Like any other sport, you’re likely going to sustain injuries when you play pickleball.
There are many possible causes for the injuries. For example, too much sudden movement, lack of proper warm-up and an accidental pull on the muscles can lead to cramps, tear and other types of injuries.
Aside from the usual bumps and bruises, ligament tears and potent muscle cramps are very common when playing pickleball. You’re highly likely to experience more injuries if you play without the right precautions and gear.
While no one knows what kind of injuries you might sustain, be assured that with the proper preparation and care, you can successfully prevent most of the common pickleball injuries, including
those that can cause long-term damage.
In this article, we’ll share some of the common types of pickleball injuries and ways you can handle or prevent them during your game.
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What are the common types of pickleball injuries?
Although injuries in every sport are diverse, let’s take a look at some of the most common ones that players often experience during pickleball. Besides the on-impact bruising, you also have overuse injuries that can happen with the repeated movement of a specific body part.
The following are some of the most common pickleball injuries you need to know about…
1. Pickleball wrist pain
Since your wrist is the most active body part during a pickleball game, it isn’t surprising that it is the most at risk of injuries. For example, when you try to do a swing or spin shot, you might end up accidentally twisting your wrist to a point that it badly affects your hand’s mobility.
Besides twists, falls can also contribute to pickleball wrist injuries. This can lead to intense pain and discomfort for a long period of time. If the impact is great, it can also result in a fracture, which can unfortunately lead to permanent damage to the wrist.
Here are some ways you can prevent possible wrist injuries during your pickleball game…
Use a shock dampening paddle
If you’re new to pickleball, you might not be familiar with all the various pickleball paddles and how to choose the best one. But the easiest way to reduce wrist injuries is by using the right gear, and one of them is a shock dampening paddle.
These types of paddles have textured surfaces, which distribute the vibration evenly across the gear, preventing the risk of wrist injuries.
While these shock dampening paddles are a bit costly, it’s still definitely worth the price. Rest assured that it will provide the proper protection to your wrist.
When you invest in the right type of paddle, you can easily prevent serious impacts that can cause damage to your wrists.
Pickleball warm up
Even though it is a medium intensity sport, pickleball can cause wrist injuries, especially when you don’t prepare your body well before the game. When doing Pickleball warm-ups, make sure that you include your wrist in the session too. Stretching and other wrist exercises help maintain and restore mobility of the wrist.
As an additional tip, try to wearing a tightly fitted wrist guard during warm-up so you don’t accidentally twist or break your wrist bone.
Wear Wrist support
Wearing a good quality wrist support can prevent wrist injuries not just during warm up but also during your pickleball game. It prevents accidental wrist injuries when, for example, you hit the ball back to your opponent.There are several available in the market but the Mueller Green Fitted is one of the best options on the market.
Besides being durable, the wrist brace is also versatile and has a universal fit. It comes in varying sizes and is sold in individual pieces to fit either one of your wrists. So, if you want to protect both of your wrists, you’d have to buy two pieces of wrist support.
In case you do accidentally injure your wrist, the wrist brace can relieve the pain and swelling over time. Despite having a sturdy design, the wrist support allows a free range of motions for your fingers as you grip the paddle.
2. Pickleball knee injuries
Another common pickleball injury is in the knees. Much like other racket sports like tennis, you can experience knee injuries when playing pickleball too.
Some of the common types of pickleball knee injuries include sprains, ligament and meniscal tears. You can sustain them either when you fall or lose your balance during a very rigorous game of
pickleball.
Wear the right shoes
One of the main causes of pickleball knee injuries is having poor shoes and gear. So, the easiest way to prevent knee injuries is by wearing sturdy shoes with a firm grip so you won’t accidentally slip while playing.
Good shoes also provide stability to the stance of the player. Comfortable and flexible shoes also enable the players to move around the court without any kinds of restrictions.
Warm up
It is very important to do a warm-up before engaging in any kind of sport. Lack of stretching before the game can result in accidental tearing of the tendons and ligaments, which can cause intense pain.
Make sure to do the basic full-body stretch and workout to ensure that you don’t leave out any important body parts, such as the knees. Some of the best knee warm-ups for pickleball include high-
knee marches and squats and lunges. These strengthen the muscles around your knee area, giving you stability.
Wear ankle support
Just like wrist braces, there are several popular ankle support available in the market right now. You can use those to your benefit to prevent the risks of accidental ankle twists and injuries that frequently occur during pickleball.
Among all the available options, the SB Sox Plantar Fasciitis compression socks are one of the best options in the market. Although it is mainly used for post-injury support, wearing it during your pickleball games helps you prevent twisting or injuring your ankle during the game.
The compression socks are made with high-quality, moisture-wicking material that protects your foot or ankle during the game. Even though it’s quite flexible, it still provides the player with the much needed support during the game.
In case you do end up accidentally injuring yourself during a pickleball game, these socks can effectively reduce the swelling and pain as you recover from the injury.
3. Pickleball elbow
If you don’t experience any sudden pain or injuries during a pickleball game, but experience dull and throbbing pain over time, it could be a sign of Pickleball elbow. This affects the mobility of the wrist and is caused by the overuse of the extensor muscles in the forearm.
Among the other types, the Pickleball elbow is the most serious one a player can experience. Not only can it cause long-term damage, it can also lead to permanent injury that can prevent a player from playing pickleball.
Wear a Pickleball elbow brace
The most ideal way to prevent Pickleball elbow injury is by wearing an elbow brace. These braces provide support and also help prevent vibration shock from paddles in the elbow or wrist, which is very common when playing pickleball.
Among the available options, the Kunto Fitness Elbow Brace is one we highly recommend. This top-quality product is readily available on Amazon. It is also made with different materials, such
as nylon, spandex and rubber, to offer maximum grip and comfort for prolonged wear.
The material used in this elbow brace is comfortable to wear for a prolonged period of time. In other words, you get the full range of motion and you won’t feel restricted when you wear the brace.
The main advantage of this elbow brace is the protection it provides. It provides uniform distribution of the pressure across the elbow that reduces the risks of damage or accidents to the elbow joints, especially during an intense pickleball match.
Unlike other cheaper elbow braces, the Kunto Fitness Elbow Brace has a true fit design that ensures that it won’t slip down your arms during the game. And since Kunto is a reliable brand, their elbow brace comes with a manufacturer’s warranty too.
Conclusion
As with any other sport, pickleball can cause injuries, most especially to your wrist, knees and elbow. Not only can playing pickleball cause bumps and bruises, it can also cause ligament tears and
muscle cramps.
But with proper warm-up and the right protective gear, you can prevent the risk of injuries and continue enjoying a pickleball game. Prevention is a much better option than dealing with long-term
and serious pickleball injuries.
