How can I prevent common pickleball injuries?

A 5–10 minute dynamic warm-up before playing raises your body temperature, increases blood flow to muscles, and loosens joints. This significantly reduces injury risk compared to jumping straight into a game.

Pickleball elbow (lateral epicondylitis) causes pain on the outside of the elbow from repetitive wrist and arm movements. It's one of the most common pickleball injuries but is largely preventable through technique adjustments.

Ankle sprains (6.1% of injuries) and knee injuries (5.9%) are among the most common lower-body pickleball injuries. Quick lateral movements, sudden pivots, and lunging for shots stress these joints heavily.

Pickleball provides a moderate-to-vigorous whole-body workout. Research shows average heart rates around 111 bpm during play (roughly 70% of age-predicted maximum), qualifying it as meaningful cardiovascular exercise.

Overuse is the root cause of most pickleball injuries. The repetitive movements create microtears in tendons and muscles that need time to heal. Playing through pain turns minor issues into serious injuries.