Pickleball and Sports Injuries: Staying in the Game

Editor’s note: Co-written by Dr. Dao Tran and Dr. Quan Tran, adapted for the web from their feature in Asian Premier Magazine (Vol. 7, pp. 40–41).

Pickleball has exploded in popularity — and for good reason. It’s social, fun, and easy to pick up. But as more players hit the courts, we’re seeing more pickleball-related injuries walk through our doors. The good news? Most of them are preventable, and almost all of them are treatable without surgery.

Why pickleball causes injuries

Pickleball involves quick lateral movements, sudden stops, twisting, and reaching — often by players who are active socially but haven’t trained their bodies for that kind of stop-and-start motion. Add a hard court surface and a competitive streak, and small problems can become real injuries fast.

The most common pickleball injuries

• Ankle sprains and strains — from quick pivots and lunges.
• Shoulder and rotator-cuff pain — from repetitive overhead and reaching shots.
• “Pickleball elbow” — tendon irritation similar to tennis elbow.
• Lower-back pain — from twisting and bending without proper core support.
• Knee pain — from sudden direction changes and squatting for low shots.
• Achilles injuries — one of the more serious risks, especially for players over 50.

How to protect yourself on the court

1. Warm up first. Five to ten minutes of light movement and dynamic stretching makes a real difference.
2. Wear court shoes. Running shoes aren’t built for lateral movement — proper court shoes reduce ankle and knee risk.
3. Strengthen your core and hips. A stable core protects your back and knees during quick movements.
4. Don’t play through pain. Sharp or persistent pain is a signal to stop — not push harder.
5. Cool down and stretch after you play to keep muscles loose and recover faster.

When to see a chiropractor

If pain lingers more than a few days, keeps coming back, or limits how you move, it’s worth getting evaluated. Early treatment almost always means a faster, fuller recovery.

At our offices, we treat athletes and weekend players using a combination of chiropractic care, soft-tissue therapy, and rehabilitation exercises — addressing both the injury and the movement pattern that caused it, so you don’t end up right back on the sidelines.

Our goal isn’t just to get you out of pain — it’s to get you back on the court, stronger than before.

Dealing with a nagging injury? Book an appointment in Torrance or Fountain Valley and let’s get you moving again.