The injury risk of playing pickleball is higher than you might think – and it’s certainly higher than any of us want it to be.
If you’re over 50, it’s even worse.
A recent study revealed that 90% of pickleball-related injuries in emergency rooms affected people over 50, with half being sprains or fractures. In 2023 alone, these injuries generated over $350 million in medical costs, and from 2002 to 2022, fractures linked to pickleball saw a staggering 90-fold increase, particularly in players aged 60 to 69.
While pickleball is a fantastic way to stay active, these stats are a sobering reminder that the sport carries real risks, especially for older players, making injury prevention (and preparation) essential.
The Most Common Pickleball Injuries
Here are the most common injuries that affect pickleball players aged 50 and older:
- Strains and sprains: These account for 33.2% of pickleball-related injuries in seniors.
- Fractures: 28.1% of injuries are fractures.
- Contusions and abrasions: These make up 10.6% of injuries in older players.
- Wrist injuries: Particularly common in older female players, who are nine times more likely to suffer a wrist fracture than male players.
- Lower extremity injuries: These account for 29% of all injuries, including the…
