PIckleball’s popularity continues to grow in the U.S., attracting players of all ages and skill sets. This includes quick reflexes, mental strategy, and high-energy movements all combined on the pickleball court. Everything that you do, including participating in pickleball, can come with risks. With these repetitive movements, injuries can occur. You want to maximize your time on the court and take care of yourself between matches. 

Here are some common injuries to look out for, and pickleball recovery strategies, including a sports massage for pickleball players that will help keep you out of a pickle.

Common Injuries from Pickleball

Playing pickleball works out your entire body, with a focus on your core, shoulders, and legs. From reaching to lunging and twisting yourself in unique ways, the agility can take a toll on your body. These are five common injuries to look out for:

Sprains

Sprains can occur from quick twists, turns, or pivots while playing pickleball. It is an injury to a ligament that is stretched or even torn due to these quick moves.

Fractures

Fractures occur when there is a crack or split in the bone when too much force is applied to it. Too much force could be you taking a fall on the pickleball court’s hard surface, attempting to catch the fall with your arm, and ending up with a wrist fracture. 

Rotator Cuff Injuries

Your shoulders can bear the brunt of the repetitive motions of swinging a paddle in pickleball. When the shoulder is overused, a rotator cuff can tear, which causes pain and some difficulty limiting your arm’s range of motion.

Tendonitis

Tendonitis occurs when a tendon is inflamed, which can cause it to swell and be painful. This can limit your range of motion due to the pain and swelling from the impacted area.

“Pickleball Elbow”

While many have heard of tennis elbow, pickleball elbow is the same phenomenon called lateral epicondylitis, which is a focused type of tendonitis in the elbow.

As with any injury, you want to take care of yourself, listen to your medical team, listen to your body, and only take on physical movements that are approved by that team during your recovery time. You’ll be back on the court in no time!

Mitigating Pickleball Injuries

Everyone’s routine may look different for mitigating injury based on your lifestyle, history of injuries, and overall health. If you’re recovering from an injury related to pickleball, you could be off the court for a while. When in doubt, contact your physician to ensure you are taking the optimal steps to mitigate common injuries faced in pickleball.

Here are some pickleball preparation and recovery steps you can take before and after you spend time on the court.

Hydration

Our body releases sweat as a way of regulating body temperature during physical activity. Drinking water regularly can help your body stay hydrated and in balance for peak performance. Electrolytes or other vitamin supplementation can help mitigate dehydration so you can continue playing without negative side effects.

High-Quality Equipment

The investment into what shoes you wear, to the paddle you hold during a pickleball match can help you to mitigate injuries on the court. Investing the time into proper technique and the right tools for the sport will pay off in dividends when it comes to your health.

Stretching

Before, during, and after a match are all great opportunities to stretch your limbs out. The two benefits of stretching include increased flexibility and mobility. Pickleball’s multiplanar movements mean that you should spend up to ten minutes prioritizing stretches around the common injury areas, such as the shoulder, leg, and back muscles.

Steam Rooms and Saunas

As a form of heat therapy, steam rooms, and saunas can play a part in one’s pickleball recovery by relaxing the muscles. This reduces the impact of muscle contraction after intense movement.

Foam Rollers/Percussive Sports Massage Tools

Rolling out your sore muscles with a foam roller or percussive sports massage tool is a great way to release tension in your muscles after a match. This is a way to promote self-myofascial release (SMR). A roller allows you to apply pressure to targeted sore areas, such as the iliotibial (IT) band, hamstrings, or glutes. 

Sports Massage

A massage after sports exertion is a great form of aftercare that you can set up in advance. Mobile sports massages offer targeted relief personalized to what you need at that moment.

No matter what your pickleball recovery routine looks like, consistency is key to maintaining your physiological health. Feel free to try the above options, or add them in one session at a time to see what impact it has on your ability to crush it on the court.

Benefits of a Sports Massage for Pickleball Players

A sports massage targets muscle groups strained from overuse or repetitive motion, and can bring great relief to those who partake in physical activity such as pickleball. The main benefits of a sports massage for pickleball players include accelerated injury recovery, reduced muscle soreness, and enhanced performance. 

Through deep kneading and stretching techniques, a sports massage helps release muscle tension to make movements more fluid. Additionally, by improving circulation, this type of massage helps muscles receive a greater supply of oxygen and nutrients crucial for healing and recovery.

Soothe’s network of skilled sports massage therapists are dedicated to helping you prevent future injuries. Each treatment is tailored specifically to your needs, moving beyond generic approaches to offer a truly personalized experience.

Getting a sports massage near you is convenient and easy with Soothe. Book with licensed massage therapists who can come directly to your location on your schedule, whether it’s your home, office, or hotel room.