Pickleball! It's the sport taking America by storm, especially for those over 50. According to the 2022 Sports & Fitness Industry report, more than half (52%) of core players are 55 or older, and almost a third (32.7%) are 65-plus. That's a lot of active adults enjoying friendly competition and exercise.

April is National Pickleball Month. USA Pickleball Chief Operating Officer Justin Maloof says, “Creating National Pickleball Month for the month of April will help us to promote the sport nationwide to people of all ages, and help to get Americans moving, active and enjoying this fun sport.”

But before you lace up your sneakers and grab that brand new pickleball paddle, know this:

• 19,000 pickleball-related injuries are treated in emergency rooms annually
• 91% of those injuries occur in people over the age of 50!

Although pickleball is considered a low-impact sport, it can still exact a physical toll. According to Diana S. Young, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon:

“There’s a lot of quick stops and starts in pickleball, along with lunging and twisting movements,” she notes. “When you’re younger, these movements aren’t so much an issue. But in older adults, muscles aren’t as strong and flexible, and bones are more brittle, which can affect coordination, stability, and balance.”

So, how can you keep yourself limber and injury-free while enjoying this fantastic sport?

Stay safe with my brand new FREE ebook, the Midlife Guide to Pickleball Injury Prevention.

Included in this concise, easy-to-understand ebook:

• Head to Toe: Common Pickleball Injuries for Older Adults
• Keeping You in the Game: Injury Prevention Tips
• Pickleball Warmup Routine: a 10-minute video to warm up & strengthen commonly used pickleball muscles
• Pickleball Warmup Step-by-Step: a one-page printable guide to all the exercises

Click here to get instant access to the Midlife Guide to Pickleball Injury Prevention.

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Until next time,

~ Rosemary