Pickleball's hidden danger: a third of Achilles injuries strike on day one
About a third of pickleball-related Achilles tendon ruptures happen during the first playing session.
Pickleball is booming across the Illawarra with new courts opening in suburbs. Orthopaedic surgeon Dr Meghan Dares warns of serious injuries.
Sixty-eight percent of Achilles tendon ruptures linked to pickleball happen in the first month. About a third happen during the first session.
Your lower leg gets a lot of force in the first couple of steps. Your Achilles tendon feels it too.
The sport markets itself as easy for all ages. But many people underestimate the physical demands.
Two groups face the highest risk: athletes in their early twenties and weekend warriors aged fifty to seventy. Over twenty thousand Australians aged eighteen to twenty-four now play pickleball.
Ninety-four thousand aged forty-five to sixty-five-plus play it too.
- 68%
- Ruptures in first month
- about a third
- Ruptures in first session
- over 20,000
- Players aged 18-24
- over 94,000
- Players aged 45-65-plus
Why it mattersNew players often ignore the real physical demands. They assume a smaller court means lower injury risk. Understanding how hard it is protects newcomers.
AustraliaAs pickleball grows rapidly across Australia, hospitals and physios should expect a spike in Achilles injuries, especially from players in their first month.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 d ago
