Source: KERA News
Part of the appeal of pickleballis the great workout you can get with fewer injuries.
But the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons says bone fractures related to the paddle sport have increased 200% over the last 20 years.
KERA’s Sam Baker talks about the increase with Dr. Travis Frantz, a sports orthopedic surgeon with Texas Health HEB.
It has a lot to do with the popularity of the sport with all age groups, particularly the aging population, as an activity and a competitive sport that they can participate in and have great exercise and a great workout, both in terms of their physical health as well as the social and maybe even mental aspects that come along with playing pickleball alongside others.
But what's causing the bone fractures, I mean, wasn't part of the appeal of this game prevention or reduction of injuries?
With any activity, you know there is an associated risk that comes with that as it pertains to injury.
And then with fractures, and particularly with this community, whether it be because of a direct fall, and someone maybe not recognizing that their underlying bone might be a little bit weaker as we begin to age, or whether it's due to a significant increase in activity in a short amount of time that causes more of a stress-related reaction or a stress-related fracture, both of those things can be encountered and certainly don't come without any sort of risk of playing a sport.
Different pickleball organizations are reporting things like ankle injuries, knee injuries, leg muscle injuries, elbow injuries, shoulder strains, falls and fractures. Is pickleball something that at least maybe beginners kind of take for granted?
I would certainly say that it is. I think with pickleball it is probably more difficult and maybe even more competitive at times.
People get into it. They really enjoy playing and their competitive side may get the best of them, and they find themselves lunging or even diving or doing something out of the ordinary they haven't done in years. That sets them up for an injury when they get caught up in the moment.
I certainly encourage people to play and be active, and I don't think these injury rates should take away from that.
