Sprinting to the back line, as if it is the end of a race, Diane Herbst, a former tennis player, tries to catch a ball. Suddenly, she stumbles, she wobbles, and she trips. She lands hard on her chest and it seems like she’s out of the race. However, she accomplished her goal: to return a pickleball. She gets up with a painful rib injury which sidelines her for a month. “I really was scared that I crushed a rib,” said Herbst.
Pickleball is an ever growing enterprise. What started off as a sport relegated for the elderly has turned into an incredible phenomenon, captivating people old and young, largely due to it being great for health.
In a 2023 study conducted by the University of Almeria in Spain, it found that there were “significant improvements” in personal wellbeing, depression, stress, and other psychological variables for picklers. Herbst concurs with this assessment, saying “my mental health has not been as happy as it was before the injury” and proclaiming it “the biggest factor that has changed my life.” The benefits for the body are also outstanding.
Herbst describes it as “anaerobic”, and this is supported by science. A 2018 study by Western Colorado University found that pickleball players, in doubles, burn 354 calories an hour, equivalent to hiking or water aerobics. Lance Dalleck, an author of the study, states that singles players will burn even more calories and calls the sport a “great workout.” However, there are a great deal of injury complications with the sport
While pickleball is becoming a sport for all age ranges, nearly thirty percent of players are fifty-five years or older according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) 2022 report. Older players are more prone to injuries and elderly players are at an increased risk of injury according to a 2024 study by the University of Washington, St. Louis. Although, it is not just older players at risk.
Approximately fifty percent of players get injured while playing the sport and these can often be serious injuries. Thirty-three percent of those injuries are fractures and thirty-one percent are strains according to a 2025 study by the Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. Sixty-six percent of those injuries are caused by falls, like the one Herbst suffered. As a result of these concerns, there has been greater advocacy for safety.
Overuse and strain are a leading cause of injury. For example, Herbst said she played “5-6 times a week” up until her injury. To prevent this, doctors encourage players to give their body ample time to recover and rest. Stretching is also largely encouraged. It is vital that it is done before and after any given match. The most important tool, however, is proper equipment.
Proper footwear can help with support and the quick movements used during play. This can also help with balance and prevent the falls that cause so many injuries. Proper eyewear can help stop balls from causing black eyes. The equipment that provides the greatest safety is elbow/knee pads, which will provide cushioning to falls and lower the chances of many injuries. With these simple additions, chances of injury are greatly reduced.
When Herbst went to seek a medical opinion on her injury, she was incredibly relieved with the news she received. “Turns out I just have a badly bruised part of cartilage,” Herbst explained. Doctors said that she should sit for a month so it is not a “chronic issue.” After her time off, she is ready to hit the courts again.
Pickleball is not going anywhere and will only continue to grow. As more people enter the game, due to the benefits it presents, it is important to promote and practice proper safety so all can enjoy it without having to sit out.
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