Pickleball has become popular in recent years. It’s a great source of fun and physical activity. But as I have discussed in another post and video, a pickleball injury can occur. Injuries like ankle sprains, Achilles tendonitis or Achilles tendon ruptures, hamstring or quadriceps muscle strains, shoulder impingement and rotator cuff tears and even wrist fractures do occur.

If you want to play pickleball regularly, take some simple steps to at least decrease your risk of suffering a pickleball injury.

Avoid playing pickleball on a wet court.

It might seem like common sense, but playing pickleball on a wet court sets you up to suffer an injury. Slipping on the wet surface can cause you to have a sprained ankle, Achilles tendon rupture, or many other injuries. Make sure the court is dry before you start playing.

Also read:
5 common pickleball injuries

Warm up and stretch before playing.

Just like other sports and exercise, stretching before activity is a good idea before you play pickleball. Take a few minutes and stretch your lower and upper body. Stretch your Achilles tendon and calf muscles, quadriceps and hamstrings muscles in your thigh, your hip and groin muscles, lower back, and your shoulder.

Wear the correct shoes.

Instead of wearing running shoes that could catch when you plant your foot to change directions, wear the proper court shoes. If you aren’t sure what shoes are best, ask someone experienced in pickleball.

You need court shoes that allow you to move around the court in different directions. You must be able to move forward and backpedal without your shoe catching on the floor. The shoe must allow you to slide a little to get to a shot.

Use protective eye wear.

Wear goggles or some sort of protective eye wear. As in other sports with balls flying through the air, you can get hit in the eye and suffer an injury that causes you to lose vision.

Also read:
Prevent eye injuries in sports and exercise

Get aches and pains from a pickleball injury checked out.

Most of the time, when you have a sore shoulder or ankle without a traumatic injury, it isn’t the result of a serious injury. Often a little rest, modifying activities for a few days, ice or physical therapy can get you back on the court pain free.

It can be worthwhile to see a sports medicine doctor to find out what the cause of your pain is soon after it develops so that you can take steps to get better quickly. Plus, you avoid potentially making an injury worse.