Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Pickleball injuries may cost Americans nearly $400 million this year
CNN ^ | June 27, 2023 | CNN Staff

Posted on 06/29/2023 7:07:08 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin

Pickleball, America’s fastest-growing sport, is taking a toll on players’ wrists, legs and shoulders. And it’s especially popular with injury-prone seniors, which is driving up the cost burden.

Pickleball injuries may cost Americans $377 million in health care costs this year, accounting for 5% to 10% of total unexpected medical costs, UBS analysts estimated in a report Monday.

“While we generally think of exercise as positively impacting health outcomes, the ‘can-do’ attitude of today’s seniors can pose greater risk in other areas such as sports injuries, leading to a greater number of orthopedic procedures,” the analysts said.

Pickleball-related injuries occur most frequently in older people, according to a 2021 medical study. From 2010-2019, 86% of emergency department visits due to pickleball injuries occurred in people over 60 years old, according to the medical study. Around 60% of pickleball injuries are sprains, strains and fractures. Twenty percent are contusions, abrasions, or internal injuries; and fewer than 10% are lacerations or dislocations.

The analysts estimated that there will be around 67,000 emergency room visits, 366,000 outpatient visits and 9,000 outpatient surgeries related to pickleball injuries this year.

Pickleball exploded since the pandemic began, and that’s leading to more injuries. According to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association trade group, pickleball has grown from 3.5 million players in 2019 to 8.9 million in 2022. The number of players will jump to 22 million this year, the UBS analysts estimate.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine; Outdoors; Sports
KEYWORDS: pickleball; seniors
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-69 next last
To: Diana in Wisconsin

Must See: “Mid West Pickle Ball”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QB80DdRCLic


21 posted on 06/29/2023 7:46:32 AM PDT by Candor7 ( ( Ask not for whom THE Trump trolls...He trolls for thee!)<img src=""width=500></img>)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: G Larry

I attended my high screwl class’s 50th last year. The percentage of members that had one or more joint replacements was alarming. But the percentage of obese, or just inactive lifestyle members held the majority.

Sure, some replacements were because of an injury, but that seems to have been the exception, not the rule.


22 posted on 06/29/2023 7:46:49 AM PDT by Zuriel (Acts 2:38,39....Do you believe it?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

It is time to ban ALL, sports, EXCEPT women’s beach volleyball.


23 posted on 06/29/2023 7:47:47 AM PDT by alstewartfan ("She looks like she's 19 years old, sitting there like a lady with her lbegs crossed." Creepy Joe)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: alstewartfan
It is time to ban ALL, sports, EXCEPT women’s beach volleyball.

Is mud wrestling a sport?

24 posted on 06/29/2023 7:48:20 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Bob434

"Stupida focking game!"

25 posted on 06/29/2023 7:49:09 AM PDT by Eccl 10:2 (Prov 3:5 --- "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: napscoordinator
My wife is an orthopedic surgical PA. They're seeing a lot of elderly patients injured from pickleball. "Job security", and all that.

But it's not just the game that appeals to them. There's also socialization.

26 posted on 06/29/2023 7:50:47 AM PDT by LouAvul (Daniel 4:17: "..the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will.." )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin
Carlin-sports

Games versus sports starts at 4:00

27 posted on 06/29/2023 7:55:05 AM PDT by mykroar (what is extraordinarily important is this—who will count the votes, and how. - J0eStalin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LouAvul

Dry good point on socialization. Also brings business for sure.


28 posted on 06/29/2023 7:56:14 AM PDT by napscoordinator (DeSantis is a beast! Florida is the freest state in the country! )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: 1Old Pro

Mud and jello are acceptable, as long as Lia Thomas doesn’t join the fun.


29 posted on 06/29/2023 7:56:57 AM PDT by alstewartfan ("She looks like she's 19 years old, sitting there like a lady with her lbegs crossed." Creepy Joe)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: alstewartfan
It is time to ban ALL, sports, EXCEPT women’s beach volleyball.

Even bikini skiing?

30 posted on 06/29/2023 7:57:12 AM PDT by Magnum44 (...against all enemies, foreign and domestic... )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: jimmygrace

Same where I live in the Midwest but seasonal of course. I wonder why/if they have indoor courts for winter. Injury can happen getting out of bed!


31 posted on 06/29/2023 7:57:30 AM PDT by bigbob (Q)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: GeorgiaDawg32
or at least a ban on pickleball bump stocks. That's what is clearly causing all these injuries.
32 posted on 06/29/2023 7:57:41 AM PDT by glennaro (Never give up ... never give in ... never surrender ... and enjoy every minute of doing so.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin
Pickleball injuries

PB injuries are nothing compared to the injuries suffered by senior softball players.

I know at least a dozen fellow players who have had knee replacements, hip replacements and rotator cuff surgeries. To say nothing about the other injuries such as torn hamstrings and achilles tendon tears.

I had rotator cuff surgery in October, 2019 and surgery on a vertebrae in my neck last September.

With that being said, pickle ball is for sissies........LOL!

33 posted on 06/29/2023 7:58:20 AM PDT by Hot Tabasco
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Magnum44

If you twist my arm, I may consider this exception as well!


34 posted on 06/29/2023 7:59:23 AM PDT by alstewartfan ("She looks like she's 19 years old, sitting there like a lady with her lbegs crossed." Creepy Joe)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: napscoordinator
My husband has hurt himself more in 1 year playing pickleball then he has in 50 years of downhill skiing.
35 posted on 06/29/2023 8:00:12 AM PDT by bella1 (DeSantis 2024)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: bella1

I’ve seen that as well. But even risk of injury, people seem to love it. I played a few weeks and found it very boring.


36 posted on 06/29/2023 8:02:41 AM PDT by napscoordinator (DeSantis is a beast! Florida is the freest state in the country! )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: mykroar

“soccer isn’t a sport because you can’t use your arms. Tap dancing isn’t a sport...”


37 posted on 06/29/2023 8:03:04 AM PDT by Hot Tabasco
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

And how much to fatties and smokers pay each year for health care?


38 posted on 06/29/2023 8:05:30 AM PDT by Organic Panic (Democrats. Memories as short as Joe Biden's eyes)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

We need sensible pickleball reform. We can’t continue to have all this killing caused by unregulated pickleball.


39 posted on 06/29/2023 8:10:51 AM PDT by PGR88
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: glennaro

Dude, the bump stock is how some really old people have the ability to actually return the ball...

Take away the bump stock, people quit playing then the government will complain we don’t get enough exercise...

See???


40 posted on 06/29/2023 8:14:37 AM PDT by GeorgiaDawg32
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-69 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson