Dear Dr. Pickleball, by NOE SARIBAN
PT, DPT, CERT. DN, TPI MII, CPTP THEPICKLEBALLDOCTOR. COM
QWhat is the No. 1 injury in pickleball and how do I avoid it?
As with every sport, injuries are a part of the game we love. There are a few factors that place pickleball players at risk for injuries. Recent articles have highlighted a rise in injuries caused by pickleball, which may lead readers to think it has higher rates of injury than other sports. This, of course, is not accurate.
As participation in pickleball has skyrocketed in the past five years, it’ s only logical to witness an increase in injury numbers due to the sheer amount of play. In addition, while the demographic is getting younger, the average age of pickleball players is still higher than most other sports.
When you combine the rise in number of players with the average age, the result is an increase in pickleball-related injuries. This, however, does not mean pickleball has more risk than other racket sports.
So, what is the No. 1 pickleball injury? This is a difficult question to answer directly, since there are many factors that come into play. There are acute injuries and chronic problems that can’ t be viewed the same way. Acute injuries usually happen on the court while playing, and chronic injuries develop over time due to repetitive movements.
The category that leads the acute injuries would be sprains and strains. This applies to various injuries and body parts. Sprains are injuries to non-contractile tissues, such as ligaments, while strains are injuries to contractile tissues such as muscles and tendons.
There are various reasons and mechanisms of injury for sprains and strains, but some of the common notable ones are:
The category that leads the acute injuries is sprains and strains.”
• Ankle sprains
• Calf muscle and hamstring strains
• Wrist sprains( from falling on an outstretched hand)
• Lower back muscle strains and joint sprains
For chronic injuries, some of the known pathologies are pickleball elbow( lateral epicondylitis or epicondylosis), Achilles tendinopathy, and rotator cuff tendinopathies. So, what can be done? The first important step is to recognize that we are playing a sport and, unlike playing a board game for example, injuries are part of the risk we take when stepping onto the court. Even the bestprepared and conditioned athletes get injured, so there is never a 100 % bulletproof injuryprevention method.
However, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of injury, and promote longevity when playing pickleball.
1. Footwear: This seems simple, but having improper shoes can easily lead to falls, which is the main reason for sprained wrists. Be sure to find a“ hard court” shoe that fits you properly.
2. Warming up: Too many people neglect this step. Properly warming up means that you have brought your body temperature up and established an environment for your muscles to perform without being overstretched. This step should decrease the risk of muscle strains during play. Performing a dynamic warm-up is key so your muscles are ready
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