Common Pickleball Injuries: What Gets Hurt, Why, and How to Avoid It
By José Cabrera · October 3, 2026 · 7 min read
The most common pickleball injuries are falls leading to wrist fractures and bruises, sprains and strains of the ankle, knee and calf, Achilles tendon injuries, and overuse problems like pickleball elbow. Studies of U.S. emergency department data show most serious injuries involve players over 60 and that nearly half come from falls. Warm-ups, court shoes and never backpedaling prevent most of them.
Pickleball is easier on the body than most racket sports, which is exactly why so many people take it up later in life. But it is not injury-free, and the injuries it does cause follow a clear pattern.
Here is what the data says, the injuries you are most likely to run into, why they happen and what actually prevents them. This is general information, not medical advice: if something hurts, especially after a fall, see a doctor.
What the research shows
Studies of U.S. emergency department records published in 2025 give a clear picture of the serious end of pickleball injuries:
- Injuries have risen sharply along with the number of players. National estimates of pickleball-related emergency visits went from roughly 1,300 in 2014 to roughly 24,500 in 2023.
- Most serious injuries involve older players. Adults 60 and over accounted for about three quarters of emergency visits in one analysis.
- Falls are the main cause. Nearly half of injuries involved hitting the ground, often while moving backward or sideways.
- Fractures and sprains lead. The most common diagnoses were fractures, especially of the wrist, and sprains and strains.
Two things are worth keeping in perspective. The rise mostly reflects how many more people now play, and emergency data captures only the serious end. Most pickleball aches are minor and never go near a hospital. But the pattern is useful, because it shows exactly where the risk is.
1. Falls and wrist fractures
The most serious common injury. A player backpedals for a lob, catches a heel, falls backward and reaches out a hand to break the fall. The wrist takes the impact.
Prevention: never backpedal fast. Turn sideways and shuffle, or let the lob go and let your partner cover it. Wear court shoes with good grip, and keep courts clear of stray balls, which are an easy trip hazard.
2. Ankle sprains
Quick lateral steps and sudden changes of direction can roll an ankle, especially in running shoes, which are built for forward motion and have less side support.
Prevention: court shoes with lateral support. The case for them is in why court shoes matter.
3. Calf strains and Achilles injuries
A sudden push-off, often a lunge toward the kitchen, can strain the calf or, more seriously, injure the Achilles tendon. Players often describe feeling as if they were kicked in the back of the leg.
Prevention: warm up properly before the first game, including gentle calf stretches, and avoid explosive lunges when you are cold. Any sudden pain at the back of the ankle needs a doctor quickly.
4. Knee pain and injuries
Does pickleball hurt your knees? It can. Quick side-to-side steps, deep lunges and sudden stops load the knees, and players with arthritis or old injuries feel it most. For most people pickleball is still gentler on the knees than tennis or running, because the court is smaller and there is less running.
Prevention: court shoes, a warm-up, staying low with bent knees instead of lunging, and letting your partner take balls you would have to dive for. A knee sleeve or brace helps some players feel more stable; wear one if your knees ask for it. The question of playing after surgery is covered in pickleball after knee replacement.
5. Pickleball elbow
An overuse injury to the tendons on the outside of the elbow, similar to tennis elbow. It builds up gradually from repetitive gripping and hitting, especially with a tight grip or a paddle that does not suit you.
Prevention: a relaxed grip, good technique, and rest days. It gets its own article: pickleball elbow.
6. Shoulder strains
Overheads and hard serves can strain the shoulder, especially for players who did not play racket sports before.
Prevention: warm up the shoulder with gentle arm circles, keep overheads compact and do not add power you have not built up to.
7. Eye injuries
Less common, but a ball at close range at the kitchen line can hit an eye. Some players wear sport glasses for that reason, and it is worth considering in fast games at the net.
8. Heat and exertion
Not an injury in the usual sense, but emergency data includes heat illness and exertional chest pain, especially in older players.
