Don’t let pickleball’s reputation as a gentler sport fool you. A single rally can have you shuffling sideways, stopping short, twisting, reaching overhead, and backpedaling toward the baseline. After a couple of hours, your body may have something to say about it.
Like soccer and golf, pickleball comes with its own common aches and injuries. Here’s what players should know, and how chiropractic care can help.
Important Facts About Pickleball and Injuries
- 24.3 million Americans played pickleball in 2025, a 22.8% increase in one year and more than five times the participation seen in 2020.
- In a nationwide survey of 1,758 players, 68.5% reported an injury within the previous 12 months, and 40.8% missed at least one day of activity because of it.
- A 10-year study of emergency department data found pickleball injuries have increased 88% since 2020, with adults 50 and older accounting for 91% of cases.
- Mount Sinai researchers found that falls caused 65.5% of injuries. Fractures were the most common diagnosis, and the wrist was the most frequently injured body part.
But one of the most important statistics has less to do with pickleball itself. A clinical review in Cureus notes that many older adults taking up the sport were previously sedentary.
That’s good news: pickleball is getting people moving. The problem comes when the body is suddenly asked to sprint, pivot, twist, and lunge after years of limited activity.
Pickleball itself isn’t the problem. Too much, too soon is. And because the game is so much fun, it can be easy to overdo it.
15 Common Pickleball Injuries
1. Ankle sprains
A quick lateral push or awkward landing can overstretch the ankle ligaments leading to sprains and strains. In our offices we do Physiotherapy and Chiropractic care. And wether the injury is acute and or chronic we can help reduce pain, swelling and spasm. The treatments we provide will restore function, mobility and address changes in the lower back, knee or hip caused by limping or favoring one side.
2. Achilles tendinitis and tears
Repeated push-offs can irritate the Achilles tendon, causing pain and stiffness above the heel. A sudden pop or suspected rupture requires immediate medical evaluation. For overuse injuries, care may focus on ankle mechanics, calf tightness, mobility, and flexibility.
3. Calf strains (“tennis leg”)
Sudden lunges and quick starts can strain or tear the calf muscles, sometimes with a noticeable “pop.” Treatment may include soft tissue therapy, mobility work, and a gradual return to activity to reduce the chance of re-injury.
4. Plantar fasciitis
Hard courts, repetitive movement, and poor footwear can contribute to stabbing heel pain, especially with those first steps in the morning. Care may address the foot and ankle, tight calves, and movement patterns higher up the leg that affect how you load your feet. Foot pain is one of several conditions people are surprised a chiropractor treats.
5. Knee ligament and meniscus injuries
Quick direction changes and twisting on a planted foot can injure the knee ligaments or meniscus. Injuries as a whole regardless of significance, depth, swelling, bruising, redness and immobility should be evaluated by Dr. Levi. The treatments and care in our offices will support recovery by addressing mobility and compensations in the knee, lower back and the adjacent joints.
6. Patellar tendinitis
Repeated squatting and lunging can irritate the tendon below the kneecap, often causing pain during stairs, squats, or play. Improving hip, knee and ankle mobility by performing target stretches developed by Dr. Levi will aid by reducing tightness and will prevent future injuries in the surrounding muscles that can help take excess stress off the knee.
7. Hamstring strains
A hard lunge or sudden deceleration can overstretch the hamstring. Because these injuries are prone to recurrence, care should look beyond the sore muscle to factors such as hip mobility, pelvic mechanics, strength, and movement patterns. Our care will address all those deficiencies.
8. Hip flexor and groin strains
Wide lunges and rapid changes of direction can strain the front of the hip or inner thigh. Treatment may include soft tissue work and improving mobility through the hips and pelvis. For players with underlying joint degeneration, chiropractic care may also treat, help and manage arthritis-related joint pain.
9. Lower back strain
Pickleball asks your spine to rotate, extend, and bend repeatedly, often for hours at a time. Chiropractic care can help restore mobility in restricted areas while addressing hip and upper-back stiffness that may place more stress on the lower back.
