By now, you’ve likely heard of pickleball. It is the fastest growing sport in the U.S. and compared to other racquet sports it’s a lower impact activity. You may be surprised to learn that injuries can be quite common in pickleball. Kristen Maskala, MD, a sports medicine orthopedic surgeon at HonorHealth, shares some of the signs you should watch out for the next time you’re enjoying a game of pickleball with friends.
“Pickleball requires a lot of quick stopping and starting, as well as changing directions, so there are opportunities for a participant to get hurt,” says Dr. Maskala. “The demographic of pickleball players also trends slightly older than in other sports which can put them at a slightly higher risk of injury.”
Common pickleball injuries
Overuse injuries can happen in any sport, including pickleball. If this is your go to activity, look out for these injuries:
- Sprained ankle: A sprain could happen by rolling your ankle or during a quick direction change.
- Plantar fasciitis: This results in pain on the bottom of the foot or heal when the plantar facia (a think band of connective tissue that supports the arch in your foot) becomes irritated and inflamed.
- Tennis elbow: Is an overuse injury of the extensor tendon in your forearm that bends your wrist backwards away from your palm (yes, pickleball players get this, too!).
- Achilles tendonitis: You may feel a mild ache in the back of your leg or above your heel. It may become more severe after prolonged periods of play.
- Sprained shoulder: This can be caused by repeated overextension of the joint when thrusting your paddle toward the ball.
Pickleball may also cause you to have lower back issues and can put you at risk for slips or falls.
“Lower back issues are fairly common in pickleball because the sport involves staying in a somewhat flexed-spine position for most of play, and you need to have rotation in your back to hit the ball,” explains Dr. Maskala. “Additionally, the court you’re playing on is a hard surface, which can lead to falls, so wrist fractures are common, as well as heel bruising and stiffness in the back.”
Next time you’re on the court, remember to have fun and listen to your body.
When to seek care
As with any physical activity, it’s important you take time to warm-up, wear proper shoes on court, know your limits and be mindful of any preexisting issues you may have. This will help you prevent injuries. But if you are injured, seeing a sports medicine specialist gives you the best chance to avoid any lingering issues.
“While some minor injuries may clear up on their own with RICE – rest, ice, compression and elevation – it’s important not to wait to get help if you aren’t getting better,” says Dr. Maskala. “Sports medicine specialists treat these types of conditions every day and can make sure that you won’t make an injury worse.”
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