Pickleball-related injuries are on the rise, doctors say

As pickleball’s popularity has skyrocketed, so have serious injuries to players. Bone fractures related to the game have increased 200% in 20 years, a new study found.

As pickleball’s popularity has skyrocketed, so have the number of serious injuries among players.

Bone fractures related to pickleball have increased 200% over the last 20 years, according to an analysis of a large government injury database presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons on Monday.

Pickleball, which is played with a perforated plastic ball and wooden paddles on a badminton-sized court, is the fastest growing sport in the U.S., with the number of players rising from 4.8 million in 2021 to 8.9 million in 2023, according to USA Pickleball.

The overall rate of injuries is likely much higher. The new analysis only looked at fractures, not the most common soft tissue injuries like sprained ankles or debilitating knee injuries such as damage to the ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament. Other common pickleball injuries include rotator cuff injuries, worsening of arthritis, Achilles tendon tears/strains and foot fractures.

The vast majority of the fractures found in the new study, 92%, occurred during falls.

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/pickleball-injuries-rising-bone-fractures-rcna137044

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