Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States, attracting players of all ages. While it’s a fun way to stay active, the quick movements, repetitive swings, and occasional falls can lead to injuries. Understanding the most common pickleball injuries can help you stay healthy and get back on the court faster.
Lower Extremity Strains and Tears
The stop-and-go nature of pickleball places significant stress on the legs. Common injuries include calf strains, Achilles tendon injuries, and meniscus tears in the knee. These injuries often occur during sudden sprints, quick direction changes, or lunging for a shot.
Physical therapy can help reduce pain, restore mobility, improve strength, and safely guide your return to play. A therapist can also identify movement limitations or muscle imbalances that may increase injury risk.
Overuse Injuries: Tennis Elbow
Despite the name, lateral epicondylitis (commonly called tennis elbow) is frequently seen in pickleball players. Repetitive gripping and swinging can irritate the tendons on the outside of the elbow, leading to pain and weakness.
Physical therapy focuses on reducing irritation, improving tendon health, restoring strength, and correcting movement patterns in the shoulder girdle and wrist that contribute to overuse injuries in the elbow.
Impact Injuries: Wrist Fractures and Ankle Sprains
Falls are a common cause of injury in pickleball. Players who fall while reaching for a ball may sustain a wrist fracture, while awkward landings can result in an ankle sprain.
Physical therapy plays an important role in recovery by improving range of motion, strength, balance, and stability. Rehabilitation helps patients regain confidence and safely return to their favorite activities.
Injury Prevention Matters
Many pickleball injuries can be prevented through proper warm-ups, flexibility training, strength exercises, and balance training. We here at Forward Performance Sports Physical Therapy can design individualized programs to improve performance while reducing injury risk.
If pain or injury is limiting your ability to enjoy pickleball, FPSPT can help you recover, move better, and stay active on the court. Schedule a complimentary functional movement analysis today; it’s only forward from here!
