Pickleball Injury Surge Key Biscayne: Pickleball, the fastest-growing sport in the U.S., is sending some players to physical therapy in Key Biscayne. Melissa White, executive director of the Key Biscayne Community Foundation, injured her right foot on Sunday, March 23, while playing with her 12-year-old son Johnny and niece Tori.
Rising Injuries
White required surgery, a cast, and a boot, spending much of the summer partially immobile. She snapped her Lisfran ligament and needed three screws to repair her foot.
Felipe Porro, Commodore of the Key Biscayne Yacht Club, also suffered a serious injury when he tore his Achilles tendon on Easter Sunday. The injury occurred shortly after he became commodore and disrupted his planned vacation to the Bahamas.
“The nurses, when I was getting prepped for surgery, were astonished when I told them that it was a pickleball injury, and they were like, ‘What are you guys doing in pickleball? There are so many surgeries being done,’” White said.
Pickleball’s popularity has surged 224% between 2021 and 2023. Alongside the growth, injuries have increased. A study published in the Orthopedic Journal of Sports Medicine in January 2025 found a 41% rise in pickleball-related injuries between 2020 and 2021, with older players most affected.
Physical Therapy Insights
Christian Marrero, clinical coordinator at Key Biscayne Physical Therapy, sees more patients with pickleball injuries, including calf strains, Achilles tendonitis, quad and hamstring strains, and shoulder (rotator cuff) problems.
“We have everybody from their 20s to their 70s and even older playing. So a lot of the injuries tend to be from a movement that they have not been trained to do before,” Christian Marrero said.
Porro noted that while pickleball resembles tennis, it demands quicker reflexes.
“It’s like playing net against net,” Felipe Porro said. “You’re reaction time needs to be quicker.”
Marrero added, “You’re squatting a lot, bending down, and quick, sudden movements and those quick, sudden movements oftentimes are what can lead to injury.”
Porro said Achilles tendon recovery takes longer than a torn ACL, affecting daily life. “It affects your ability to work. Mine was my right foot, so I couldn’t drive. So imagine three months in a boot without being able to drive,” he said.
Players’ Experiences
White described her first pickleball game as fun and energetic.
“I’ll never forget my son because I was all over the court,” Melissa White said. “At one point, he turned to me and said, ‘Wow, Mom, you’re pretty good.’ And that was all I needed to hear.”
She planted her foot to hit a shot and severely injured her midfoot. White believes she aggravated an old soccer injury from her 20s.
Tips to Prevent Injuries
Christian Marrero recommends stretching before play, staying hydrated, avoiding play when injured, and starting slow if new to the sport.
News in Brief: Pickleball Injury Surge Key Biscayne
Pickleball’s popularity in Key Biscayne is growing, but injuries are on the rise. Melissa White and Felipe Porro both suffered serious foot injuries. Experts say sudden movements, quick squats, and untrained muscles cause many injuries. Stretching, hydration, and careful play can help prevent harm.
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