A 90x Spike in Pickleball Bone Fractures Hits Seniors Hardest
Last Edited
Aug 23 2024
Category
News
In case you haven't been on the internet much, it seems every week we see another recycled article citing the same data about pickleball injuries.
Most of the alarm is simply the result of a greater percentage of people taking part in a physical activity, one that contains the same generic risk that any activity does.
But what these articles lack is specific insight into the nature and cause of such injuries, and what risks are specific to playing pickleball over long periods of time.
Recent research revealed that it's not just muscle tears, sore knees, and black eyes affecting the pickleball crowd.
There's been a staggering 90-fold increase in bone fractures over the last two decades among pickleball players.
Though, to balance that analysis: this trend particularly impacts players over 60, who statistically are more at risk for fractures in general.
"Despite its low-impact reputation, pickleball can be risky, especially for those with weaker bones due to osteoporosis," says Dr. Kurt P. Spindler, an orthopedic surgeon at Cleveland Clinic Florida.
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The Risk for Seniors
While pickleball is attracting a younger crowd, older adults, especially women over 65, are most vulnerable to fractures.
These injuries are often linked to falls and typically involve the upper extremities, reflecting the declining bone health in postmenopausal women.
Interestingly, while women dominate in fracture numbers, men are 2.3 times more likely to be hospitalized for their injuries, often due to more severe fractures like those of the hip or femur.
Dr. Spindler advises older players to focus on building bone mass through proper nutrition and weight-bearing exercises to reduce the risk of serious injuries.
The Study Breakdown
Before 2020, pickleball-related injuries were rarely studied. That changed with research from the University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Florida, and Novant Health.
The team analyzed data from 2002 to 2022, using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database to track trends in fractures, injury mechanisms, and demographic distributions.
Led by Dr. Yasmine Ghattas and her colleagues, the study aimed to shed light on the risks pickleball poses, particularly for older players.
The findings underscore the importance of awareness and prevention as the sport continues to grow in popularity.
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