Pickleball isn’t just popular it’s become a movement. According to a 2022 analysis of NEISS data, pickleball-related injuries rose by 88% since 2020, with 91% of cases occurring in adults aged 50 and older .
In Wheat Ridge and the Denver area, the game has taken off. We now have over 25 dedicated pickleball courts, including 6 outdoor courts at Prospect Park.
What most players don’t expect is how much repetitive lateral movement, quick pivots, and stop-start bursts can stress the body. The good news? These injuries are treatable—and preventable with the right approach.
What Makes Pickleball Injuries Unique?
Pickleball is fast, reactive, and surprisingly demanding on the body. What feels like a casual rally quickly becomes a full-body workout, especially when you’re lunging for that drop shot.
That kind of movement puts a lot of stress on the ankles, knees, hips, and spine all at once. You’re asking your rotator cuff, glutes, and core to stabilize while your wrists and calves absorb every impact.
And here’s something most players don’t realize: not all pain starts where you feel it. That elbow soreness might be coming from a nerve root issue in your neck, such as irritation at C6 or C7.
The aching in your foot or Achilles could trace back to poor lumbar stability or sacral misalignment. This is called referred pain, and it’s why treating just the sore spot often doesn’t fix the problem.
Pickleball-Related Injuries We Treat at Wheat Ridge, CO
Pickleball Elbow
Pickleball Elbow usually refers to irritation on either the inside or outside of the elbow from repeated swings. It often shows up as a tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow , depending on your swing pattern. One of the most commonly affected muscles is the extensor carpi radialis, a muscle that helps lift your wrist and control your grip.
Rotator Cuff Strain
Your rotator cuff is a group of four muscles that keep your shoulder joint stable. These include the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis. During overhead shots and quick reaches, these muscles work hard to control your arm. If overworked it eventually leads to shoulder pain and clicking in the shoulder
Wrist Sprains
Wrist injuries happen often during fast reaction shots or when players try to break a fall. A wrist sprain means the small ligaments in the wrist joint have been overstretched or torn.
Knee Pain
Fast side-to-side movements and quick pivots can put a lot of pressure on the knees. One common issue is patellar tracking disorder, where the kneecap doesn’t move properly along the front of the thigh bone.
Another common injury is meniscus irritation, which affects the cartilage that cushions the inside and outside of your knee joint. A common problem caused by tight hip and glute muscles.
Achilles Tendonitis
The Achilles tendon connects your calf muscles to your heel bone. When you perform quick sprints or sudden stops, these actions can put unnatural stress to this tendon. Over time, this leads to pain, stiffness, or swelling just above the heel.
Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the thick band of tissue along the bottom of your foot, called the plantar fascia. It helps support your arch and absorb shock during play. Repeated loading especially on hard courts can cause small tears in the tissue.
Lower Back Pain
Pickleball involves a lot of twists and sudden movements. These actions place heavy stress on the lumbar spine, sacroiliac (SI) joints, and stabilizing muscles like the erector spinae and quadratus lumborum, all of these factors lead to lower back pain.
How We Treat Pickleball Injuries at The Disc Chiropractic
Chiropractic Adjustments
Using my hands or with the aid of an instrument, I apply gentle thrusts to the joints that aren’t moving correctly. This helps restore normal mechanics without excessive torquing, which makes the technique safe and effective for all ages.
Shockwave Therapy
The Intelect RPW 2 delivers pinpoint acoustic waves to break down calcifications, increase blood flow, and promote tissue regeneration. It’s especially effective for chronic issues like tendonitis, scar tissue buildup, and plantar fasciitis.
Soft Tissue Therapy
We use the Rapid Release™ Pro 3+ to target, adhesions, and deep muscle tension caused by high impact sports such as pickleball. This high-speed vibration therapy relaxes the problematic muscle and helps it glide the way it should.
Therapeutic Exercises
Once we’ve relieved your pain, we focus on retraining how your body moves on the court. Your rehab and maintenance plans are built on exercises such as lateral footwork. This improves joint control, hip loading, core engagement, and shoulder stability so your body moves efficiently and safely.
FAQs About Pickleball Injuries
What are the most common pickleball injuries?
The most frequent issues I see include ankle sprains, wrist strains, elbow tendonitis (often called pickleball elbow), rotator cuff irritation, Achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, and lower back strain. These injuries often come from the quick stop-start movements, side shuffling, and repetitive paddle swings that pickleball demands.
What causes pickleball elbow, and how is it different from tennis elbow?
They’re actually the same condition—lateral epicondylitis. In pickleball, this happens when the outer elbow tendons get overworked from repeated swings, especially if you’re gripping the paddle too tightly or using poor shoulder mechanics. The result is inflammation and pain along the outside of the elbow that tends to get worse with play.
Why am I getting heel pain or plantar fasciitis from playing pickleball?
Hard court surfaces and unsupportive shoes can put repeated strain on the plantar fascia, the thick band of tissue that supports your arch. Over time, this causes irritation near the heel, especially during long games or early in the morning. It’s one of the most common foot complaints I see from active players.
How can I reduce my risk of ankle or knee injuries during a match?
Proper footwear is key, along with good warm-ups and ankle or hip strengthening. Most ankle sprains happen during quick lateral movement, and knee pain often builds up from poor mechanics in the hips or feet. We look at all of that when evaluating your injury so we can address the root cause.
When should I stop playing and get checked out?
If you have sharp pain, visible swelling, or pain that’s not improving after a few days of rest, it’s time for an evaluation. Playing through an injury usually makes it worse and longer to heal. A quick checkup can tell us exactly what’s going on and how to get you back on the court safely.
Take the First Step Toward Lasting Recovery
Our $97 New Patient Special is where it starts. At The Disc Chiropractic, we’ve helped countless active adults across Wheat Ridge and Denver recover from pickleball injuries with clear, personalized care. You’ll walk away understanding exactly what’s causing your pain.
If you’re ready to stop playing through pain and start moving the right way, let’s get you back on the court.
Book an Appointment Now or Call: 720-573-4910