As Pickleball Surges in Popularity, So Do Pickleball Injuries
Fifty-eight years ago, in 1965, a congressman from Washington state picked up some ping-pong paddles and handed them to his family. Using a perforated plastic ball, they began volleying around on an old badminton court. It was just something to do in the moment, a boredom-buster. But they soon found themselves formulating rules and perfecting a game called pickleball.
Today, pickleball has its own major league with 12 teams – soon to be 16, thanks to recent investors like basketball great LeBron James and tennis star James Blake. But never mind Major League Pickleball and the USA Pickleball Association – this game is growing in popularity for recreational players all over Fairfax County and the greater D.C. area.
What is pickleball?
Pickleball is a blend of ping-pong, badminton, and tennis played indoors or outdoors on a small court with a 34”-high net. Because the court is small and you’ve probably got a doubles partner, you might think that you don’t have to move much and that it’s not that stressful.
There’s actually a ton of movement in pickleball. Players stop short and stretch out to get the ball just as tennis players do. They get the same kinds of injuries that tennis players do, too:
- plantar fasciitis
- foot fractures
- tendonitis
- Achilles tendon tears
- Achilles tendon ruptures
How to avoid pickleball injuries to your feet and ankles
- Stretch before you play! Perform lunges, calf stretches, ankle rolls, and jogging to get the blood moving.
- If you’re a beginner, ease into the sport. Play for a short time and don’t push yourself.
- Wear athletic shoes specially designed for court play. They should have hard rubber soles to help prevent your ankle from rolling.
Pickleball is known for being quick, strategic, social, and a really fun form of exercise. Give it a try! If you do sustain a lower leg injury, contact board-certified podiatric surgeon Dr. Kenneth R. Wilhelm at Clifton Foot & Ankle Center. Call our Centreville office at (703) 996-3000 or make an appointment online for expert care of pickleball sprains, strains, fractures, and tears.
