Pickleball has exploded in St. Albert. Invented back in the 1960s, it’s only really taken off across Canada in the last few years—about 1 million Canadians played in 2022, jumping to roughly 1.54 million by 2025. Now, local courts are packed from early morning to late evening.
It’s easy to see why: it’s social, it’s accessible, and it feels easier on the body than sports like tennis or basketball. But “low impact” doesn’t mean no impact and “no risk.”
Across North America, researchers are seeing a sharp rise in pickleball injuries, especially in adults over 50. Emergency room data suggest most visits are for lower leg and wrist injuries, along with overuse problems like tennis elbow and shoulder pain.
The good news? Most common pickleball injuries respond very well to early treatment and guided rehab. With the right plan, you don’t have to give up your court time—you just might need to change how you prepare, play, and recover.
Pickleball Injury Statistics: How Common Are Pickleball Injuries?
As pickleball has grown, injuries have grown with it.
- Most of the detailed injury research comes from U.S. emergency department data. One large analysis of hospital data estimated around 137,000 pickleball-related injuries nationwide between 2005 and 2024, with annual injury numbers almost doubling between 2020 and 2022.
- These studies consistently show that the majority of serious pickleball injuries treated in emergency departments are sprains and strains, bruises, and fractures, often affecting the lower leg, ankle, trunk, and wrist.
- Around 85% of reported injuries occur in players aged 50+, which is exactly the age group most drawn to pickleball.
Taken together, the Canadian participation data and U.S. injury research suggest the same pattern we’re seeing in St. Albert: as more people discover pickleball, more people are also discovering its aches, pains, and preventable injuries.
So is pickleball a high-risk sport?
Compared to contact sports or long-distance running, pickleball is still relatively low risk. But that doesn’t mean the risk is low for you—especially if you’re 40+, have old injuries, or go from “office chair” to “5 games back-to-back” in one day.
Common Pickleball Injuries in St. Albert Players
Most pickleball injuries fall into two categories:
- Overuse injuries: from repeating the same movements too often
- Sudden injuries: from slips, trips, twists, and falls
Overuse Pickleball Injuries
ome of the most common pickleball injuries we see at Summit include:
Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
Tennis elbow is sore, achy pain on the outside of your elbow from gripping the paddle and hitting a lot of shots, especially backhands. You’ll often feel it when you grip or lift things, open doors, or pick up your paddle.
Shoulder pain and rotator cuff tendinopathy
This shows up as a dull ache or sharp pinch in the front or side of your shoulder, especially with serves or overhead shots. It can make it hard to lift your arm, reach behind you, or sleep on that side.
Achilles tendinopathy and calf issues
This feels like tightness, pulling, or aching at the back of your heel or lower calf. It’s often worse first thing in the morning or when you start moving after sitting, and usually comes from lots of sudden stops and starts on the court.
Low back strain
Low back strain feels like a tight, sore, or sharp pain across your lower back after bending, twisting, or lunging for the ball. You might feel stiff getting out of bed, into or out of the car, or when you try to bend down.
Sudden Pickleball Injuries
Acute injuries often come down to one bad landing, twist, or fall. Research on pickleball notes:
Ankle sprains
An ankle sprain usually happens when you roll or twist your ankle during a quick move on the court. It often swells up, starts to bruise, hurts to walk on, and can feel wobbly or weak. If it bruises right away and you can’t bear weight on it, it may be a good idea to see a Doctor and get an X-ray to make sure nothing has been broken.
Knee injuries (meniscus tears, ligament sprains)
Knee injuries can happen when you twist or land awkwardly. Your knee might swell, feel unstable, or hurt when you squat, turn, run, or go up and down stairs.
Wrist fractures and hand injuries
These often happen when you reach out to catch yourself in a fall. Your wrist or hand may swell, bruise, and hurt a lot when you try to move or press on it. If it bruises right away and it’s painful to move, see a Doctor to get an X-ray.
Bruises and contusions
These are the classic “I ran into something” or “the ball got me” injuries. You’ll see a sore, coloured patch on your skin that’s tender but usually gets better with time, ice, and rest.
Not sure how serious your injury is? Bring it to us. We’ll assess it, explain your options, and build a plan to get you moving comfortably again.
Why Pickleball Injuries Are So Common in Seniors
Pickleball is particularly popular with older adults—and that’s where injury rates are highest.
