Pickleball Sweeping the Nation – and Emergency Departments? (free version)
Injuries on the rise, especially among older people
Welcome! Thanks for stopping by. If you found your way here through a share or just by accident, you can subscribe for free and get your own issues!
If you haven’t heard about pickleball, you may be one of the few left who don’t know about it. I only learned about it a few months ago, so I’m not one to judge!
So what is pickleball? It’s not as new a sport as some may think. Pickleball is a racket sport similar to tennis but on a court about a quarter of the size, with a net about tennis court height. Instead of a stringed racket and bouncing tennis balls, it’s played with a paddle and plastic ball with holes. It’s been called a sport that is a combination of badminton (court size), tennis (net and ball), and ping pong (the paddle).
Pickleball has been around since 1965, when it was invented by some fathers who wanted to keep their bored children busy. The first known pickleball tournament was in 1976 and the sport even has its own association, USA Pickleball. Some people credit the recent quick rise in interest to the pandemic because it was a great way to get outside and play a game with friends at a socially acceptable distance. And it isn’t as intense as tennis, which many people learn when they are much younger.
Pickleball popularity is growing
According to the website Pickleheads.com, over 36 million people play pickleball and, while it appeals to all ages, “Players aged 55 and up were the largest age bracket of pickleball players in 2021, comprising 19.8% of total participants. Players aged 18 to 34 were the second largest age bracket, making up 18.5% of total participants.”
Sure, anyone playing any sport can get hurt, but pickleball has been in the news lately because of these injuries.
It may be an appealing sport to older people for many reasons. The playing surface covers a smaller area, so there isn’t as much running as with tennis. This means less wear and tear on the hips, knees, and ankles. It’s easier to hit the ball, using less force than it takes to hit a tennis ball. It’s probably gentler on the wrist too because the plastic ball doesn’t hit the paddle as hard as a tennis ball would hit a racket.
All these, combined with the social aspect of playing regularly, can be pretty appealing for someone looking to exercise but feels they can’t learn tennis and doesn’t care for other sports. It is a great way to get outside and work the heart and lungs, that’s for sure. Playing works on hand-eye coordination and could help improve balance, lessening the risk of a fall (off the court). Some players also say it helps mentally as they work on strategy.
But, pickleball can cause injuries
Sure, anyone playing any sport can get hurt, but pickleball has been in the news lately because of these injuries. Since the sport is appealing to older people who may not have been as active as they used to be, there are concerns not just about the injuries themselves, but the associated costs. This article states that pickleball injuries cost about $377 million in healthcare costs this year alone.
A study published in 2021 found that the most common injuries were:
Strains/sprains (Check out Decipher Your Health’s TikTok video on what sprains are.)
Fractures
Contusions (bruises)
The researchers found that senior men (defined as over 60 for this study) were 3.5 times more likely than women the same age to sustain strain or sprain from playing pickleball. Women were over 3.5 times more likely to sustain a fracture overall, and 9 times more likely to break a wrist.
The fractures among older people are concerning because they can have a domino effect on someone’s health. First, they can take longer to heal, especially if you have osteoporosis (thinning of the bones), keeping you out of commission for longer. Severe breaks may need surgery, and having a cast or splint makes independence difficult, especially if you live alone. Food shopping and preparation can become challenging, possibly leading to dehydration or even malnutrition. The pain may force you to limit activities and stay home. Medications for pain can make you drowsy and at risk for a fall, and so on.
Stay safe – and have fun!
I don’t want to be a downer, and I love that there is an activity that draws people to be more active and to get outdoors. So let’s limit your risk of injury if you are an avid pickleballer or someone who picks up a game now and then.
The USA Pickleball Association recommends the following:
Ensure the area you are playing on is clear of any obstacles you could trip on. Do NOT play on a wet court. It’s too easy to slip and fall.
Stretch and warm up before starting a game.
Have proper shoes and equipment. They also recommend eye protection.
Take a break if you’re tired. If it’s very hot, make sure to hydrate, and stop and get out of the sun at the first sign of heat exhaustion.
Wear sunscreen and a hat if the court isn’t shaded.
Don’t back peddle. In other words, don’t run backward to get a ball – many injuries come from falling while back peddling.
If you’re playing doubles, make sure you and your partner communicate so you don’t crash into or strike the other with the racket.
Cool down by walking around and chatting with your friends, taking a slow walk home, or something that helps slow your heart rate down slowly.
Other things you can do:
Ensure the facility has an AED (automatic external defibrillator) in case of emergency. (Decipher Your Health co-founder wrote about using CPR and AEDs to save lives in this blog post.)
Speak with your doctor before starting up to ensure there are no special steps you should take to prevent illness or injury. For example, you may need a knee brace to stabilize the joint while playing.
If someone falls and hits their head while playing, this could lead to a concussion. Be sure to seek help, even if they haven’t lost consciousness.
Do you play pickleball or are you interested in playing? Tell us about the sport and what you like about it in the comments below. Let’s start a conversation.
This issue has a voiceover option for paid subscribers. It’s an added bonus for people who prefer to listen. To get the audio versions and extra issues, subscribe for only $5/month or $50/year. If you are a free subscriber and use computer-generated reading to listen due to visual impairment, please send me a message and I’ll arrange for you to get audio versions as well.
Haven’t subscribed yet? What’s holding you back? Click the Subscribe Now button!