Pickleball Injury Stats: Who and How Often?

Pickleball Injury Stats: Who and How Often?

Pickleball didn't just rely on luck to become the fastest-growing sport in the US. Its accessibility and the enjoyment it provides explain why it has captured people's hearts so quickly. In the last few years, pickleball has lured nearly 20 million people to become the pickler army, raiding pickleball courts, wanting to experience an adrenaline rush from competing with friends and family using this fun yet joint-friendly sport.


Still, injuries are part of the deal in any sport—yes, even in low-impact and joint-friendly ones like pickleball. In this blog, we’ll break down the most common types of injuries, who’s most likely to get hurt, and how often they occur—based on data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) and recent research published between 2020 and 2022.


How Often Do Pickleball Injuries Happen?

From 2020 to 2022, there were 710 reported cases of pickleball-related injuries in 96 emergency departments affiliated with NEISS across the United States. But when weighted for national estimates, that number balloons to 40,698 injuries over a span of three years—yes, forty thousand.

  • In 2020, estimated injuries were 8,894

  • In 2021, they jumped to 14,808 (+67%)

  • In 2022, they rose again to 16,997 (+91% vs. 2020)

That’s around 1,416 injuries per month in 2022 alone. Pretty wild for a sport that’s supposed to be easy on the joints, right?


Who Gets Hurt the Most?

Estimated Numbers of Pickleball Injuries by Age Group

Estimated Numbers of Pickleball Injuries by Age Group

Despite its reputation as being popular among older adults, senior players are the majority group at risk of getting injured while playing pickleball.

  • Players aged 60 to 79 made up 73% of all injuries

  • According to Forbes (2023), citing UBS data, nearly $400 million in insurance claims were filed in the U.S. due to pickleball-related injuries, with seniors accounting for the majority.

  • The average age of an injured player? 63.9 years

  • One specific group stood out: women aged 60–69, whose injury rate increased 151% between 2020 and 2022

So yes, Grandma may be the MVP of her local pickleball league, but she’s also among those most at risk. Let’s make sure our superstar seniors stay safe on the court and keep enjoying the game they love.


Causes of Pickleball-Related Injury

Unless Tyche, the Greek goddess of fortune and chance, gets bored and decides to gift you some little misfortune to spice up her day—like getting run over by an overly excited dog—most injuries actually have far less dramatic origins.

  • Fall – The main culprit of pickleball-related injuries. Senior players are more likely to fall as their bones have weakened over the years of living their best lives, especially postmenopausal women who are prone to having osteoporosis, a bone disease caused by a decrease in bone mass and mineral density, which happens to postmenopausal women a lot due to estrogen deficiency.

  • Overuse – Like many other racket sports, pickleball involves repetitive movements, especially in the wrist, elbow, and shoulder. Constantly repeating the same swings and motions can put strain on muscles, tendons, and joints, leading to inflammation, fatigue, and eventually injuries such as tendonitis or “pickleball elbow.”

  • Improper Movements – One wrong twist, abrupt stop, or mistimed swing, and before you know it, you’re making an unexpected visit to the ER to treat the acute injury.

  • Collisions & impact injuries – Accidents can happen anytime while you’re on the court. It can be something harmless—like bumping into your friends while chasing the ball before falling on top of each other, then the world suddenly freezes just like those cheesy scenes in romance films—or accidentally smacking a friend’s face with your paddle (ouch!) and launching their tooth to the moon.

  • Improper Equipment - Using gear that isn’t made for the sport, or simply isn’t the right fit for you, only ups your chances of getting hurt. Choosing the right size and weight paddle doesn’t just boost your game—it helps keep injuries at bay. And hey! Ditch those flip-flops and put on some proper pickleball shoes!


The Common Types of Injuries Caused by Pickleball

While players don’t need to sprint across massive courts or travel through dimensions just to return a shot, many still end up hurt. Most injuries start with something as simple as a fall, but the type of injury often depends on who you are.

The most common injuries among women are fractures—mainly to the arms and upper body—while men more often experience sprains or strains, especially in the legs. Older players (65+) are also more prone to arm sprains, whereas younger players tend to suffer tendon or cartilage tears. Other frequently reported issues include dizziness and heat exhaustion, especially on a hot day.

So…Why the difference? According to the data from the NEISS database and the study “A Substantial Increase in Injuries and Hospitalizations Associated With Playing Pickleball From 2020 to 2022”, biological sex may be one of the reasons why fractures take up about a 40% slice of the women's injury pie 🥧, possibly because osteoporosis makes bones more fragile. For men, fractures account for around 18%, with sprains and strains topping the list at 25%.

Female Estimated Numbers of Pickleball Injuries by Type

Female Estimated Numbers of Pickleball Injuries by Type

Male Estimated Numbers of Pickleball Injuries by Type

Male Estimated Numbers of Pickleball Injuries by Type

However, these are just trends from injury data, not rules. Any player, no matter their age or sex, can face the same types of injuries depending on how they move, train, and recover.


5 Steps to Prevent Injuries

Sports and injuries come in a pack; accidents are prone to happen when you run around on the court. But that doesn’t mean you can’t reduce the chance of hurting yourself.

  • Clear the court – Avoid leaving stuff on the court so you won’t accidentally step or trip over it while trying to chase the ball.

  • Warm up and cool down – Stretching your body before and after the game can help prevent pulled muscles, stiffness, and unnecessary trips to the ER.

  • Use the right techniques – Using footwork and gripping a pickleball paddle correctly not only improves your game, but it can also reduce the chance of getting injured.

  • Stay hydrated – Before, during, and after the game, make sure to stay hydrated, as it can lubricate your joints and reduce body temperature.

  • Listen to your body – Playing within your limits will do your body far more good than pushing yourself past the point of pain and ending up on an unplanned trip to the ER.


If You’re Going to Limp, Limp in Style

Sure, limping off the court with a pickleball injury is both painful and a little embarrassing. But throw on a funny pickleball shirt from PickleballGoats.com, and suddenly you’re not “the injured player”—you’re the injured icon. Visit our website to find funny fits and gifts… because if you’re going to make an exit, make it unforgettable.


References

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