10. Herniated and bulging discs
Repetitive bending, twisting, or existing spinal problems can sometimes aggravate a disc injury. Symptoms may include back pain, numbness, tingling, or pain traveling into an arm or leg. We specialize and care for any disc injury as well as flare up of old disc injuries-herniations through conservative methods without surgery. Our methods of care are successful and result based,
11. Sciatica flare-ups
Pain that travels from the lower back or buttock down the leg can develop when the sciatic nerve or its nerve roots become irritated. These types of flare ups can be pretty persistent, timely examination and treatment holds a big advantage. If you experience Sciatica, STOP your activities and call us for evaluation. Continuing to play and ignoring your body’s warning signs will deepen the injury and place remission farther out.
12. Neck strains
Repeatedly looking up to track lobs and overhead shots can leave the neck stiff and sore and may contribute to headaches, nerve impingement and neck pain. After thorough examination of the neck and related-adjacent areas, diagnosis is made. A treatment plan tailored to address neck mobility while also treating the upper back and shoulders for restrictions that may be adding stress.
13. Rotator cuff injuries and shoulder impingement
Serves and overhead shots repeatedly load the muscles and tendons that stabilize the shoulder. Care may include addressing the shoulder joint, shoulder blade, upper back and neck to improve movement and reduce unnecessary shoulder strain.
14. Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
Pickleball may not be tennis, but the repetitive gripping and wrist motion can cause the same overuse injuries in the elbow. Tennis elbow affects the tendons on the outside of the elbow and can make everything from swinging a paddle to lifting a coffee cup uncomfortable. Treatment may address the elbow, wrist, shoulder, and surrounding soft tissues, while changes to grip or paddle setup can help reduce strain.
15. Wrist sprains, fractures, and tendinitis
Falls make the wrist especially vulnerable in pickleball because players instinctively reach out to catch themselves. Sprains and tendon irritation may respond to conservative care, while suspected fractures require imaging and medical treatment first. Both our offices in Takoma-Langley Park and Gaithersburg have an X-ray facility for imaging. Repetitive gripping can also aggravate carpal tunnel syndrome.
How to Prevent Pickleball Injuries
If you’re dealing with an old injury, arthritis, disc problems, prior surgery, balance issues, or you simply haven’t been active in a while, it’s worth getting checked before you start playing more often. Dr. Levi can evaluate your mobility, identify areas that may be vulnerable to injury, and help you prepare your body for the demands of the game.
Whether you’re new to pickleball or play several times a week, these simple habits can help reduce your risk of injury:
Warm up every time.
Spend five to ten minutes on dynamic movement like arm circles, leg swings, torso rotations, and easy dinking. Save static stretching for afterward.
Ramp up gradually.
Going from a sedentary week to a two-hour Saturday session is an easy way to get hurt.
Take rest days.
Long sessions, frequent play, and back-to-back days can increase injury risk.
Wear court shoes.
Running shoes are designed for forward motion and provide less lateral support.
Loosen your grip.
Gripping the paddle too tightly can strain the elbow and wrist. Make sure the grip size fits your hand.
Avoid backpedaling.
Chasing lobs backward is a common way to fall. Turn and shuffle instead, or let the ball go.
Build core and hip strength.
Better hip mobility and stability can reduce how much work your lower back has to do. Posture work off the court can help too.
Know the difference between sore and hurt.
Mild soreness is one thing. Sharp pain, numbness, tingling, or swelling are signs to stop and get checked. See our tips for preventing spine injuries!
Chiropractic Care & Physiotherapy in Maryland
Dr. Levi treats pickleball players at our Gaithersburg and Takoma-Langley Park, Maryland locations, with a focus on reducing pain, restoring range of motion, and rehabilitating the underlying cause so the injury does not keep coming back.
If you are looking to prevent or treat a pickleball injury, schedule an appointment to receive a customized care plan today! Identifying what is causing that irritation is key to choosing the right treatment.