injury occurs when you suddenly start, stop, or jump while playing.
Achilles tendonitis connects the calf muscle to the heel, and sudden movements in the pickleball can impact it to a great extent.
Elbow injury
One should note that it is possible to get an elbow injury due to the tendon’s inflammation in the body. It is also known as lateral epicondylitis that are located in the outer area of your elbow.
Cuff Injuries
Pickleball players are often exposed to rotator cuff injuries. The rotation and lifting of shoulders in a pickleball put stress on muscles and tendons in your shoulder.
And doing it in improper form or technique can cause pickleball injuries. The rotator cuff injuries can result in strains or tears.
Knee Injuries
Thinking is pickleball bad for knees? Well, yes, if you opt for aggressive play, then it can lead to a knee injury. This can lead to strains, sprains, and ligament tears.
The quick movements required in a pickleball court can put a strain on the knees.
Wrist Strains
Wrist strains appear when you stress your muscles and tendons in the wrist. This pickleball injury is common among new players as they play with improper technique or overstretch to hit harder.
Back Pain
Pickleball players often have to deal with back pain. This injury occurs due to poor posture, overextension, or improper bending.
Hamstring Strains
Hamstring strains are among the highly prevalent injuries in different types of sports. However, some of the sudden movements, such as start and stop in pickleball, can make you come across it.
This injury may happen when back thigh muscles are strained and stretched to their maximum.
Plantar Fasciitis
The inflammation in foot tissue results in plantar fasciitis. It is most likely to occur at the posterior and inferior aspect of the heel, especially when one is in severe pain while in motion.
This injury is prevalent in all the games. Athletes need to rely on their legs by either running or jumping a lot.
Blisters
Blisters are a common but less painful pickleball injury. Blisters are often caused by friction between your skin and your shoes/paddle. Even though this injury is not severe, it can be the reason for mild pain.
Groin Strains
Swift movements can result in groin strains. This pickleball injury takes place when muscles of your inner thigh are overstrained or stretched.
Dehydration
Well, it may not be a bone break, but even dehydration will be shown in your performance on the court.
Further, being dehydrated could lead to other injuries as well, and this cross-over affects the assessment of the player, implying that dehydration should be
avoided.
Head Injuries
Head injuries aren’t the most common pickleball injury, but if you run into or collide with another player, you may trip or fall. This can be the most serious pickleball injury of all.
How to Prevent Pickleball Injuries?
Early prevention is better than searching for a cure. But when it comes to pickleball injuries it is important to consider some of the injuries which affect while looking for a cure.
Therefore, measures that can be taken to prevent pickleball injury can be of help in the future. This is what you have to do.
- Warm-Up session: Unlike tennis, do not start a pickleball match immediately after you find yourself on the pickleball court; it’s advisable to warm up for about 5 to 10 minutes. First of all, try flexing the muscles, and your main emphasis should be on the actions involving the lower extremities. However, there are some postures you also need to stretch your arm and shoulders to enable you to play without incurring an injury.
- Exercise proper techniques: Practicing the correct technique when hitting the ball will help avoid strains. You can easily prevent wrist, elbow, and shoulder injuries.
- Strengthen your muscles: To avoid pickleball injuries, it is important to strengthen your core, legs, and arms. This will help stability and reduce strain on your joints.
- Pick the right gear: Trying to wear appropriate shoes that have a good grip and cushion on the tar will help reduce the danger of getting a twisted ankle or knee.
- Prioritize hydration: To avoid the possibility of incurring any injuries or dehydration, especially after the pickleball sessions one must ensure they take a lot of water before and after the game.
- Ensure limitation: Over-stressing or straining your body will result in muscle fatigue. Take a break and rest to avoid any risk of injury.
Must know Pickleball Injury Statistics
Most likely, pickleball injury statistics will restrict you from playing. As per the stats the ratio of injury in adults aged 55 is higher. But in a pickleball court, players of all ages are likely to experience these injuries.
And the reasons can be plenty. It can be due to overuse, improper form, or lack of conditioning, which can be the reason for pickleball injury. Due to the rise in injuries among pickleball players the emergency room has also risen.
The fact that there are plenty of health benefits of pickleball, such as improved stamina and cardiovascular endurance, you can never step back from this sport.
Sum Up
Pickleball is one of the most entertaining yet energizing games. but it’s important to stay informed of possible injuries. From ankle sprains to shoulder strains, make sure your body is strengthened to tackle it all.
Try using proper form, and practice certain limitations to prevent pickleball injuries. By staying proactive and making injury prevention a priority, you can enjoy many healthy benefits of this game.
Enjoy your pickleball game without getting injured!
