Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the US, but with more people playing, injuries are happening more often. SSM Health orthopedic surgeon Dr. Morgan Weber explains what types of injuries are common for players.
“I’m seeing injuries from quickly pivoting, shifting, or turning on your feet,” says Dr. Weber. “There are a lot of knee and ankle sprains, and arm and wrist fractures as people try to break their falls."
What is pickleball elbow?
In addition to injuries from sudden movements, Dr. Weber says physicians are treating injuries that occur from overuse, including what was once called tennis elbow.
“Now we call it pickleball elbow because pickleball is so much more popular. It’s inflammation of tendons, or cord-like tissue that connects the muscles of your lower arm to the bone and it comes from overuse. That causes quite a bit of pain in basic, day to day activities,” she says.
Preventing pickleball pains
Most injuries are preventable. The number one thing to remember is injuries tend to happen when you’re tired.
“Remember to start out slow and listen to your body,” says Dr. Weber. “If you are getting those nagging aches and injuries, take a break and back off a little bit.”
She recommends getting good cardiovascular exercise off the pickleball court so you are more ready to play and will not get tired quickly. Additionally, make sure you have the right gear.
“Because pickleball is a sport that requires lateral movements and pivoting, you want to make sure you have shoes that can support that type of movement,” she notes. “Look for court shoes or cross training shoes and avoid running shoes. They’re made to go in one direction and that’s forward. You’re going in multiple directions in this game.”
Another important piece of equipment is a properly sized paddle.
“There are multiple sizes, and you want to make sure you have the right grip size for your hand. Having a paddle handle that is too big or too small can put unnecessary pressure on those tendons,” she says.
If you are experiencing pain from a pickleball injury, request an appointment with an orthopedic or sports medicine provider. We can help regain your mobility and strength to help you get back on the run.
Watch Dr. Weber talk about preventing pickleball injuries on Madison, Wisconsin’s ABC television affiliate, WKOW.