Prevention: hydrate before and during play, avoid midday heat, take a game off when you need to, and stop immediately and seek help for chest pain, unusual shortness of breath or dizziness.
What to do right after an injury on court
This is general guidance, not a substitute for a doctor.
Stop playing. The most common way a minor injury becomes a serious one is finishing the game on it.
After a fall, do not get up too fast. Check for wrist, hip and head pain before standing. Pain in the wrist after landing on an outstretched hand should be checked, because wrist fractures are often mistaken for sprains.
For a sprain or strain, rest, ice wrapped in a cloth, gentle compression and elevation are the usual first steps, followed by a doctor's visit if it does not improve within a couple of days.
Get urgent help for a sudden pop or kick at the back of the ankle, chest pain, severe shortness of breath, dizziness, a head injury, or any pain that makes it impossible to put weight on a leg.
Keep a small first aid kit and an ice pack in your court bag. The regulars at most courts will know where the nearest urgent care is, and it is worth knowing before you need it.
Why older players are most at risk
It is not that pickleball is dangerous for older adults. It is that older players are the core of the sport, they play often, and falls are more serious with age. A fall that bruises a 30-year-old can fracture a 70-year-old's wrist or hip.
Nearly all of the prevention advice above comes back to one thing: stay on your feet. Shoes with grip, no backpedaling, no diving for balls, and a partner who covers lobs.
How to prevent most pickleball injuries
- Warm up for five to ten minutes. Walking, gentle lunges, calf and shoulder movement, easy dinks.
- Wear court shoes. The single cheapest injury prevention in the sport.
- Never backpedal fast. Turn and shuffle, or let it go.
- Do not lunge or dive. No point in a rec game is worth a fall.
- Build up gradually. Going from twice a week to every day is how overuse injuries start.
- Take rest days. Especially for elbows, calves and Achilles tendons.
- Hydrate and respect the heat.
- Stop when something hurts, and see a doctor for anything that does not settle.
For the rest of the habits that keep older players on court for years, the tips for older players section covers more.
The humor that keeps players going
Players joke about all of this constantly, and the jokes are a big part of the culture: knee braces, ibuprofen and playing anyway. Shirts like Everything Hurts, Still Playing and Don't Let the Knee Brace Fool You say out loud what a lot of players feel, and they live in the older players collection. A t-shirt is a fine way to laugh about the aches; just make sure the joke stays a joke, and that "still playing" does not mean playing through a real injury.
The short version
Falls causing wrist fractures, ankle sprains, calf and Achilles injuries, knee pain and pickleball elbow are the most common pickleball injuries, and older players are the most affected. Warm up, wear court shoes, never backpedal, do not lunge for every ball, build up slowly and rest. If something hurts, see a doctor.
Common questions
- What is the most common pickleball injury?
- Falls are the most common cause of serious injury, often leading to wrist fractures or bruising. Sprains and strains of the ankle, knee and calf, and overuse injuries like pickleball elbow, are the most common everyday problems.
- Does pickleball hurt your knees?
- It can, mainly through quick lateral steps, lunges and sudden stops. For most people it is gentler on the knees than tennis or running, but players with existing knee problems should warm up, wear court shoes and avoid lunging for every ball.
- Why do older adults get hurt playing pickleball?
- Mostly falls. Backpedaling for lobs, tripping on the court and losing balance on quick movements lead to wrist and hip fractures. Studies of emergency department data show players over 60 make up the large majority of visits.
- How do you prevent pickleball injuries?
- Warm up for five to ten minutes, wear court shoes, never backpedal for a lob, let your partner take balls you would have to lunge for, stay hydrated, and build up playing time gradually.
- Is pickleball safe for seniors?
- For most people, yes, and it is one of the best ways to stay active. The main risk is falling, so good shoes, a warm-up and avoiding backpedaling matter more than anything else. Anyone with heart or balance concerns should check with a doctor.
Older Than They Appear
Everything hurts. Still playing.
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