By Dr. Cory A. Messerschmidt
Beaufort Memorial Orthopaedic Specialists
Have you recently gotten the pickleball bug? If so, you’re not alone. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, pickleball is America’s fastest-growing sport, with 223.5% more people playing since 2022.
Along with this increase comes an unwanted side effect: pickleball injuries.
That increase in injuries is normal, and understanding the risks empowers you to make efforts to reduce your likelihood of injury when you pick up a paddle.”
So, what are common pickleball injuries, and how can you stay safe on the court?
Overuse injuries
Since pickleball is so fun, you may want to play as much as possible.
Overuse injuries occur when you perform the same movement over and over without giving your body time to recover. They’re common with certain occupations, but they also affect athletes of all levels and often require orthopedic care.
This type of injury can occur in practically any joint or ligament. Body parts that may be affected by overuse injuries in pickleball include:
- Elbow — Racquet sports, such as tennis, badminton and ping pong, often lead to pain in the elbow. Typically called tennis elbow, this type of pain affects so many pickleball players that it’s also now known as “pickleball elbow.”
- Leg — A competitive match will have you jumping, bending and lunging. As you do, you can hurt your leg. Knee injuries are common overuse injuries, as are injuries to the Achilles tendon, found in your lower leg.
- Shoulder — Constant use of your shoulder in pickleball can lead to rotator cuff injury. This can cause pain that worsens with movement.
When injury causes immediate pain
Though many pickleball injuries occur slowly over time, some happen immediately. These are known as acute injuries.
Acute injuries you may experience include:
- Bone fractures — Falling, a major cause of pickleball injury, can break bones in your wrists and other limbs.
- Eye injuries — The ball or paddle can hit your eye, scratching the cornea, damaging the retina or causing vision problems.
- Sprains and sprains — A wrong movement can sprain or strain your ankle and other joints.
Additionally, pickleball can damage your most important muscle. While exercise is normally good for your heart, physical activity — including pickleball — can have a negative effect on heart health.
The pickleball court is small, but you can’t stand still. You’re constantly moving left to right, front to back, and you’re moving quickly. These intense movements can put your heart at risk. If you plan to increase physical activity significantly, talk to your primary care or sports medicine provider.
Reduce your risk
While playing pickleball puts you at risk for acute and overuse injuries, there are ways to reduce your likelihood of injury. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recommends the following:
- Dress for success. Proper footwear helps you stay on your feet and supports your ankles from harm. Eye protection guards against eye injury.
- Drink up. Staying hydrated helps your body function at its best and reduces the likelihood of common injuries experienced by pickleball players.
- Practice proper technique. Bad technique puts your bones and joints, muscles and tendons at increased risk. Learn how to play the game and use proper technique every time you get on the court.
- Start slowly. Warm up before you play. Start with slow movements and dynamic stretching. Afterward, do some traditional static stretching as you cool down.
- Stop short of injury. You can easily overdo it on the pickleball court. Play at medium intensity and for a short amount of time until you build up strength to push harder and longer.
Even with preparation and precaution, injury can occur. Home care often helps, but sometimes you need professional attention.
If your injury forces you to stop playing immediately or you can’t put weight on the affected limb, get it checked out. Pushing through that kind of pain could worsen your injury and require a lot more time to heal.
Fellowship-trained in sports medicine, Cory A. Messerschmidt, M.D., FAAOS, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with Beaufort Memorial Orthopaedic Specialists who sees patients at the practice in Port Royal and Okatie.
