Pediatric Pickleball Injuries Surge in 2024

Medscape

2 days ago

TOPLINE:
A recent study showed that pediatric pickleball injuries increased sharply in 2024, with facial injuries being the most common. Younger children faced higher risks for lacerations, whereas older players experienced more joint injuries.
METHODOLOGY:
Researchers analyzed pickleball-related injuries in pediatric patients (average age, 12.7 years; 61.4% boys) presenting to emergency departments during 2014-2024, representing an estimated 3011 injuries nationally during this period.
Researchers conducted narrative searches to identify cases and categorize injury mechanisms.
Of 66 patients with information on race, 78.8% were White, 13.6% were Black or African American, and 7.6% were Asian.
Injuries were defined as nontraumatic if they resulted from a medical or environmental cause without an external force (eg, sunburn). Traumatic injuries were further subclassified based on the type of external force, including falls, being hit with a paddle, being hit with a ball, noncontact trauma, or unknown causes.
TAKEAWAY:
Most injuries occurred in teenagers (57.4%) and only 4% of the injuries resulted in hospitalizations; 58.4% of the cases were reported in 2024.
Lacerations were the most common injury (23.8%), followed by fractures (13.9%), sprains (12.9%), and abrasions/contusions (10.9%). Facial lacerations (18.8%), sprained ankles (8.9%), and concussions/closed-head injuries (6.9%) were the most frequent specific injuries.
Older patients had an increased risk for dislocation (odds ratio [OR], 1.63; P = .03) but were less likely to have lacerations (OR, 0.84; P = .03) or concussions (OR, 0.75; P = .02) than younger patients.
The most common injury mechanism was collision with a paddle (34.4%), followed by falls (27.8%). The odds of noncontact trauma increased with age (OR, 1.33; P = .01).
IN PRACTICE:
Age-related differences in injuries call for "specific prevention strategies" including "lighter paddles and optional headgear for younger children to potentially reduce head trauma, and strength training or technique-focused interventions for older children to help mitigate joint injuries," the study authors wrote. They added "prospective studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of these strategies and to monitor evolving injury patterns as participation continues to grow across pediatric age groups."
SOURCE:
The study was led by Michaelangelo Coppa, BS, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota. It was published online on July 25, 2025, in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine.
LIMITATIONS:
Reliance on narrative text due to the absence of a dedicated National Electronic Injury Surveillance System code may have led to underreporting or missed cases. Exclusion of non-ED encounters potentially biased the sample toward more severe injuries. Additionally, the limited clinical details, small sample size, and absence of interventions or long-term outcomes restricted the generalizability of the study findings.
DISCLOSURES:
The study did not receive any funding, and the authors reported no competing interests.
This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.