Pickleball players will be quick to tell you that their sport combines the best elements of tennis and badminton. It’s intense, fast-paced, and requires quick pivots to execute shots. Since its backyard creation in 1965, pickleball has become enormously popular in community centers, parks, health clubs, YMCA facilities, and retirement communities. It boasts thousands of national tournaments as well as national and international championships.

Considering the intensity of the sport, it’s not surprising that a host of common injuries have emerged, many of which can be successfully treated (or prevented) using Rolfing techniques. While we will address specific injuries, it is important to note that Rolfing’s Structural Integration helps patients deal with acute and chronic pain by breaking patterns of poor posture and movement that keep their bodies from moving correctly. In addition to rebalancing the fascia network, Rolfing works to break up scar tissue from old injuries, enabling you to move more efficiently and with less pain.

ShoulderInjuries

Due to the repetitive overhead motion pickleball requires, players can suffer shoulder injuries, including inflammation and torn rotator cuffs.

If you have a rotator cuff injury, your Rolfing practitioner, in addition to your Structural Integration sessions, will gladly devise a regimen of strengthening exercises for your forearm muscles to help prevent a repeat injury.

AnkleInjuries

As mentioned, pickleball is a game of quick pivots, which may cause ankle injuries resulting in pain, swelling, and bruising. In the same vein as shoulder injury treatment, your Rolfer can create a program of stretching and strengthening exercises for you.

KneeStrain

Knee strains are common in pickleball players due to their repetitive and rapid side-to-side motion. To avoid injury, your Rolfer will recommend exercises to stretch your IT bands. It’s important to keep your quadriceps and hamstrings strong but developmentally balanced.

MuscleStrains

Muscle strains are common in pickleball, including groin, quadriceps, and hamstrings. Structural Integration can prevent many of these injuries, but your Rolfing practitioner can assign specific warm-up and stretching exercises if you suffer from a ‘problem area.’

If you have suffered or are suffering from any of these common pickleball injuries, it’s important to consult a movement specialist to avoid long-term strain, chronic pain, and injury. Your body wants to move correctly and pain free. Your Rolfing professional can help.