injuries

Pickleball Injuries- It Might be Time for Physical Therapy!

Pickleball has gained popularity in the past several years. Many people of all ages are jumping into the sport. At the same time, many healthcare providers are seeing an increase in pickleball injuries. These injuries range from foot/ankle injuries, falls, shoulder injuries, Achilles tendinitis, knee injuries, and elbow injuries. The majority of these injuries happen due to the person not having enough muscle strength/endurance as they push their body to play at a higher athletic level.

To avoid a pickleball injury, you want to warm-up before playing and perform appropriate stretches after playing. You also want to make sure you wear appropriate shoes for the sport. There are several sneaker brands that make shoes specific for pickleball. You also want to make sure you don’t go from living a sedentary lifestyle to immediately jumping into the sport. You want to condition your body for the sport. This is where a physical therapist can help you on your pickleball journey.

A physical therapist can perform a thorough evaluation to determine your baseline level of strength and flexibility. Then, your physical therapist can educate you on specific exercises to start performing so you improve your strength and flexibility to decrease your likelihood of injury on the pickleball court.

Common Running Injuries

1. Shin splints- This can happen from a change of distance/intensity of your run and or lack of foot support. The treatment for shin splints is rest and ice. If it persists, you should see a physical therapist to evaluate your running stride.
2. Knee pain- There are many reasons a runner can develop knee pain. Some reasons include muscle weakness, muscle tightness, and improper shoe wear. The treatment for knee pain is rest and ice. If it persists, you should see a medical professional.
3. Achilles tendonitis- This can occur when you dramatically increase your workout. If you are having pain along the tendon at the back of the ankle, stop running, rest, and apply ice. A tight and or weak calf muscle can both contribute to achilles tendonitis.
4. Hamstring Strain- This can result from the hamstring being weak and shortened. If you experience a hamstring strain, stop running and ice. After a couple days, you can begin to stretch the muscle gently.
5. Plantar fasciitis- An inflammation of the tendon that runs from your heel along the underneath of your foot to your toes. This can result from calf tightness or poor foot support. Use ice on the bottom of your foot to relieve pain.
6. ITB syndrome. Your iliotibial band is a long band that runs down the outside of your thigh from your hip to your knee. With running, this band can cause friction on the thigh bone near your knee. This can cause irritation and pain along the outside of your knee. Treatment includes stretching of the ITB and ice.
7. Stress Fracture- This is caused by cumulative stress on the leg or foot, most commonly in the shin bone, heel or metatarsal bones of the foot. If you are diagnosed with a stress fracture, you will need to take a few months off from running.

Most running injuries are caused by a muscle imbalance. Harbor Physical Therapy provides Running Assessments to determine what you are doing during your running stride to cause and or lead to injury. A running assessment will prevent the likelihood of injury and help a runner to meet their running goals. Please visit Wellness Services at Harbor Physical Therapy for more information.