Pickleball Injuries Send Older Adults to ER

Adults over 60 make up most pickleball injury cases, with wrist injuries and fractures the most common.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Arthritis

Empty outdoor pickleball court with a low net, two paddles resting near the net post, and a chain-link fence beyond the court. — Emergency department visits for pickleball injuries among U.S. adults rose sharply from 2014 through 2024, with adults over 60 making up most cases. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you think pickleball players should take more injury precautions than they do now?

Emergency department visits for pickleball-related musculoskeletal injuries in the United States rose sharply over an 11-year period from 2014 through 2024, while tennis-related injury visits stayed relatively stable. The findings were published online in Injury on October 30, 2026.

Why it matters

Pickleball's rapid growth is bringing a predominantly older group of players into emergency rooms, with wrist injuries and fractures standing out as the most common problems. The study offers a clearer picture of which injuries to anticipate and which players are most affected.

This retrospective analysis of nationwide emergency department records covered 2014 through 2024 and compared 1,442 pickleball and 2,699 tennis musculoskeletal injury cases. Pickleball injuries were most common in adults averaging 60.1 years old, with 52.1% of cases among those 65 or older.

The players

Injury

A peer-reviewed journal focused on trauma and injury research that published the study online.

US Consumer Product Safety Commission

A federal agency that operates the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, the nationwide hospital emergency department database used in the analysis.

The details

Wrist injuries were the most frequent site for pickleball, accounting for 17.0% of cases, while ankle injuries led in tennis at 18.3%. Fractures made up 43.1% of pickleball injuries, whereas sprains or strains accounted for 46.4% of tennis injuries. Hospital admissions followed 7.8% of pickleball injuries compared with 3.9% of tennis injuries.

2014 through 2024: study period covering the emergency department visits analyzed
After 2022: period when pickleball-related emergency visits increased notably
October 30, 2026: study published online in the journal Injury

Health Landscape

Racquet sports injury research has traditionally focused on tennis, with the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System providing the nationwide emergency department baseline. This study extends that surveillance record to pickleball, which is growing quickly among middle-aged and older adults.

If you play pickleball, especially if you are over 60, the findings suggest wrist protection and fall prevention deserve attention, and worth discussing with your doctor is how to manage joint stress. Anyone experiencing persistent wrist or ankle pain after racquet sports should consider raising it at a routine checkup.

The takeaway

Pickleball's growth is bringing more older adults into emergency rooms, and wrist injuries and fractures are the most common concerns. Anyone who plays, particularly after age 60, can ask a clinician about safe play and what symptoms warrant prompt evaluation.