I found myself at StatMed recently (for something unrelated to pickleball). Imagine my surprise when I was told by a staff member that they had seen numerous pickleball injures - everything from pulled muscles, stitches, and more!
When you don't warm up you are setting yourself up for an injury. Picture this ... You plan to play at a particular time and you arrive at the courts. You remembered your water, your visor, your safety glasses, and most importantly, your paddle. The anticipation of getting started is overwhelming. The noise of the balls being hit by a paddle, the familiar sound of your playmates laughing, calling you over to play. Would you do it? I know what I'd do ... I'd grab my paddle and hit the courts! Yep, wrong answer! It is so critical to get your muscles warmed up before you hit the courts. Often you'll have an opportunity to dink for a few minutes, but the urge to get that first point takes over and there you are - on the courts playing. We all have five minutes, right? Do the right thing and get your body warmed up before you play. Your body will thank you!
The first video says 'for seniors' but it works for everyone and a great place to start!
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What she didn't have were the tendons. "I did get hooked and started playing quite a bit before Achilles tendonitis and tendinosis took over," Theim explained. "I already had existing problems with my knees." She picked up pickleball during the pandemic, quickly going from a somewhat sedentary lifestyle to hitting the court several times a week. Then her body boycotted. Dr. Alex Johnson, an orthopedic surgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital, explains that one factor in pickleball injuries is that the game pitches itself as being so accessible that some players don't give their bodies time to ramp up. Johnson said he sees a lot of pickleball-related overuse injuries. "It's kind of been labeled as the sport for everyone," Johnson said. "And I think it is, but it's definitely a sport. It can be pretty strenuous." Over the past two years, the number of pickleball-related injuries has nearly doubled, from just under 9,000 in 2020, to just over 17,000 in 2022, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. Since 2018, the popular paddles have been responsible for more than 60,000 emergency room visits, per CPSC data, and approximately 75% of those injured during that time were between the ages of 55 and 75. "When you start to have sustained soreness, you just got to give your body time to heal," Johnson said. As for Theim, she's rallying with help from a new knee and a gentler approach. "Invest in some lessons," Theim advises. "Definitely getting your form correct will get important if you really get addicted." Dr. Johnson also recommends stretching beforehand and wearing sturdy shoes, not running shoes.
My instructors and I focus on court safety; we teach our beginners of all ages and skill levels to play "their" game and with people with whom they are comfortable playing. The fact that someone with a knee or hip replacement is interested in becoming more active is wonderful and we encourage them to check out our StartUp (beginner classes). We offer a six week program - an hour a week - to ease them into a more active lifestyle. We stretch with them and give them the tools they need to play safely. Sadly, the instructor classes I have attended or read about do not focus on safety and I think that is a mistake.
We offer several classes each and every one focuses on playing safely and correctly utliizing drills, a ball machine, and certified instructors. USA Pickleball: Things to Consider to Stay Healthy |
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Elizabeth Wyse dba Ozark Community Pickleball Categories
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