Pickleball Injury Prevention Tips

In a pickle? According to the American Sports & Fitness Association, pickleball — a mash-up combining elements of badminton, tennis, and ping pong — is the fastest-growing sport in the nation. Between August 2021 and August 2022, 14% of adult Americans (that’s 36.5 million people!) played pickleball at least once.

Why? It’s great exercise, easy to learn, and people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds can play.

A friendly game provides the perfect amount of exercise, exertion, and sweat. Played as singles or doubles on a smaller court than tennis with a hard paddle and a polymer ball, pickleball is challenging without being overly complex. In the San Fernando Valley, you can find indoor courts, outdoor courts, dedicated pickleball courts, and even converted tennis and basketball courts at parks, community centers, and neighborhood recreation areas.

Everybody seems to have caught the pickle-ball bug. As a result, pickleball-related injuries have increased in parallel with the sport’s popularity.

Orthopedist Dr. Ryan Morgan, sports medicine specialist at Adventist Health Glendale, reports a noticeable uptick in patients suffering from pickle-ball mishaps. “I see at least a few pickleballers each week. Knee injuries, including meniscus tears, hamstring strains, and ankle sprains are the most common complaints.”

Dr. Morgan himself plays a couple of times per month and offers the following tips for avoiding injury:

• Warm-up. As with any athletic activity, proper pre-game warm-up and stretching prevent injury.
• Hydrate. Before, during, and after you play. Especially as outdoor temperatures rise.
• Be realistic. Pickleball is a great game for all ages, but as people age, their bodies no longer perform as they once did. Accept your physical limitations and play at your own skill level.
• Don’t showboat. There’s no need to go all-out to make a diving return in a friendly game of pickleball. Just let the ball go and play for the next point.

“It’s a game,” Dr. Morgan reminds his patients. “Don’t overdo it. It’s pickleball. It’s supposed to be fun.”