No matter what your skill level or experience with Pickleball, learning how to prepare your body correctly is the key to enjoying the sport. Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America, and the game is gaining more and more players every day.
Pickleball is an easy and fun way to stay active. The sport is similar to other racquet sports and is often played on modified tennis courts. It is especially popular with older, retired folks looking to stay active and enjoy the social aspects associated with the game.
Unfortunately, people jump right into the sport without any preparation or training to prepare their bodies for the demands on their muscles, tendons, and joints. At Gulf Shore Physical Therapy Center in Sarasota, our physical therapists have proven success working with people of all ages to recover from injury and resume whatever sport they enjoy.
Request an appointment with one of our specialists and let us help you resolve any injury (old and new) and design a program to make sure you minimize the risk of future injuries!
The most common injuries associated with Pickleball
As with any sport, injuries are part of playing the game of Pickleball. The sport’s popularity has opened it up to people of all ages. The game is easy to play for beginners and can also meet the requirements of a more competitive player with the possibility of a fast-paced match for singles or doubles. As the popularity grows, so too does the risk of injury.
The sport requires abrupt changes of direction and stopping and starting movements, all of which have been linked to non-contact injuries like sprains and strains. There is also the potential for falling and repetitive movement type injuries, especially to the upper extremities. Another potential risk of injury stems from the lack of preparation and the age of the deconditioned athletes.
The most common injuries in Pickleball include:
- Ankle sprains
- Achilles tendon injuries and inflammation
- Patella (knee cap) tendinopathies
- Hamstring, adductor (inner thigh), or quadriceps muscle strains
- Shoulder impingements and rotator cuff injuries
- Elbow tendonitis (Tennis elbow)
- Wrist fractures from falls
Fortunately, our physical therapists are experts at treating all injuries related to Pickleball and any other sport. We will provide a comprehensive program including the most advanced therapeutic techniques to help you resolve your injury and get back on the court sooner than later!
What to expect at your Gulf Shore Physical Therapy Center physical therapy sessions
Physical therapy should start immediately following most injuries to ensure the fastest recovery possible. A physical therapist with experience treating sports-related injuries will conduct a thorough evaluation to determine the injury’s severity and identify any other factor that may affect your ability to recover promptly.
Next, your therapist at Gulf Shore Physical Therapy Center will create a targeted, individualized treatment plan for you to promote an accelerated recovery plan and prevent future injuries associated with Pickleball.
For example, your Sarasota physical therapist will guide you through exercises designed to help the injury and return to your pre-injury abilities. We will start with pain management and restoring mobility to the injured area.
Next, we will focus on progressing your strength, balance, and coordination to ensure you can move and change directions safely and effectively for participation in the game. Our programs are designed to restore function and prevent future injuries.
Our goal is to give you the tools to stay on the court pain-free and injury-free. We will provide you with an effective warm-up and cool-down program to keep your muscles and joints working correctly. We will also make sure you are educated on increasing your strength and endurance to improve your overall performance on the court and minimize the risk of injury.
Request an appointment today!
At Gulf Shore Physical Therapy Center in Sarasota, our therapists are experts at treating Pickleball-related injuries. We have proven success with treating athletes of all skill levels and ages.
Call today to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists!
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