Pickleball
BACKGROUND & HOW INJURIES HAPPEN
Pickleball has grown rapidly, and with it a wave of foot and ankle injuries, particularly in players returning to sport later in life. Although the court is small, the game involves frequent quick lunges, lateral shuffles, and sudden stops. These rapid, unaccustomed movements place sharp demand on the calf, Achilles and ankle, especially in bodies that aren’t conditioned for explosive change of direction. The combination of enthusiastic play and reduced tissue elasticity with age is a key reason injuries occur.
COMMON INJURIES WE SEE IN PICKLEBALL
Achilles injuries (including strains and, in some cases, ruptures), calf strains, ankle sprains, plantar fasciitis, and heel pain.
HOW WE CAN HELP
Your first visit is an initial consultation where we take the time to understand your pain: when it started, what aggravates it, and how it’s affecting your pickleball and daily life. From there we carry out a thorough biomechanical assessment, looking at how your feet, ankles, knees and hips move and load together. We perform a gait analysis to see exactly where pressure builds through your foot as you walk and move, which helps pinpoint the source of the problem rather than just the symptom. We also complete a footwear assessment, reviewing whether your current shoes and supportive court shoes are helping or hindering you. Then we discuss your level of involvement in the sport, how often you play, your training load, your goals, and whether you’re competitive or recreational. With that full picture, we build a personalised treatment plan, which may include hands-on therapy, strengthening and mobility work, footwear guidance, taping, and custom orthotics where they’ll genuinely help.
PREVENTION & SELF CARE
Because many players are newer to regular sport or returning after years away, a gradual build-up is essential. It’s important to ease into frequency and intensity rather than playing daily from the start. Warm up properly, with particular attention to the calves and Achilles, and add regular calf strengthening and mobility work. Wear proper court shoes rather than walking or running shoes, and rest at the first sign of Achilles or calf tightness, as these are the injuries most likely to become serious if ignored.