Studies show that the majority of pickleball-related injuries in emergency departments involve players aged 50 and older.
A few reasons why pickleball injuries in seniors are more common:
- Age-related changes
- Decreased muscle mass and strength
- Reduced flexibility
- Slower reaction time and balance changes
- Existing conditions
- Osteoarthritis in knees/hips
- Old ankle or shoulder injuries that never fully recovered
- “Weekend warrior” pattern
- Long sessions after a mostly sedentary week
- Little to no warm-up
- Minimal strength or balance training to support court movement
In St. Albert, pickleball is also a community hub—social leagues, charity tournaments, and packed clubs make it easy to play “just one more game.” That’s great for mental health and connection. Your body, though, sometimes needs a slower ramp-up.
Preventing Pickleball Injuries: Simple Changes That Make a Big Difference
Quick Warm-Up (2–5 Minutes)
Before you step on court, try:
- A light jog around the court until you start to perspire.
- Gentle leg swings front and back and side to side on both legs around 20-30 times each
- Walking lunges with trunk twists along the length of sidelines of the court
- Arm circles and shoulder rolls 30 times in each direction
- Do side shuffles and small hops up and down the length of the court
- Gently rally for 5 minutes
After you play:
- Stretch your calves, hamstrings, and quads
- Gently stretch your forearms and shoulders
- Take a slow walk before hopping in the car
Strength and Balance for Older Players
A few simple exercises can dramatically reduce pickleball injuries in seniors:
- Sit-to-stand squats with or without a chair
- Lunges
- Calf raises off the edge of a step, holding onto the railing
- Bridges/Bum Raises
- Single-leg balance near a wall or chair, or agility drills
- Resistance band rows and resisted shoulder inward and outward rotations as if you were swinging forehand and backhand
If you’re not sure where to start, our team can build a routine around your current fitness and any joint issues you already have. A customized wellness package is a good option if you want a broader, long-term plan.
Gear and Court Safety
Small tweaks add up:
- Wear court shoes, not runners—better support and side-to-side stability and less chance of rolling your ankle
- Consider protective eyewear, especially on busy courts
- Make sure the court is dry and free of stray balls and debris
- Don’t backpedal for lobs—turn and run instead
- Build up gradually: short games at first, then longer sessions
- Play doubles, less running, lunging and stops and starts
Pickleball FAQs
Is pickleball a good sport for all ages?
With the right preparation, yes—pickleball can be a great sport for:
- Kids and teens learning racquet skills
- Adults looking for fun, social fitness
- Seniors wanting to stay active and connected in the community
- It’s a great sport the whole family can play together
Locally, St. Albert’s pickleball scene is thriving, with community events and charity tournaments that make it about more than just winning points.
The key is to match your training and recovery to your age, history, and goals. That’s where guided support from a physiotherapist is helpful.
Is pickleball more injury prone than tennis?
The answer is nuanced:
- Tennis typically involves more running over a larger court.
- Pickleball uses a smaller court, which means lots of quick stops–start movements and pivots.
- Because pickleball involves less running, it tends to attract older players, which partly explains higher injury numbers in that age group.
So while pickleball isn’t necessarily “more dangerous” than tennis, your personal risk depends on:
- Your age and fitness level
- Past injuries
- How often and how intensely you play
- Whether you warm up and train between games
How Sports Physiotherapy Helps After a Pickleball Injury
If you’ve injured yourself playing pickleball, you don’t have to choose between “ignore it” and “quit the sport.” A sports physiotherapy assessment at Summit focuses on both your injury and the way you move on the court.
When to See a Sports Physio
Book an assessment if:
- Pain has lasted more than a week and isn’t improving
- You’re limping or “guarding” a joint or muscle during or after games
- It hurts or you keep tweaking the same area whenever you play
- You feel unstable in your ankle, knee, or shoulder
- You’re nervous or it hurts to move a certain way (for example, lunging or reaching overhead)
You should seek urgent medical care if:
- You can’t put weight on your leg
- You suspect a fracture (severe pain, bruising, deformity, or crunching sensation)
- You’ve had a direct hit to the eye with any changes in vision
Ready to Keep Playing (Without Paying for It Later)?
If you’d like some prevention tips, a quick movement check-up, or help with a current pickleball injury, we’re here for you.
Book a visit with our sports physio team in St. Albert, and we’ll look at how you move, answer your questions, and build a plan to keep you on the court, not the sidelines.