The thrill of pickleball appeals to players of all ages because of the sport’s accessibility. But those picking it up in their 60s are at the greatest risk of hurting themselves, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).
Specifically, the study found that the oldest pickleball players are the most vulnerable to falling and suffering fractures. This is because their bones have weakened over time, said athlete and sports medicine physician Dr. Jennifer Harvey of Novant Health Orthopedics & Sports Medicine - Kernersville.
“Players should focus on improving their balance and agility to decrease their chance of falls, and make sure they are up to date on their osteoporosis screenings,” Harvey said.
Convenient injury care when you need it.
AAOS reviewed 20 years’ worth of data on America’s fastest-growing sport and found:
- Players in their 60s are at the highest risk of an injury.
- Men are twice as likely as women to suffer a fracture.
- The most common pickleball fractures involve the arm, wrist and hand.
What’s the most effective way to prevent these injuries? To ease into pickleball rather than push too hard at first, Harvey said. Getting moving always beats inactivity, but regular warmups and stretches – and a checkup with your primary care doctor – are essential to injury prevention and recovery.
Here Harvey answers more questions about what she frequently sees in patients with pickleball injuries.
Why are people experiencing pickleball injuries?
The increase is due to the popularity. While there are inherent risks with sports, the benefits of pickleball participation continue to outweigh the risks for most patients. Most injuries can be managed without surgery, but if nonoperative treatment does not help, sometimes surgery may be necessary.
What types of pickleball injuries are most common?
We see a wide variety of both accident (acute) injuries and chronic injuries with pickleball. Acute injury due to a fall occurs more often in older adults. Fractures are regularly seen, but unfortunately prevention of fractures is often not realistic, as they are due to accidents.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends X-ray osteoporosis screenings for women 65 and older, and for postmenopausal women younger than 65 with risk factors. There is no recommendation for screening in men.
Is it common to have pain when you start a new sport like pickleball?
It is much more common that we see pain in particular joints or body parts because of overuse.
Older patients tend to suffer more because the joint or tendon may be degenerative, which means that over time there has been deterioration and breakdown leading to decreased function and more pain.
This may have been asymptomatic, but symptoms often arise due to an increase in load on the affected body part. We offer treatments like injections or physical therapy, which helps patients manage their pain so they can continue to participate in an activity that brings many physical and mental health benefits.
