What is the most common pickleball injury? Important facts to know

In perhaps the most meteoric rise of a once-niche sport the United States has ever seen, pickleball is now one of America’s most popular recreational sports for adults. The plentiful tennis courts, clear rules, inexpensive equipment and increasingly crowded rosters of local opponents and teammates make it unsurprising that USA Pickleball now reports more than 78,000 registered members. By 2024, the Sports and Fitness Industry Association will track more than 3 million players.

The telltale paddles are especially common sights in 55+ and senior reviews communities, when adult Americans — most of them 50 and older — enter the court. But as with any sport, more players means more injuries. Emergency rooms in hospitals across the country have reported a particularly marked increase in the number of players over 60.

Is pickleball a good sport for all ages?

In most cases yes. The benefits of exercise—especially with others—far outweigh the risks for most people, especially those who have no other options for exercise or social activities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise for adults of any age. Studies have shown that regular socializing in older adults can help prevent depression, loneliness and even memory problems.

There are of course exceptions. The intense cardio of darting back and forth across the court can be problematic for people with heart conditions. Fast movements on the hard pavement of the track pose a risk of fractures for people with low bone density. Playing while injured can complicate the healing of existing bone and muscle injuries. Playing outside in the rain can increase the risk of falls, while hot summer games pose the risk of heat stroke.

In all cases, experts recommend that players contact their doctors before drastically changing training routines, especially for those with pre-existing conditions or those at high risk for injury.

What are the most common injuries?

The most common injuries result from one-time on-field accidents (such as falling or sliding while chasing the ball) and repetitive injuries, similar to tennis elbow or pitcher’s elbow. From the earliest cases, analyzes of emergency department data in a number of studies have shown that the vast majority of injuries prompting hospital visits occur to the lower leg and wrist. Different players are prone to different types of injuries.

A study of medical data from 2000 through 2022 tracked the number of bone fractures resulting from pickleball’s increasing popularity. There was a large increase in injuries, including an elevenfold increase in injuries among seniors between 2010 and 2019. The highest percentage of the 397 fractures included in the study occurred in women over 60 – not surprising given that that postmenopausal women often experience bone loss.

A whopping 92 percent of broken bones in that study were the result of falls, including when players deliberately slid or dived for the ball but misjudged their landing. Most injuries involved the radius, humerus and ulna – the three main arm bones. Broken legs and ankles are also possible. Five players in the study had broken ribs, while a dozen reported head injuries. However, almost 80 percent of patients were discharged the same day; those who were not tended to be older (with an average age of 70 years) and had a higher rate of torso injuries (including four out of five patients who broke ribs).

Sprains and muscle injuries are much more common than fractures, and can be just as difficult to heal. Another study found that 90.9 percent of patients were injured while playing pickleball in patients 50 years and older, with strains and sprains accounting for 28.7 percent of injuries – one percent more than fractures. Strains and sprains were more common on the leg than fractures, and only 12 percent of patients were admitted for a longer hospital stay.

Several pickleball players have ended up in the emergency room with heart problems or heat stroke. Pickleball does not appear to be any riskier than other forms of exercise when it comes to dehydration and circulation problems, but players should make sure they hydrate and watch for any symptoms.

To what extent is age a factor?

Age restrictions are difficult to determine and different for everyone. Age itself can pose inherent barriers to taking up a new sport, but it is just one of many factors. Taking up a cardio-heavy sport at any age can pose problems for people who have not been regular exercisers before. Jones recommends a doctor’s visit that focuses on heart health for anyone who suddenly wants to increase their cardio exercise, so experts can look for new or previously undetected heart problems. Although bone density often decreases with age (especially after menopause), younger players with osteoporosis or other bone problems must also ensure that the benefits of the game outweigh the risk of fractures. In general, age itself is less of a problem than the circumstances that often accompany it. Seniors who have regular checkups and follow doctors’ advice can consider pickleball as a low-risk way to exercise.

How do the injuries compare to similar sports?

It’s surprisingly difficult to compare injury rates to other sports, especially given pickleball’s rapid rise among older and novice athletes. Ches Jones, an injury management researcher at the University of Arkansas, has been studying sports injuries since 1990, but told ESPN that he can’t remember any other game in his career becoming so quickly popular with players over 50.

The most common comparison is tennis, which should come as no surprise to those tennis players who have recently seen pickleball players flock to the same courts. In pickleball, the smaller court and lower net, along with the requirement that players bounce the ball over the “kitchen” area on either side of the net, mean slower-moving balls that reduce the risk of being hurt by a flying ball or injured hit while chasing after it. Furthermore, tennis has been an established sport for decades, so many players whose age or pre-existing conditions pose risks do not have the added complication of being a newcomer to the physical demands of tennis.

Another consideration is the average age of new players. According to one study, more than a third of new pickleball players are age 55 or older, many of whom play at least eight times a year. The first year that emergency room visits from senior pickleball players reached the number of visits from senior tennis players was 2018. Over the years, visits for pickleball players under 40 have remained roughly constant, with a slight increase among players aged 40 to 59 years and skyrocketing for players under 40. those 60 years and older.

In both tennis and pickleball, eye injuries were rare and were usually caused by hits from the ball. Injury analysts suggested that pickleball might be safer than tennis when it comes to cardiovascular emergencies, likely due to the lower exertion resulting from pickleball’s lighter ball, smaller playing field, and the relative popularity of doubles (which requires less running for each partner). ).

What can be done to reduce injuries?

While a few documented injuries result from collisions with balls and rackets, the vast majority result from trips, falls, sudden turns and other sudden movements. That’s good news for those who want to avoid them, because it means that general athletic health measures can go a long way toward preventing or mitigating the effects of injuries.

Experts recommend stretching and conditioning, both muscular and cardiovascular. Supplementing pickleball with running, swimming, cycling or regular workouts is an easy way to build endurance for the court. For those taking up pickleball after long periods of inactivity, Jones recommends starting with just a few games at a time and gradually increasing training intensity. Additionally, because most injuries occur to the arms and legs, braces and stabilizers can be good options for people prone to sprains or twists.

Is pickleball a good choice to get active?

Jones thinks so. The small courts, lightweight ball and short playing time are all factors he listed that make pickleball an approachable sport for newcomers. He warned ESPN that the benefits only come when you actually play, so a maverick injury is important to consider and prevent.

For new players, he recommends comparing pickleball to the potential player’s existing training routine. Those who already exercise several times a week and regularly train their entire body should still start slowly on the track to avoid exhaustion. Those who have not exercised much recently – even if they were very athletic beforehand – should always consult a doctor. Jones emphasizes the importance of cardiac screenings for the latter group, as they account for a large percentage of health problems in older players and can often go unnoticed for those who have only recently become active.