It's hard to miss the pickleball boom. As one of the fastest-growing sports in North America, pickleball has become especially popular with adults over 40. It's social, fun, easy to learn, and an excellent way to stay active. But with that popularity has come a sharp increase in injuries—many of which could be prevented or managed early with physiotherapy. Unlike walking or recreational cycling, pickleball involves repeated bursts of acceleration, quick changes in direction, lunging, reaching overhead, and rapid rotational movements. For many players, these movements are new. Even though the court is smaller than a tennis court, a typical game involves hundreds of quick starts, stops, and repetitive swings. If your muscles, joints, and tendons aren't prepared for these demands, pain or injury can develop.
Some of the most common pickleball injuries we treat include:
- Tennis elbow (pain on the outside of the elbow)
- Rotator cuff and shoulder injuries
- Achilles tendon pain or calf strains
- Plantar fasciitis and heel pain
- Knee pain, including meniscal irritation or osteoarthritis flare-ups
- Low back pain
- Hip and groin strains
- Ankle sprains from quick directional changes
- Wrist injuries after falls
- Hamstring strains
Interestingly, many of these injuries don't happen because people are playing "too much." They often occur because the body hasn't yet adapted to the speed, volume, and repetitive nature of the sport. Someone who hasn't participated in court sports for years may suddenly find themselves playing several times a week because they're enjoying it so much.
A few simple strategies can help reduce your risk:
- Increase your playing time gradually.
- Spend 5–10 minutes warming up before your first game.
- Include strength and balance exercises each week.
- Wear supportive court shoes designed for lateral movement.
- Don't ignore aches that continue after playing.
- Allow recovery days between longer or more competitive sessions.
The goal isn't to stop playing pickleball—it's quite the opposite. Pickleball is an excellent activity for cardiovascular health, strength, balance, and social connection. The key is making sure your body is ready for the demands of the game.
If pain is limiting your enjoyment or affecting your performance, one of our physiotherapists can identify what's contributing to the problem and develop a treatment plan to help you recover, improve movement, and stay on the court. We'd love to help keep you playing all season long so please get in touch!
Call 416.490.0449 or email info@striowskiphysio.com. We’re located at Leslie & Sheppard in North York, and offer in-person care and complimentary 10-minute phone/video calls with one of our physiotherapists to see if we can help.
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