Spectrum News reports that pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America, according to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association. The sport is credited with getting many Americans back into active lifestyles. While there are significant benefits to be had from playing the racket sport, it’s also important to make sure your body is ready for the rigors of the game. 

Joshua S. Dines, MD, medical director for Major League Pickleball and sports medicine surgeon at HSS sees how pickleball has become an accessible sport for various types of people.

“When I first started seeing patients, it was 60- and 70-year-olds who hadn’t done anything in a while,” said Dr. Dines. “Fast forward, it’s you know, I think people realized how fun it is, there’s a very low barrier to entry. It’s not expensive, it’s social. And now it’s every age group playing.” 

Growing interest in the sport has led to a significant increase in sports related injuries, a recent study from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons looks at the impact on seniors - and estimates there will be a 123% increase in sport-related injuries among the elderly by 2040.

Dr. Dines has noticed the trend at his hospital too.

“Tennis you’ll play for, you know, a half hour, 45 minutes, maybe an hour once a week or something. Pickleball, it’s very fun,” said Dines. “Now we’re playing a racket sport for hours upon hours a week, and that just leads to overuse injuries [like] tennis elbow, sore shoulders, back injuries.”

Read the full article at spectrumlocalnews.com.