In the cross-sectional retrospective review, researchers explored the demographics, injuries, treatment and mechanism of injury among patients with foot and ankle injuries that occurred while playing pickleball between 2015 and 2023. Some findings from the study were:

• The mean age of the patient was 58 years old.
• 58 percent of patients were men.
• Roughly 80 percent of injuries were traumatic.
• Of the 198 patients examined in the study, 78 were diagnosed with an Achilles tendon rupture.
• The majority of injuries were Achilles tendon ruptures, gastroc (calf) injuries and Achilles tendinopathy injuries.
• The most common mechanisms of injury were running or lunging forward, or having a planted foot while pivoting.

Most patients were treated non-surgically with immobilization, physical therapy or RICE, while 57 patients underwent surgery, with the majority having an Achilles tendon rupture addressed.

Pickleball Study Takeaways

The massive spike in ankle and foot injuries during Pickleball is mostly associated to the significant increase in the amount of people who have taken up the sport. If the sport has grown five-fold in popularity, we should expect injuries to increase five-fold or more, especially if this sport is popular among an older subset. We’ve treated Pickleball players who suffered Achilles tendon tears, calf injuries and every type of ankle sprain, and we expect these trends will continue so long as the sport remains popular.

If you’re into Pickleball, make sure that you work to prevent some common sources of injury. Make sure that you are taking time to warm up and cool down before and after activity, wear the right equipment, make sure that your court is well-maintained, that you are playing in ideal conditions and consider partaking in some additional strength training and balance exercises so that you can more easily handle the physical demands of your sport.

The post Report Suggests Achilles Tendon May Be At Risk During Pickleball appeared first on Lance Silverman, MD - Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Surgeon.

In today’s blog, we take a closer look at some of the ways you can prevent foot and ankle injuries if you’re a regular pickleball player or you’re considering picking up the sport.

Preventing Pickleball Foot And Ankle Injuries

Here’s a look at some of the ways you can help to prevent injuries to your feet and ankles if there’s plenty of pickleball in your future.

1. Choose The Right Shoes – One of the biggest sources of foot and ankle injuries on the pickleball court is due to someone wearing the wrong shoes. If you’re not wearing the right shoes, your feet can stick or your ankle can roll as you try to plant, twist and move. Even running shoes aren’t the best option, because they can provide too much grip for a sport that relies on side to side movement. Look for court shoes or pickleball specific shoes that will provide plenty of support but won’t cause your feet to stick when you need them to be able to slide a little.

2. Warm Up – This is a great tip for your whole body, not just your feet and ankles. Make sure you take 5-10 minutes to stretch before you start playing so that your muscles can ease into activity. This way they will be better able to handle the stress that will be placed on them. Go for a light jog, do some arm circles and stretch your back and hamstrings before you hit the pickleball court.

3. Listen To Your Body – If something just doesn’t feel right during your warm-up routine or you tweak something during a game, don’t try to play through it, because you could be putting yourself at risk for a much larger injury. Calf strains, rolled ankles and Achilles tendinitis pain all serve as warning signs that we should take the day off from intense physical activity. If you don’t, you may soon be dealing with a much worse injury. Listen to your body and stop if something starts to hurt.

4. Cross Train – Finally, make sure you’re working to develop muscles and other soft tissues when you’re not on the pickleball court. Other exercise activities will help to strengthen muscles and other body parts that you’ll rely on when playing pickleball, which can help prevent them from becoming overstressed when you’re on the court. If you only play pickleball and don’t work to develop muscles with other activities, your muscle development can become imbalanced and put you at a heightened risk for injuries.

If you suffer a foot or ankle injury on the pickleball court, or you’ve developed new foot pain and you suspect it has something to do with your activity regimen, reach out to Dr. Silverman’s office today.

The post Tips For Avoiding Foot And Ankle Injuries On The Pickleball Court appeared first on Lance Silverman, MD - Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Surgeon.