Pickleball Injuries: How Chiropractic Care Keeps Scottsdale Players on the Court
America’s Fastest-Growing Sport Has a Downside
Pickleball has taken over Scottsdale. You can find packed courts at community centers, HOA parks, and resorts nearly every morning. It’s social, competitive, and easy to pick up, which is exactly why so many people jump in fast.
That speed is also the problem. Many players go from little activity to several games a week almost overnight. The quick stops, lunges, and overhead shots add up, and injuries have climbed right along with the sport’s popularity.
Why Pickleball Leads to Injuries
Quick lateral movement. Side-to-side shuffles and sudden stops stress the knees, ankles, hips, and lower back.
Reaching and lunging. Stretching for a dink or a wide shot often means bending and twisting at the same time, a common recipe for back strain.
Repetitive arm motion. Hundreds of swings per session load the shoulder, elbow, and wrist.
Playing without warming up. Many players walk onto the court and start playing immediately.
Long sessions. Open play can easily turn into two or three hours on the court.
The Most Common Pickleball Injuries
Low Back Strain
Bending low for dinks and twisting to reach shots puts a lot of stress on the lower back. Stiffness in the hips or mid-back makes it worse. If your back pain comes with leg symptoms, our posts on low back pain and sciatica are worth a read.
Shoulder Pain
Overhead smashes and serves can irritate the rotator cuff, especially in players over 40. Learn more about shoulder pain and rotator cuff injuries.
Tennis and Golfer’s Elbow
Gripping the paddle too tightly and repeating the same stroke can lead to elbow tendon irritation on the outside or inside of the arm.
Knee and Hip Pain
Quick direction changes on a hard court put stress on the knees and hips, particularly when muscles are tight or fatigued.
Neck Stiffness
Tracking a fast ball and looking up for lobs can leave your neck sore after long sessions.
How Chiropractic Care Helps Pickleball Players
At Kore Chiropractic, we look at how your whole body moves on the court, not just the spot that hurts.
Adjustments help restore motion in stiff joints of the spine, hips, and extremities so that no single area takes on too much load.
Soft tissue work helps release tight, overworked muscles in the back, shoulders, and forearms.
Movement guidance can help you address the habits and imbalances that lead to repeat injuries.
Maintenance care helps active players stay ahead of problems and keep playing consistently.
5 Tips to Stay Injury-Free on the Court
Warm up for 5 to 10 minutes. Try light jogging, leg swings, arm circles, and torso rotations.
Bend at the knees and hips, not just your back, when getting low for shots.
Loosen your grip. A relaxed grip reduces strain on your forearm and elbow.
Wear court shoes. Running shoes aren’t designed for lateral movement.
Ease into it. Build up your playing time gradually, and take rest days between sessions.
When to See a Chiropractor
Schedule an evaluation if pain lasts more than a few days, keeps you off the court, flares up every time you play, or travels into your arms or legs.
Stay in the Game With Kore Chiropractic
Pickleball is supposed to be fun, not painful. Dr. Tony Koehler and the Kore Chiropractic team help Scottsdale players recover from injuries and keep playing the game they love.