Pickleball Safe Weight Management Sport: A new study from Saint Louis University shows that pickleball may be a safe and effective activity for people who are overweight or obese, without raising their risk of injury. The findings, published last month in Sports Medicine – Open, came from a national survey of 1,758 pickleball players across the United States.
“Unlike other sports where BMI increased the odds of injury, pickleball appears safe for folks who are overweight or obese,”
said Olu Owoeye, Ph.D., associate professor of physical therapy at Saint Louis University.
“Pickleball might be the perfect physical activity intervention for weight control.”
Study Details and Key Findings
Researchers surveyed adults aged 18 and older who play pickleball at least once a month. The results revealed that 68.5% of players reported an injury in the past year, and 40.8% missed at least one day of activity because of it.
The most common injury was to the knee (29.1%). Other affected areas included the lower extremities (26.9%), shoulder (22.2%), back (19.9%), and elbow (18.4%). Overuse problems, sprains, and muscle pulls were the most frequent types of serious injuries.
One in three players admitted to continuing play even while dealing with pain or injury.
Risk Factors
The study identified several predictors of injury. These included being male, playing more times per week, having fewer years of experience, paying less attention to injury prevention, and being between the ages of 33 and 77.
However, neither playing longer nor having a higher body mass index increased injury odds.
“Pickleball is often underestimated in terms of physical demands. It’s crucial to implement evidence-based prevention strategies to ensure players enjoy the sport’s benefits while minimizing injury risks,”
said Olu Owoeye, who also directs the Saint Louis University Translational Injury Prevention Lab.
Prevention and Next Steps
Researchers recommend warm-up exercises, good recovery habits, and skill-based programs for new players to help lower injury risks.
“Researchers say implementing evidence-based neuromuscular warm-up exercises, establishing comprehensive recovery routines, and tailoring programs that focus on improving players’ skills and techniques, especially for novice players, can help reduce injury risk,”
wrote Bridjes O’Neil, communications specialist at Saint Louis University.
O’Neil also noted that researchers are now testing a warm-up and recovery routine designed specifically for pickleball.
Why It Matters
The findings suggest pickleball could be an effective sport for weight management while remaining safe for players of different body types. With the sport’s rising popularity, experts stress that proper training and injury prevention can help players enjoy its benefits for many years to come.
News in Brief: Pickleball Safe Weight Management Sport
A Saint Louis University study of 1,758 players found that higher body mass index does not increase injury risk in pickleball. Injuries were most common in knees and shoulders, with men and frequent players most at risk. Experts recommend warm-ups and recovery routines to keep the sport safe and effective.
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