Perhaps the most meteoric rise of once niche sports the US has ever seen, pickleball is now one of America’s most popular adult rek sports. The rich courts, simple rules, cheap equipment, and a constantly covered roster of local enemies and teammates makes sense that US pickleballs currently report more than 78,000 registered members.
Telltale paddles are a particularly common sight in communities over 55, and are taken to court by adult Americans (most of whom are over 50). But like any sport, more players mean more injuries. Hospital emergency rooms across the country have reported a particularly significant increase in players over the age of 60.
Is pickleball a good sport for all ages?
In most cases, yes. Benefits of exercise – especially with others, far outweigh the risks of most people, especially those who have no other opportunities for exercise or social activity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise for adults of all ages. Research shows that regular socializing among older adults can stop depression, loneliness, and even memory problems.
Of course there are exceptions. Acute cardio that travels between courts can be problematic for people with heart conditions. The quick movement of the hard pavement on the court is a risk of fractures for people with low bone density. Playing during an injury can complicate healing of existing bone damage and muscle damage. Playing outdoors in the rain can increase the risk of autumn, but in hot summer games there is a possibility of heat strokes.
In all cases, experts recommend checking with a doctor before making a major change in their exercise routine, especially for those with existing conditions or at high risk of injury.
What are the most common injuries?
The most common injuries come from one-off court accidents (such as falling or slipping into a ball pursuit) and repeated use injuries similar to tennis elbows and pitcher’s arms. Of the former, analysis of emergency room data in several studies has shown that the majority of injuries that encourage hospital visits occur in the lower extremities and wrists. Different players tend to suffer from different types of injuries.
A study of medical data from 2000 to 2022 tracked the rate of fractures through the rise in pickleball popularity. There was a high increase in injuries, including an 11-fold increase in elderly injuries between 2010 and 2019. The highest percentage of the 397 fractures included in this study was not surprising given that postmenopausal women tend to experience bone loss.
In that study, 92% of the broken bones came from the waterfall. Most of the injuries were the three main arm bones – the radius, the humerus and the ulna. It is also possible to fracture the legs and ankles. Five players in the study had broken ribs, but dozens reported head injuries. However, almost 80% of patients were discharged on the same day – a higher percentage of torso damage (including four of the five patients who breached the rib) tended to be older (average age 70), and patients tended to be older (average age).
Sprain and muscle damage are much more common than fractures and can prove difficult to heal. Another study found that patients age 50 and older accounted for 90.9% of patients while playing pickleball. The patient found that tension and sprain, which accounts for 28.7% of injuries, was 1% more than fractures. It is more likely to occur in the legs than fractures, and patients were hospitalized because only 12% of patients were hospitalized.
Several pickleball players have been found in the ER with heart problems and heat stroke. Pickleballs do not appear to be more risky than other forms of exercise when it comes to dehydration and circulation issues, but players need to be careful about hydration and symptoms.
How much is your age?
Age restrictions are difficult to pin for everyone and are different. Age itself has an inherent barrier to playing new sports, but that is just one of several factors. Playing aerobic sports at any age can cause difficulties for people who are not regular exercisers in advance. Jones recommends that doctor visits focus on heart health focus on those who want to suddenly increase heart movement, allowing experts to look for new or previously undetected heart problems. Similarly, bone density often decreases with age (especially after menopause), but younger players with osteoporosis or other bone problems should also ensure that the benefits of the game outweigh the risk of fractures. Overall, age itself is less of a problem than the conditions that often accompany it. Elderly people who undergo regular medical checkups and follow doctor advice can think of pickleballs as a low-risk way to exercise.
How do injuries compare to similar sports?
Comparing injury rates with other sports is surprisingly difficult, especially considering the meteor rise between pickleball seniors and first-time athletes. Chess Jones, an injury management researcher at the University of Arkansas, has been studying sports injuries since 1990, but he told ESPN he doesn’t remember another game of his career that gained popularity very quickly with players over 50.
The most common comparison is tennis. This should not be surprising to tennis players who have recently swarmed pickleball players in the same courtroom. With a pickleball, the small court area and low net means that the ball is slower, reducing the risk of being injured by flying balls or reducing the risk of being injured while chasing one, along with the requirement that players bounce the ball back across the “kitchen” area on either side of the net. Furthermore, since tennis has been an established sport for decades, many players whose age and existing conditions pose a risk are not adding the complexity of being a rookie in tennis’s physical demands.
Another consideration is the average age of the new player. According to one survey, more than a third of new pickleball players are over 55, many of whom play at least eight times a year. 2018 was the first year senior pickleball players’ emergency room visits reached the visit rate for senior tennis players. For many years, visits have remained ongoing for pickleball players under the age of 40, with a slight increase in 40-59 players and a surge in those over 60.
In both tennis and pickleballs, eye injuries are rare and were commonly caused by hits from the ball. Injury analysts have suggested that pickleballs may be safer than tennis when it comes to cardiovascular emergency due to the less exercise that comes from the lighter balls of pickleballs, smaller courts and relative popularity of doubles games (each partner requires less execution).
What can you do to reduce injuries?
Some documented injuries stem from collisions between the ball and the racket, but the majority come from travel, falls, sudden turns, and other sudden movements. That’s good news for those who want to avoid them. This is because it means that general exercise health measures will go a long way in preventing or reducing the impact of injuries.
Experts recommend stretching and conditioning both the muscles and cardiovascularly. Refilling your pickleball with running, swimming, cycling or regular training is an easy way to increase court durability. For those taking pickle balls after a long period of inactivity, Jones recommends starting with a game where there are only a few games at a time and gradually increasing the intensity of the exercise. Plus, since most injuries are on the arms and legs, braces and stabilizers are great options for people who are susceptible to sprain and twisting.
Is a pickleball a good choice to be active?
Jones thinks so. Small courts, lightweight balls and short game periods are all factors he listed as making pickle balls an accessible sport for newcomers. He warned ESPN that benefits will only be brought if you are actually playing, so factors and bystander injuries are important to avoid.
For new players, he recommends comparing the pickleball to the existing exercise routines of potential players. Those who already exercise several times a week and exercise their whole body regularly should still start late in the court to avoid fatigue. Even if you’re very athletic in advance, if you haven’t done much exercise lately, you should always check with your doctor. Jones highlights the importance of cardiac diagnosis in the latter group. Because they make up a large part of the health problems of older players and are often undetected by those who are active these days.