The Bottom Line
Pickleball offers tremendous health and social 
benefits, but it does not come without risk of 
preventable injuries. The evidence is clear: proper 
preparation, gradual skill development, appropriate 
equipment, and respect for the sport's physical 
demands can dramatically reduce injury risk. 
The Evidence Gap
Future research is explicitly warranted to develop and 
test injury prevention programs specific to pickle-
ball.4-5 The current recommendations are extrapolated 
from injury epidemiology, expert opinion, and 
prevention programs proven effective in other sports 
not from randomized controlled trials or systematic 
evaluations of pickleball-specific interventions.
References
1. Boroumand, Sam, et al. “The Perils of Pickleball: A Two Decade Analysis of Upper and Lower Extremity Injuries from
America’s Fastest Growing Sport.” Journal of Sports Sciences, vol. 43, no. 14, 20 Apr. 2025, pp. 1378–1385.
https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2025.2496089
2. Rodgers, Linda. “As Pickleball Continues to Gain Players, Injuries Are Increasing.” JAMA, vol. 334, no. 19, 18 Nov.
2025, p. 1696. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2025.18833
3. Forrester, Mathias B. “Pickleball-Related Injuries Treated in Emergency Departments.” The Journal of Emergency
Medicine, Nov. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jemermed.2019.09.016
4. Kingston, Kiera, et al. “Emerging Patterns of Foot and Ankle Injuries in Pickleball Players: A Short Report.” Foot &
Ankle International, 26 Aug. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1177/10711007241271215
5. Coppa, Michaelangelo, et al. “Pediatric Pickleball Injuries: A Multi-Center Database Analysis of Emergency Department
Visits.” The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, vol. 97, Nov. 2025, pp. 183–187.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40752051/. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2025.07.052
6. Azar, Frederick M, et al. “Pickleball: A Standard Review of Injury Prevalence and Prevention in a Rapidly Growing
Sport.” Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 26 July 2024. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39079099/.
https://doi.org/10.5435/jaaos-d-24-00151
7. Jeong, Boseok, et al. “Injury Risk and Epidemiology of Pickleball Players in South Korea: A Cross-Sectional Study.”
Frontiers in Public Health, vol. 13, 11 Aug. 2025. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1617291
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