The Effect of Pickleball on Your Body and Your Future!

The Effect of Pickleball on Your Body and Your Future!

Pickleball has been labeled by several sources as America’s fastest-growing sport, with an estimated 48.3 million players in 2023—nearly 20% of the U.S. population. Thanks to its smaller court size and slower ball speed, pickleball is often viewed as a less physically demanding racquet sport compared to tennis or badminton. But don’t let that fool you.

Despite its reputation, pickleball still requires a surprising amount of physical effort. Players are constantly accelerating and decelerating, changing directions quickly, and occasionally jumping or lunging for shots. These multi-directional movements place axial and rotational stress on the body, which can increase the risk of injury. Because pickleball seems easier on the body, many players underestimate the physical demands of the sport and skip proper warm-ups or injury-prevention routines—setting themselves up for problems down the road.

Even though pickleball continues to explode in popularity, there’s still limited research on injury patterns among players. One cross-sectional study of over 2,000 adult pickleball players across the U.S. offers some valuable insight. The results showed that “non–time-loss” injuries—injuries that don’t force players to stop playing—were far more common than major, time-loss injuries. Most reported issues were related to overuse, rather than acute injuries like fractures or major tears.

The knee was the most frequently injured area for both men and women, which makes sense given how much agility and rapid direction changes the sport demands. This was followed by injuries to the shoulder, back, and elbow, highlighting the importance of proper upper-body mechanics. Lower-body areas like the thigh, leg, and foot also accounted for a significant portion of injuries, reflecting how hard pickleball can be on the lower extremities. While many of these injuries may seem minor at first, ignoring them can lead to bigger issues—sometimes requiring surgery, physical therapy, and a lot of unnecessary time and money.

(Shows the percentage of reported injury in each location between males and females)

Your Solution :)

If you’re already dealing with nagging overuse injuries—or want to stay ahead of them so you can keep enjoying the game—FlowMotion Mobile Assisted Stretching can help. Our customized assisted stretching sessions are designed to address movement imbalances, restore range of motion, and support injury prevention, all while fitting conveniently into your schedule. Recovery shouldn’t slow you down—it should help you keep doing what you love.

If you’re ready to take the first step toward moving and feeling better, we’d love to connect with you.

 Reach out via email: flow.motionsdca@gmail.com 

or

 book directly through our website: www.flowmotionsd.com.  

Until next time, keep Flowing. -Luke