Analysis of Common Injury Patterns Observed in Pickleball Play

Purpose or Learning Objective: Pickleball has become a global phenomenon, enjoyed by ~ 50 million people in the United States and predictions of 100 million players in China within 5 years. In Europe, 34 nations are members of the growing European Pickleball Federation that hosted its first international tournament in 2024. Data from 2022 in the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System show > 17,000 visits to the emergency department were due to pickleball-related injuries with 87% occurring in players > 50 years of age. Our objective is to educate radiology trainees, musculoskeletal radiologists, and sports medicine specialists on injury patterns observed during pickleball play.

Methods or Background: The Illuminate Insight search engine was used to identify acute visits with musculoskeletal injuries related to pickleball as the chief complaint or study indication. Forty-three cases were identified between 2015 and 2024.

Results or Findings: Of the 43 cases, 25 involved lower extremity injuries (58%), 16 involved upper extremity injuries (37%), and 2 involved the trunk or head (5%). Of the 25 lower extremity injuries, 9 involved the knee (36%), 8 were muscle injuries (32%), 5 involved the foot/ankle (20%), and 3 involved other areas (12%). Of the 16 upper extremity injuries, 8 involved the wrist (50%), 5 involved the shoulder (31%), and 3 involved the elbow/arm (19%). There was one nasal bone fracture and one rib fracture. A total of 23 cases involved soft tissue injuries (53%), 17 cases were fractures (40%), and 3 cases involved joint dislocation/separation (7%); 24 were male (56%) and 19 were female (44%). The median age was 60 years. Of the 25 lower extremity injuries, 17 were males (68%) and 8 were females (32%). Of the 16 upper extremity injuries, 11 were females (69%) and 5 were males (31%). The most common injuries were 8 distal radius fractures (19%), 6 meniscal tears (14%), and 4 gastrocnemius strain/tears (9%).

Conclusion: In our review, we found that pickleball injuries most commonly involved the lower extremity, particularly knee injuries such as meniscal tears. The most common upper extremity injuries were distal radius fractures after a fall on outstretched hand mechanism. Men more commonly had lower extremity injuries (68%); women more commonly had upper extremity injuries (69%).

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Artikel online veröffentlicht:
02. Juni 2025