Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports, but with its rise in popularity comes an increase in pickleball related injuries. At Athlete’s Care, we commonly see sprains and strains, particularly in the ankles, knees, and other lower-body extremities. These injuries often occur due to slips, trips, falls, sudden changes in direction, lunging, pivoting, and repetitive movements during play. Fortunately, most pickleball injuries are preventable with the right preparation and training.
Warm Up and Cool Down are Essential
One of the most important injury prevention strategies is completing a warm-up before playing to help activate muscles, improve mobility and prepare the body for movement. After your game, a cool-down afterwards with gentle stretching can help decrease stiffness after activity.
Wear Proper Court Shoes
Wearing proper court shoes is also essential, as they provide traction and lateral stability needed to reduce slips, falls, and ankle injuries. Running shoes, while comfortable, are not designed for the side-to-side movements common in pickleball.
Improve Footwork and Technique
Players should also focus on learning proper footwork and movement patterns to avoid placing unnecessary stress on their joints.
Build Strength and Stability
Strength training plays a key role in preventing pickleball injuries. Exercises that strengthen the ankles, legs, shoulders, core and forearms, enhance joint stability can help the body better handle the demands of the sport. Cross-training activities such as walking, cycling or resistance training can also improve overall fitness and reduce the likelihood of overuse injuries.
Listen to Your Body
Staying hydrated, playing at an appropriate skill level, and listening to your body are equally important. If pain or discomfort develops, taking time to rest and recover can help prevent minor issues from becoming serious injuries.
At Athlete’s Care, our physiotherapy and sports medicine team can help assess, treat, and prevent pickleball injuries so you can continue playing safely. Click to book an appointment with an Athlete's Care practitioner. The key to long-term success in pickleball isn’t just playing harder, it’s playing smarter.
Athlete’s Care is a proud sponsor of the RacquetsUp Expo 2027 - The Global Racquet Sport Industry Summit
Sources: Azar et al. (2024), Cleveland Clinic, and USA Pickleball.
.png)
Appointments Available Today
Book An Appointment