07/19/2022
For all our pickleball patients out there. Check out this articel.
Today, more than 5 million people participate in pickleball, and 10% of those players only picked up a paddle since the pandemic began. And physical therapists are helping pickleball athletes stay or get back on the court.
Pickleball blends a trio of paddle sports: badminton, ping-pong, and tennis. The combination must be working, because pickleball was the fastest-growing sport in the US from 2019 to 2021, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association.
Pickleball largely involves quick movement spurts of one to two steps either forward and backward or side to side. This gameplay comes with some common acute injuries such as adductor strains, sprained ankles, and Achilles ruptures. Some chronic, repetitive injuries include knee pain, low back pain, hamstring and adductor strains, Achilles tendinopathy, and plantar fasciitis.
Noe Sariban, PT, DPT, happens to be a professional pickleball player, so he understands firsthand the issues that arise with players. To avoid injuries, Sariban believes players should approach physical therapy as a wellness and preventive measure. "There are definitely things we can address prior to people stepping on the court."
Read the full article in the July issue of APTA magazine, https://bit.ly/3aIbEhy.