Pickleball is one of the most popular and fastest growing sports played in America.

Played on a badminton-sized court with a net similar to tennis, it’s like a combination of badminton and ping pong that has continuously growing player base since it’s inception in the 1960s.

Why is Pickleball so popular? It’s highly entertaining, fast paced, and very fun for competitive players of all ages!
It is a very enjoyable way to stay in shape, but with all physically demanding sports comes potential for injuries.

Some injuries common with Pickleball are from overuse, while others stem from repeated movements.

Some of the most common Pickleball injuries are:

Achilles Tendonitis
Achilles tendonitis is a common overuse injury that occurs when the large tendon that runs down the back of your lower leg becomes irritated and inflamed. This often develops from repeated stress on the lower leg or high-impact exercise. Achilles tendonitis symptoms include calf pain, lower leg and heel pain and stiffness, and swelling in the tendon. One of the best preventative measure for Achilles tendonitis is proper warm up, foot wear, quality arch support, and allowing your body to rest and repair it’s tissues between activities.

Quadriceps and Hamstring strains: Pain and swelling resulting from Quadriceps and Hamstring strains can often be treated at home using the RICE method: Rest, ice, Compression, Elevation. Allowing your muscles and the surrounding tissues to heal before playing again is important.

Shoulder Strain: Pickleball players sometimes complain of general shoulder pain or strain. One of the primary causes of this is repeated use and overextension. Warming up your muscles and joints before playing can help prevent some should strains.

Heel Bruising: Heel bruising is a very common pickleball injury. The heel can experience pain due to repeated contact and movement, and can be prevented with proper shoes and arch supports.

Pickleball Elbow: Pickleball elbow is a similar injury to tennis elbow, and becomes painful from overuse. The elbow gets stress from repeated swinging motions, but can be aided by learning proper form and techniques.

Ankle Sprain: As with any fast-paced sport, it is possible to twist and sprain or strain your ankle. Wearing quality shoes, warming up, and having a proper fitness level will help prevent ankle injury.

Preventing Pickleball Injuries

You can reduce the risk and likelihood in injury by following these steps:

Stretch
A proper, gentle warm up can prevent strains and sprains, in addition to other injuries. This will help you with full range of motion and get your blood flowing before starting a game.

Hydrate
Making sure you are properly hydrated will help your body regulate heat. Playing on a hot day? Don’t skimp on adding extra glasses of water to your water intake that day.

Prepare
Be sure not to jump into a fast-paced Pickleball game if you are out of shape. Work your way up to make sure your muscles and joints ar ready for the pressure placed on them on the court. Getting routine exercise from walking, jogging, strength exercises, and getting proper nutrition will help prevent injury.

Protect yourself
Wear proper eyewear and supportive shoes when playing! Wearing the right shoe, especially with quality arch supports, will help prevent foot, ankle, knee, and back injuries. The chances of experiencing meniscal tears, sprains, and strains is reduced when your feet are stabilized with a good shoe and proper arch support. The best shoe will provide support for the ankle, have a good grip on the court, and support your arches to prevent arch pain.

Recover
Pickleball is so fun, it can become addicting to play! Don’t forget to allow your body time to rest and recover after playing, especially when building up your stamina.

If you’re ready to get on the court and play Pickleball, we can help get the perfect level of support for your arches with custom fitted Arch Supports!

It is very important that any arch support you choose be fitted to your exact foot shape and issues with a professional. At Sensational Feet, we are proud of the many customers who have found Pickleball more enjoyable and less painful with our help!

Schedule a Free Trial Fitting with our professional staff, using state-of-the-art foot scanning technology. Walk-ins are welcome, or you can schedule a time below.