Pickleball injuries and Chiropractic Care:
Preventing Injuries and Speeding Recovery
We are seeing more and more patients with pickleball injuries seeking out chiropractic care. It’s not surprising considering pickleball has taken the world by storm, becoming one of the fastest-growing sports in North America. Roughly 20-40 million people will play this year and it’s easy to see why — it’s fun, social, and suitable for all ages. But like any sport, pickleball has its own set of common injuries, and for those who love to play, staying healthy and active is key. That’s where chiropractic care and advanced therapies like shockwave treatment come into play.
Common Pickleball Injuries
While pickleball is considered a low-impact sport, its quick movements, rapid direction changes, and repetitive motions can lead to a range of injuries. Some of the most common pickleball injuries include:
- Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis): Maybe it should be called pickleball elbow, but that really doesn’t have the same ring to it. Either way it presents as pain on the outside of the elbow caused by overuse of the forearm muscles.
- Golfer’s Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis): Pain on the inside of the elbow due to repetitive gripping and swinging.
- Shoulder Strains and Rotator Cuff Injuries: Caused by overhead serves and aggressive volleys.
- Ankle Sprains: Resulting from quick direction changes or unstable surfaces.
- Knee Pain or Strains: Often from sudden stops, pivots, or improper footwear.
- Plantar Fasciitis: Heel pain caused by repeated stress on the foot arch.
Most injuries are caused from repetitive stress, a word of caution bone fractures while playing pickleball are on the rise . There is nothing wrong with a little competition, but pickleball is meant to be fun, so perhaps let that tough shot go instead of diving for it.
How Chiropractic Care Can Help Pickleball Players
At Desert Valley Chiropractic, we specialize in gentle, effective chiropractic care using the Activator Methods technique. Our approach is ideal for pickleball players because it provides safe, precise adjustments without the twisting, cracking, or popping associated with traditional chiropractic care.
- Relieves Pain: Our adjustments help align the joints and reduce stress on the muscles, relieving pain in the elbows, shoulders, knees, and back.
- Improves Flexibility and Mobility: Regular chiropractic care helps maintain joint function, keeping you moving well on the court.
- Reduces Recovery Time: By improving circulation and reducing inflammation, chiropractic care helps you bounce back faster from minor strains or soreness.
Shockwave Therapy for Fast Injury Recovery
For players dealing with stubborn pain or chronic injuries that may be keeping you off the court Shockwave Therapy is a game-changer. This non-invasive treatment uses high-energy acoustic waves to stimulate healing in damaged tissues. It is particularly effective for:
- Tennis and Golfer’s Elbow: Breaking down scar tissue and encouraging healing in the tendons.
- Rotator Cuff Injuries: Promoting blood flow and reducing inflammation in the shoulder.
- Plantar Fasciitis: Relieving stubborn heel pain by accelerating tissue repair.
- Chronic Tendon Injuries: Encouraging faster recovery from overuse injuries common in pickleball.
Prevention of Pickleball Injuries
It is nice to know there are options to help in case of an injury, however it is always wise to focus on prevention first. A great way to avoid an injury while playing pickleball to warm up effectively. Here are 5 effective stretches to perform before playing pickleball to help prevent injuries:
- Shoulder Cross-Body Stretch
- How to Do It: Stand tall. Bring one arm across your chest and use the opposite hand to gently press it towards your body, feeling a stretch in your shoulder.
- Hold for: 15-20 seconds on each side.
- Benefits: Helps warm up the shoulder muscles, reducing the risk of shoulder strains.
- Arm circles
- How to Do It: Stand tall. Bring both arms out to your side. Start and rotate your arms in circles moving forward for 20 repetitions, then repeat moving backwards.
- Benefits: Helps warm up the shoulder muscles, and “lubricate” the shoulder joint reducing the risk of shoulder strains.
- Hip Circles and leg swing
- How to Do It: Use a stationary object for balance and do one leg at a time. Swing the leg back and forth and then side to side. Lifting the foot up and bending at the knee, make circular motions at the hip joint
- Benefits: Helps warm up the legs and hip joints
- Standing Quad Stretch
- How to Do It: Stand tall, grab your ankle, and pull your heel towards your glutes while keeping your knees close together. Use a wall for balance if needed.
- Hold for: 15-20 seconds on each side.
- Benefits: Loosens the thigh muscles, reducing knee strain.
- Torso twists or core warm up
- How to Do it: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and arms outstretched. Twist your torso to the right, then to the left, in a controlled motion.
- Repeat: For 30 seconds.
Why Choose Desert Valley Chiropractic for Pickleball Injury Care?
At Desert Valley Chiropractic our Phoenix Top Doctors, we combine our expertise in gentle chiropractic care with the latest in technology, including Shockwave Therapy. Our personalized approach helps you stay active, recover faster, and play your best game — without pain holding you back.
If you’re an avid pickleball player or just getting started, don’t let injuries keep you off the court. Contact us today at (602) 439-1515 or visit our website at desertvalleychiropractic.com to schedule your appointment and keep your game strong.
