PICKLEBALL INJURIES: TYPES, EFFECTS, TREATMENT & PREVENTION

The injuries that occur during playing pickleball are called pickleball injuries. The fast and quick movements and suddenly changing positions are the main cause of swelling and pain in tendons. The common and basic problem or injuries in the wrist, knee and Achilles also. According to studies 92 percent of fractures occur while the players fall during play. Pickleball is being popular all over the world but we know that injuries are a part of any sport. According to studies from 2010 to 2019, more than eighty five percent injuries that are pickleball related were in those individuals that are over the age of sixty.

Everyone knows that pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America. According to the SFIA (Sport and fitness industry association), 8.9 million Americans play pickleball. So this sport is a lot of fun and very challenging. This sport is greatly hard and tough on your body. Pickleball is gaining much popularity day by day so the injury rate also increases. Mostly the injuries are occurred in those players who are over forty and also fifty above. Great training and exercises are required for this game.

Some of the common pickleball injuries of pros are given below.

• Strains and sprains
• Upper body injuries
• Fractures
• Scrapes and bruises
• Lower back pain

You can avoid these injuries by following different steps.

• Well recover soon
• Daily exercises
• Stop when you feel pain
• Warm up yourself

You can make sure that you have proper time for pickleball and for yourself. Always properly focus on your diet and your sleep because both these things recover you very fast and also avoid the chance of injury.

Pickleball is a great exercise or work out but your upper and lower body needs the exercises that are given by your trainer. Because full body exercise can make your whole-body muscles strong and flexible. Cardio exercise is also very important because it gives you strength when you run on the court during play.

During play if you feel pain then stop your game because pain is a signal from your brain that’s your body trying to inform you of something. If you ignore your brain signal or pain then it can cause the main injury. So when pain starts you can go sooner to your doctor and start treatment. The result you can recover very soon.

The daily warm up routine can properly help you to prevent injuries and also enhance your performance on the court. A number of different warm ups are recommended for pickleball players such as, properly stretch your back and calves and your shoulders. These are the basic and best warm up styles.

What are the common pickleball injuries?

The most common pickleball injuries are given below.

• Sprain Injury: When the ligament of the foot twisted or stretched then the sprain occurred. In simple words when a player suddenly bent their ankle while returning the shot.
• Strain Injury: When the muscles of the foot are overstretched and also over used then the strain occurs. This injury happens when the players over work their muscles and play out of their limitations.
• Achilles Tendinopathy: This injury happened on the lower part of your leg that is just on the back of the calf above the heel. When you over turn, jump, sprint, climb and play then this pain occurs. Achilles tendinopathy starts when you unconsciously play the game.
• Hip Injury: Most injuries of the hip occur from strains of muscles for the hip glutes, flexor and hamstring. The hip injury also occurs when the player falls for a hip on the pickleball court during play.
• Hand Injury: As we know that pickleball is very light but it can still damage your hand and it is the reason for hand injury. This injury occurs when you suddenly fall on the pickleball court and try your hands or fingers bent. The hand injuries also occur when the player collapses with another player or paddle.
• Bone fractures are very common pickleball injuries that suddenly send the player to the hospital or emergency room. Mostly the fractures occur when you badly fall on the court.
• Ankle Injuries: When you are running back on the court suddenly you can sprains and your ankle is bent. Then the ankle injuries occurred.
• The lower back injuries are very common in pickleball. These injuries also occur when you suddenly fall on the court and also when you over play to your limits.
• Falling: When you are playing pickleball, falling is very common. When you return a shot you suddenly change your position and this time you lose your balance and fall. As we know that the pickleball surfaces are very tough and hard so when the players fall then a number of injuries occur.
• Elbow Injuries: The elbow injuries are very common in pickleball. When you grip your pickleball paddle during play you repeatedly bend your elbow and swing the paddle. So when you bend your elbow with much more force than it can cause elbow injuries.
• Rotator Cuff Injuries: Pickleball shots like volleys and serve can’t be required with great force like tennis or other paddle sports but pickleball shots require very much usage of shoulders during play. Mostly the rotator cuff injuries occur when you over play then your limits and also occur by previous injuries also.
• Calf Injuries: Mostly the calf injuries can occur from different movements and also changing in directions during play. It can also occur when strain in muscles.
• Knee injuries are very common in pickleball when you bend your knee and it hardly touches the court then the knee is injured. The players that already have arthritis or some previous injuries can bear many difficulties.
• Wrist Injuries: The wrist injuries occured when you suddenly fell on the ground and held your hand on the court then your hand bent badly. These injuries also occur when your partner paddle hits your wrist while both of you compete for the same shot.

Knee injuries:

You may have a knee injury when there is a great damage in your tendons, cartilage, bones and ligament also. Knee injuries are very common in pickleball when you bend your knee and it hardly touches the court then the knee is injured. The players that already have arthritis or some previous injuries can bear many difficulties. Some of the common knee injuries & their prevention ways are given below in table.

The knee injuries are very common and still occur on the court of pickleball. It is very important that when the player has injury or pain then completely manage the pain and treat it perfectly. So some specific information about treatment of knees given below.

• If you have a severe knee injury then immediately stop your game and completely take rest. Must apply and rub the ice on the affected part to decrease pain and swelling.
• When you are playing pickleball no pain killers can reduce your pain. So directly consult with the doctor.
• If your pain and swelling increase or worse by passing the time then you must consult with the doctor. Because the doctor can diagnose the problem and then give you proper treatment.
• If your injury is much severe then take the treatment of physical therapy. It strengthens your knee and helps you recover very quickly.
• The tough, worse and severe knee injuries may require knee surgery. So this time you can get proper medical treatment and attention also.

Hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder injuries:

• All these injuries may happen when you play pickleball.As we know that pickleball is very light but it can still damage your hand and it is the reason for hand injury. This injury occurs when you suddenly fall on the pickleball court and try your hands or fingers bent. The hand injuries also occur when the player collapses with another player or paddle.
• The wrist injuries occured when you suddenly fell on the ground and held your hand on the court then your hand bent badly. These injuries also occur when your partner paddle hits your wrist while both of you compete for the same shot.
• The elbow injuries are very common in pickleball. When you grip your pickleball paddle during play you repeatedly bend your elbow and swing the paddle. So when you bend your elbow with much more force than it can cause elbow injuries.
• The shoulder pain is very common in pickleball and it is called impingement. This pain is caused by pinching of tendons like arthritis. This pain also occurs when you overplay and also aggressively play.
• The shoulder sprains and strains also occur when the tendons, muscles, ligaments and bones in the joints of shoulders are stretching. So when you play pickleball always take care of yourself and make sure that your court is properly clean and clear.

Hip injuries:

Most injuries of the hip occur from strains of muscles for the hip glutes, flexor and hamstring. The hip injury also occurs when the player falls for a hip on the pickleball court during play. The hip injuries that are very common in pickleball are hamstring muscles, hip flexor and also strains of gluteal muscle. The other injuries like exacerbation and hip arthritis can also happen.

These injuries are treated in different ways.

• Change your activities for few days
• Use anti-inflammatory medicines
• Physical therapy treatment
• Hip exercises
• Injections and biologics
• RICE Method that means rest, ice, compression and elevation.

You can avoid hip injuries and also healthy hips by following these tips.

• Must maintain a healthy weight
• Always wear easy, comfy and supportive shoes
• Must practice proper posture
• Warm up and stretch your lower body regularly before and after exercise
• Always eat healthy diet
• Properly cushion your hips and knees when you sleep

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