Bengaluru: If you are thinking of picking up your paddle to play pickleball this weekend, do not forget to prep before going to the court. As the sport has managed to pique the interests of both youngsters and middle-aged people in Bengaluru, a lack of preparation, improper shoes and gear, and overexertion on the court is driving up the number of injuries too.Although the game was played by smaller groups for almost a decade in the city, in the last year or so, the game gained immense popularity among the age group of 20–45.“In the last three to four months, we have seen an influx of people in their late 30s and early 40s walking in with elbow, hamstring, and ankle injuries after playing pickleball. Some of these are acute injuries where they twist the ankle while running or experience a hamstring spasm. But some develop chronic conditions like tendinitis (shoulder inflammation) and tennis elbow,” said Dr Sunil G Kini, HOD & consultant – orthopaedic & robotic joint replacement surgery, Manipal Hospital, Old Airport Road.In recent times, pickleball courts have sprung up in almost every locality, and even apartment complexes have set them up. However, most players engage in the activity as a recreational sport without prior physical preparation, leading to injuries and sometimes even aggravating pre-existing injuries. The injuries are more common among those in their 40s.“Many players in this age group often underestimate the physical demands the sport exerts on the body and do not play under the supervision of trained professionals. They are not agile and engage in pickleball as a recreational sport as the facilities are available in apartment complexes. Rotator cuff strain, which can occur from frequent rotary action of the hand, lower back strain due to constant bending and weak core strength, Achilles tendinitis caused by sudden stops, and knee sprains resulting from quick turns, landings, or wrong footwear are some common injuries,” said Dr Prashanth R, co-founder and director, orthopaedics, TriLife Hospital.Doctors and physiotherapists have noticed that as people are becoming more conscious about health and fitness, sports injuries overall have increased in the city. “Bengaluru has become an active city of late. We see a lot of people coming in with sports injuries, and an increased number of people have been coming, especially with pickleball injuries. In acute phases, we work on reducing their pain and inflammation with gentle exercises. Then we progress to strength and mobility training, correction of mechanics, and modification to playing equipment (if that is a contributing factor),” said Pratima Nagpal, CTO and co-founder, Pro Physio Healthcare.Along with the consultation of a medical practitioner prior to engaging in pickleball, doctors suggest a few other measures like hydration and selection of proper footwear to avoid injuries.“Proper warm-up and stretching exercises, appropriate kit, core strength training, and regular fitness routines along with proper game techniques are some of the things that people should focus on before engaging in any sport,” Dr Prashanth said.Box: How did it get popular?Pickleball is a sport which is played with short paddles and a plastic ball on a court with a net in the centre. It is similar to other racquet sports like badminton, tennis, and table tennis. The game originated in the US in 1965, and in Bengaluru, it was played for almost a decade.In 2016, the Karnataka State Pickleball Association (KSPA) set up the first court in the city. Today, there are more than 400 courts with at least one court in every area. The courts charge anywhere between Rs 800 – Rs 1,200 for an hour’s play.“The launch of the World Pickleball League (WPBL) in Jan this year, where celebrities like filmmaker Atlee, actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu, and former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar were the owners of the teams, led to everyone getting to know pickleball. As they started posting about it, the sport became popular, and in Bengaluru, we saw hundreds of courts pop up in the last nine months,” said Rajath Kankar, founder, general secretary, KSPA.Inset 2How to avoid getting hurt – Know your body’s limitations with regard to flexibility– Don’t skip warm-up and cool-down exercises– Hydration to avoid spasms– Wearing the right gear and footwear– Strength training and regular fitness routines– Follow proper game techniquesQuotes:I used to play tennis before, and then I started playing pickleball. I picked up the game as the rules are quite easy to understand, and it is an indoor game which can be played even when it’s raining. It is also a social game as you can find players on your level to play with. Ease of access is also definitely a factor – Alisha Peres, a pickleball playerMany players in their 40s often underestimate the physical demands the sport exerts on the body and do not play under the supervision of trained professionals. They are not agile and engage in pickleball as a recreational sport as the facilities are available in apartment complexes, leading to injuriesDr Prashanth R, co-founder and director, orthopaedics, TriLife Hospital MSID:: 123721393 413 |
