Pickleball Injuries Among Older Adults: Pickleball is growing rapidly in the U.S., but with more adults playing, injuries are on the rise. According to the Association of Pickleball Professionals, 48.3 million adults, or 19% of the U.S. adult population, are now on pickleball courts. Many of the injuries involve older adults new to the sport.
Why Injuries Are Increasing
Beacon Primary Care Sports Medicine Physician Mitchell Daugherty said most pickleball injuries occur in people 50 and older. “There was a study published by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons in September of last year where they looked at ER data across the country over several years for patients that presented to the ER with a pickleball injury, and about 90% of those patients from that data were age 50 and older,” Daugherty said.
Common injuries include sprains and strains in the wrist or ankle, chronic issues like arthritis or tendonitis in the elbow or shoulder, and lower-leg injuries such as calf strains or Achilles tears.
Stories from the Court
Pickleball player Derek Klute described his injury: “It was my turn to receive serve, so as the serve comes I step up, and just as I do, my right Achilles ruptures and I’m laying on the ground.”
Klute noted that returning to sports later in life can be risky. “The biggest thing is, when I was playing tennis, I was 22-years-old. When I was playing pickleball, I was 60. And I was walking with my dog a lot, getting steps in, but that’s not even close to what was going on here,” he said.
Preventing Injuries
Dr. Daugherty recommends easing into pickleball, especially for beginners. The sport requires quick starts, stops, and changes in direction, putting stress on lower-leg tendons and ligaments.
Physical therapist Tom Henry of Beacon emphasized staying active throughout the week. Many players are “weekend warriors” who only exercise on weekends, increasing injury risk. Henry said, “One great way to prepare is just do strength training, also get some better flexibility, maybe of your upper and lower body, maybe something that involves balance.”
Henry also suggested warming up with lunges or similar movements before playing. For minor injuries, ice and gentle movements can aid recovery, allowing players to return safely to the court.
Back on the Court
Klute recovered without surgery and is now walking his dog again and regaining strength. He advises new players: “The court’s quite a bit smaller than tennis, plus I was playing doubles. It looks a lot easier and a lot more relaxing than it really is. Take your time, expect that it’s going to be a while until you get up to where you are competitive, and stretch.”
News in Brief: Pickleball Injuries Among Older Adults
Pickleball injuries are rising as more Americans over 50 take up the sport. Common injuries include sprains, strains, and tendon issues. Experts like Beacon Physician Mitchell Daugherty and Physical Therapist Tom Henry recommend easing in, strength training, flexibility, and proper warm-ups to prevent injury. Recovery and patience are key.
ALSO READ: Seattle Parks Unveils Bold Pickleball Pilot and New Court Hours—What Players Need to Know