Equipment

There is not a lot of individual equipment required for Pickleball, other than a racket. However, proper footwear can help prevent acute and chronic injury. Making sure that shoes fit properly and limit sliding of the foot can prevent excess friction on the foot. Given the need for lateral stability due to rapid side to side movements, cross-training or court shoes would be preferred to running shoes. For people with chronic ankle pain or instability issues, an ankle brace with laces and/or straps may help provide lateral stability. Likewise, for participants with chronic knee pain or stability issues, a lightweight compressive knee brace may provide increased comfort and stability.

Injury Prevention

For more general injury prevention, regular cardiovascular exercise outside of Pickleball can help limit fatigue associated with play. The United States Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion recommends 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic physical activity per week.10 If one is not playing Pickleball for 150 minutes every week, then cardiovascular exercise including running, jogging, or lower impact activities such as biking, elliptical machine, pool walking or swimming can help promote general fitness.

Pickleball is an easy to learn, low impact exercise that can be enjoyed by most people. However, if a person has significant cardiovascular or pulmonary conditions that limit their ability to exert themselves, participating in Pickleball or other exercise activities should be discussed with their physician. Also, if a person has a functionally limiting musculoskeletal problem such as severe osteoarthritis, one should be cautious when beginning Pickleball, given the hard surface and recurrent impact with quick steps and rapid starting and stopping.

Conclusion

Pickleball is a very popular and rapidly growing sport. Given its ease of play and low impact nature, it can be an enjoyable way for people of all ages to stay active and fit and help to promote a healthy lifestyle. As with all sports, there is a risk for a variety of injuries. However, taking a few steps in preparation coupled with proper knowledge of one’s own health, Pickleball can be an enriching activity enjoyed by players of all ages (Figure 3).

 

Figure 3

Pickleball tournaments are popular as vacation destinations.

For more information about Pickleball, visit the USAPA website at usapa.org.

Footnotes