Pickleball Injuries Are on the Rise: How to Prevent and Treat Them | Jersey City Top Doctors

Pain Medicine Physicians & Orthopedics in Edison, Clifton, Hazlet, Jersey City and West Orange, NJ

Jul 11, 2025

Pickleball injuries are on the rise, and Garden State Pain and Orthopedics in Jersey City offers expert, minimally invasive treatments to help players recover quickly and stay pain-free on the court.

Pickleball has exploded in popularity across the country—including right here in New Jersey. It’s fun, fast-paced, and accessible for people of all ages. But with more players hitting the courts, doctors are seeing a sharp rise in pickleball-related injuries—especially among adults over 40.

At Garden State Pain and Orthopedics in Jersey City, our team of pain management and sports medicine specialists treats a growing number of patients who suffer from pickleball-related conditions. Whether you’re dealing with an acute injury or chronic pain from overuse, we can help you get back on the court—safely and pain-free.

Common Pickleball Injuries

Pickleball may look low-impact, but the quick lateral movements, abrupt stops, and overhead motions can lead to several orthopedic and musculoskeletal injuries. Some of the most common include:

Pickleball Elbow (similar to tennis elbow): inflammation of the tendons in the forearm.
Rotator Cuff Strains: due to overhead shots and repetitive arm movements.
Ankle Sprains: from sudden pivots or awkward landings.
Knee Injuries: such as meniscus tears or patellar tendonitis.
Achilles Tendon Strains or Tears: particularly in players who push off quickly without proper warm-up.
Lower Back Pain: caused by twisting, bending, and poor core stability.

How to Prevent Pickleball Injuries

You don’t need to give up the game you love. With a few precautions, you can significantly reduce your risk of injury:

✅ Warm Up Before You Play – Take 5–10 minutes to get your muscles warm and limber.

✅ Stretch Regularly – Focus on hamstrings, calves, shoulders, and your back.

✅ Strengthen Supporting Muscles – Especially your core, glutes, and legs.

✅ Wear Proper Shoes – Court shoes with good lateral support are essential.

✅ Stay Hydrated – Especially in the summer heat, dehydration can increase muscle fatigue.

✅ Don’t Overdo It – Rest between matches, and listen to your body if something feels off.

What to Do If You’re Injured

If you're feeling persistent pain, swelling, weakness, or reduced mobility after playing, it's time to seek expert care.

At Garden State Pain and Orthopedics, our Jersey City specialists offer a full range of non-surgical and minimally invasive treatments to help you recover quickly and effectively. Our treatment options include:

Cortisone Injections for inflammation and joint pain
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy to accelerate tendon and ligament healing
Physical Therapy tailored to pickleball-specific movement patterns
Ultrasound-Guided Diagnostics for accurate injury evaluation
Epidural Injections and Nerve Blocks for nerve-related back or neck pain
Minimally Invasive Procedures for severe or chronic joint issues

Get Back in the Game—Stronger Than Ever

Whether you're new to pickleball or a seasoned player, don’t let pain keep you off the court. The experienced physicians at Garden State Pain and Orthopedics in Jersey City can create a customized treatment plan to get you moving again—safely and confidently.

Book an appointment today and let us help you serve, volley, and smash your way to pain-free play.

New Innovative Treatments

PRP therapy, or Platelet-Rich Plasma therapy, is a regenerative treatment that uses a concentrated dose of a patient’s own platelets—extracted from their blood—to promote healing in injured tissues like tendons, ligaments, muscles, and joints.

Here’s how it works:

A small sample of your blood is drawn.
It’s placed in a centrifuge to separate and concentrate the platelets.
The platelet-rich plasma, which contains powerful growth factors, is injected directly into the injured area under imaging guidance.

Benefits of PRP therapy:

Stimulates natural healing
Reduces inflammation and pain
May speed up recovery
Often used for conditions like tennis elbow, rotator cuff injuries, knee arthritis, Achilles tendonitis, and more

Because it uses your body’s own healing components, PRP is considered safe and low-risk. It's a popular option for patients who want to avoid surgery or prolonged use of medication.