Is Pickleball Bad For Your Back? We Asked Chiropractors To Review The Facts

As pickleball soars in popularity as one of the fastest growing sports worldwide, many new players are picking up paddles and hitting courts for fun, fitness, and friendly competition. However, the table tennis-meets-tennis game also comes with high risks of injury – especially to the back. With quick starts and stops, sudden directional changes, and repetitive overhead swinging motions, pickleball applies immense strain on back muscles, joints, and discs. No wonder chiropractors are seeing surges of patients complaining of pickleball-related back pain ranging from muscle tightness to slipped discs.

But is pickleball inherently dangerous for your back? We surveyed chiropractors for their take on whether pickleball is truly bad for your back, the biomechanical factors that contribute to back injuries in the sport, preventative best practices all players should adopt, and effective solutions for managing existing back problems on the courts. Gain insights from the medical experts to make informed decisions about participating in pickleball to avoid back pain.

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Understanding Pickleball Biomechanics and Their Impact on Back Health

As chiropractors analyzed the biomechanics involved in a typical pickleball match, several factors stood out as primary contributors to back pain and injuries:

Repetitive Rotational Movements

A pickleball match requires players to rotate their trunks repeatedly to swing, which applies substantial torsional forces on the lumbar spine. This can strain muscles and ligaments or even lead to conditions like facet joint dysfunction over time. The serving motion alone rotates the back unilaterally around 80-100 times per match.

Asymmetric Stresses

Due to the underhand serve and forehand strokes, most pickleball players experience more stress on muscles on their dominant side. This muscle imbalance paired with unequal loads on the spine commonly results in back discomfort.

Impact Shockwaves

The sudden acceleration and abrupt stops during a pickleball game send impact shockwaves through the lower back and pelvis. Jarring compressive axial loads transferred up the kinetic chain can inflame joint tissues or compress discs.

Forward Flexion

Bending forward repeatedly to hit low balls near the non-volley zone forces the back into sustained flexion. This narrows disc space and pinches nerve roots – especially problematic for those with pre-existing disc issues.

Dynamic Positions

As pickleball necessitates quick reaction times, players often contort into stretched, twisted stances unconsciously, over-stretching and destabilizing the back. Attempting shots outside your mobility range amplifies injury risks.

Misconception versus Reality: Is Pickleball Truly Low-Impact?

A common perception portrayed about pickleball is that it has low physical intensity compared to other racket sports like tennis. However, experts argue this misconception downplays the strains pickleball can inflict on the back and body over time as a result of poor form, overexertion, and lack of muscular balance.

While the smaller court size results in less running distance covered, the rapid changes between sprinting and stopping elevate intensity. The serving style requiring extensive back rotation generates substantial rotational forces. The lower height of the pickleball net also demands more bending and reaching. Overall, the sport imparts higher strain relative to its pace and gameplay characteristics.

Ultimately, chiropractors concur that classifying pickleball as universally low-impact discounts real risks of back and orthopedic injuries. Without proper precautions, the game can trigger considerable back trauma – especially among middle-aged novices drawn to its accessibility. Prioritizing injury prevention is imperative regardless of prior athletic background.

Pickleball has one of the highest rates of injury among popular recreational sports. Back pain accounts for over 15% of pickleball injuries. Many pickleball players experience their first incidence of back pain after taking up the sport.

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Key Takeaways from Chiropractors

Pickleball requires dynamic spinal stability and mobility to avoid back pain. The mix of sudden acceleration/deceleration, repetitive asymmetric trunk rotation, sustained flexion, and impact shock overloads structures in the lumbar spine.

Many patients develop acute or chronic back injuries after initiating pickleball play. Without adequate strength, flexibility, movement control, and recovery, back tissues bear excessive load. Mislabeling pickleball as low-impact downplays risks.

Proper preparation, biomechanics, equipment fitting, and responsiveness to warning signs is crucial. Following expert guidance to build resilience specific to pickleball’s demands provides the best defense against pain and injury long-term.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does pickleball put more stress on your back than tennis?

Yes, pickleball tends to stress the back more than tennis due to more repetitive rotational serving motions and sharper multi-directional movements in a compressed space raising risks of muscle imbalances and disc injuries over time.

What percentage of pickleball players report back injuries?

Around 18% of pickleball players incur back injuries, whether acute muscle strains or chronic conditions like degenerative disc disease according to recent injury surveillance data, making it the second most common area for injury next to the shoulder.

Should I see a chiropractor for pickleball back pain?

Seeing a chiropractor for pickleball-related back pain can help identify the underlying cause, provide prompt relief through techniques like spinal manipulation, recommend rehab and stretches customized to your needs, and offer preventative strategies to avoid recurrence.

What exercises should I do to prevent pickleball back injuries?

Chiropractors advise focusing on core and glute strengthening exercises like planks, bridges, and squats to stabilize your spine as well as hip and shoulder mobilization stretches using a band or foam roller plus practicing rotational control to align your strokes and build tissue resilience.

When should I stop playing pickleball due to back pain?

Stop playing pickleball immediately and avoid self-treating significant back pain that arises during or after play. Seek professional help to determine severity and get recovery recommendations. Trying to play through acute back pain risks exacerbating injury. Address warning signs early.