According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission pickleball injuries could cost Americans close to $400 million in medical costs this year. LSU Health New Orleans Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Christopher Marrero said pickleball resembles tennis, but players use paddles to hit a plastic ball and it doesn’t require as much running.
“Because it doesn’t require as much running, it’s probably a bit more attractive to an older population, and therefore making them more susceptible to injury, overuse injuries, etc.”
The study says the majority of pickleball injuries are sprains, strains, and fractures and the average age of the player is 60 or older. Marrero said pickleball exploded during the pandemic and analysts say it will cause 67-thousand ER visits in the US this year alone.
“Usually injury to the shoulder wrist and elbow, those are the repetitive injuries. Any flex and extension of the wrist, you get things like tendonitis. You can get tennis elbow from playing pickleball.”
So, before you try to take on the most popular growing sport in the country, Marrero said to always stretch your muscles beforehand and use common sense, don’t try to overplay when you’re starting out.
“As you age your body is not built to sustain the trauma you put on your body from overuse injuries.”
The Sports and Fitness Industry Association trade group says pickleball has grown from 3.5 million players in 2019 to 8.9 million in 2022.
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