A number of industries and activities took off during the COVID-19 pandemic, and one sport that saw an immense rise in popularity was pickleball. Pickleball is like a hybrid version of tennis and ping pong, and it has become super popular, especially among older adults, over the past few years. And as a large group of people quickly increase their activity levels with new movements, injuries will follow.
In fact, a recent study found that pickleball injuries are expected to lead to roughly $377 million in healthcare costs this year alone. One of the most common areas of the body that will be injured during pickleball is the shoulder. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at common shoulder injuries that can develop during pickleball, and how these injuries can be prevented and treated.
Common Shoulder Injuries In Pickleball
Pickleball players will regularly use their arms and shoulders to swing their racquet during a standard volley, and while they may not be stressing their shoulders as much as a tennis player or golfer, the sport can certainly lead to shoulder injuries. Here’s a closer look at some of the more common shoulder injuries suffered by pickleball players.
- Rotator Cuff Injuries – Your rotator cuff is a group of four muscles that help provide stability to the shoulder joint. If these muscles are irritated or torn due to stress or acute trauma, shoulder movement can become painful.
- Tendonitis – Biceps and rotator cuff tendonitis can develop when someone greatly increases the amount of stress they put on their muscles. If you are playing pickleball too frequently or for extended periods, tendonitis can develop.
- Fractures – Shoulder and collarbone fractures are also an unfortunate reality for many pickleball players. Falls onto the hard court while trying to track down a ball can result in shoulder fractures that will require months to heal.
- Dislocations – Falls or overhead swinging motions can also sometimes lead to a dislocation injury where the humeral head disengages from the shoulder socket. Dislocations feel much better once the ball and socket are reset, but you’re also at a much greater risk for subsequent dislocations now that the supportive tissues that hold the humeral head in place have been overstretched and possibly torn.
Preventing And Treating Pickleball Injuries
No injuries are completely preventable, especially during athletic activities, but if you approach pickleball with a specific mindset, you can reduce your risk of injuries. Here’s what you can do:
- Slowly Increase Your Activity Level – Overuse injuries are one of the leading causes of shoulder strains, sprains and tendonitis onset. You may love playing pickleball, but slowly increase your activity levels over time. Putting too much strain on your shoulder in too short of a time period is a recipe for overuse injuries.
- Crosstrain – Pickleball may help to keep you active, but consider adding some other types of exercise or training to your weekly routine. Lower body workouts can help you improve your balance and keep you on your feet, both of which are helpful on the pickleball court. Balance and coordination-focused exercises can help to lower your risk of fall-related injuries.
- Allow Your Body To Recover – It’s not uncommon to experience some soreness after an extended period of activity, and this is a sign that your body is getting stronger. However, you also need to give your body a little time away from activity to recover. This ties back to the first point about avoiding overstress injuries, but be sure that you are listening to your body and giving it time to recover after activity, otherwise weakened or tired muscles may put you at risk for injuries.
- Treat Small Problems – Finally, don’t try to keep playing through shoulder discomfort. Proactively treat small problems so that they don’t turn into major issues. Whether that is with some rest and physical therapy, or with the help of a shoulder specialist, make sure that you don’t ignore a shoulder injury, otherwise there’s a good chance discomfort will linger or worsen.
Dr. Holloway is well-versed in treating sports-related shoulder injuries, and he’s no stranger to pickleball injuries. He’ll provide you with a comprehensive diagnosis and set you up with an individualized treatment plan. He can set you up with a short-term physical therapy program or conduct a surgical procedure, whatever your injury calls for at the moment. For more information about treating shoulder injuries from swinging sports, or to talk to a specialist about a different shoulder issue that you’re experiencing, reach out to Dr. Holloway and his team today at (865) 410-7887.
