Show-Me State Times

A new study from Saint Louis University has examined injury patterns among pickleball players in the United States, focusing on whether increased Body Mass Index (BMI) raises the risk of injury. The research found that higher BMI did not significantly increase the odds of injury for those playing pickleball.

The study, led by Olu Owoeye, director of SLU’s Translational Injury Prevention Lab, was published August 22 in Sports Medicine – Open. It surveyed 1,758 adult pickleball players nationwide who play at least once a month.

“Pickleball is often underestimated in terms of physical demands. It's crucial to implement evidence-based prevention strategies to ensure players enjoy the sport's benefits while minimizing injury risks,” said Owoeye.

Researchers reported that 68.5% of participants experienced at least one injury over the previous year. Of these injuries, 40.8% led to at least one day away from pickleball or other exercise activities, and 51.2% were non-time-loss injuries. About one-third of respondents continued to play despite pain or ongoing injury.

The most commonly injured area was the knee (29.1%), followed by other lower extremities (26.9%), shoulder (22.2%), back (19.9%), and elbow (18.4%). Overuse conditions, joint sprains, and muscle strains or pulls were noted as the most serious types of injuries.

Significant predictors for sustaining an injury included being male, playing more frequently each week, having fewer years of experience with the sport, perceiving injury prevention as less important, and being between ages 33 and 77 years old. The duration of play and higher BMI were not linked to increased odds of getting injured.

To help reduce risk among players—especially beginners—researchers recommend using neuromuscular warm-up exercises, establishing recovery routines, and improving skills through tailored programs.

In a follow-up phase, researchers at SLU’s TIP Lab are testing a warm-up and recovery routine designed specifically for pickleball to further reduce injuries among players. More information about this ongoing research is available at https://slu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9nnYAD1s54Erf7w.

Other contributors to the study include Wassim Mourad from SLU’s Department of Orthopedic Surgery; Katie Stamatakis from SLU’s College for Public Health and Social Justice; Timothy Howell and Mitchell Wayne from SLU’s Doisy College of Health Sciences; Ryan Blechle and Dawn Kennedy from SSM Health Physical Therapy; and Ted Yemm from PEAK Sport and Spine.

For further details about the study or ongoing research efforts at SLU’s TIP Lab, contact Olu Owoeye at 314-977-8505 or tip.lab@health.slu.edu.