Just because pickleball is easy to pick up doesn’t mean it won’t challenge you physically. It will, and its surging popularity has led to an increasing number of pickleball-related injuries—from elbow strains to ankle sprains and even eye injuries.
Much of the related literature covering this rise in pickleball-related injuries is concentrated in the US, which makes sense given how it’s the birthplace of the sport. Best believe, though, that the injury trend is occurring worldwide too, as pickleball can at times be a physically demanding sport, with all the quick movements, changes in direction, and repetitive actions.
Muscle Sprains, Aches, and More
That much is actually happening in Singapore, whose pickleball community is growing seemingly by the day. In fact, clinics in the Lion City have told CNA that the number of pickleball-related injuries they have treated has doubled just as pickleball has taken off in the country. According to CNA, among the common injuries these clinics have treated are muscle strains and eye trauma.
One of these is the Arete Orthopaedic Centre, which has seen twice as many patients with pickleball-related injuries this year compared with last year, according to CNA. A senior consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Arete, Dr Wang Lushun, posited to CNA that this rise in injuries may be due to players underestimating the sport’s physical demands. Among those Dr Lushun has treated are new picklers, pickleball players aged 40 and above, and players who have switched from tennis or badminton to pickleball.
“This game brings certain kinds of challenges that are different in the mechanics (compared to other paddle or racquet sports). In pickleball, there are a lot of sudden side-to-side movements, so that can cause knee twisting (and) ankle twisting,” Dr Wang told CNA. “There’s also quite a lot of forward and backward play, because you go in for the drop shot and then you may need to run backwards a lot. All these things can catch people off guard, so they might fall.”
Pickleball-Related Injuries Are Normal, and Risks Can Be Reduced
In a vacuum, this is a concerning trend. But given the demands of sports and the rapid growth of pickleball worldwide, it is actually unsurprising that more and more people are getting hurt playing pickleball. Simply put, when more people are playing a sport, there are bound to be more injuries, which again are part of playing sports.
Even so, it’s best to take the necessary precautions, and you can start by reading our PNA Tips series, which at the moment covers “6 Things to Do to Avoid Injuries While Playing Pickleball,” “5 of the Best Warm-Up Exercises for Pickleball,” and “Supercharge Your Pickleball Game with Strength Training.” The tips outlined in these articles will help reduce your injury risks and get your body better prepared for playing pickleball.
