Common Pickleball Injuries in Calgary and How Active Sports Therapy Treats Them

Written by: Dr. David Westmacott, BKin, DC

Pickleball continues to surge in popularity across Calgary, attracting players of all ages and skill levels. While the sport offers excellent cardiovascular and social benefits, its fast pace, repetitive movements, and quick directional changes can place significant stress on the body, often leading to injury.

At Active Sports Therapy in Calgary, our Unified Team of Chiropractors and Physiotherapists work closely together to assess, treat, and rehabilitate pickleball injuries.

By combining manual therapy, movement analysis, rehabilitation exercises, and progressive loading strategies, we help pickleball players recover efficiently and return to the court with confidence.

Whether you are dealing with a new injury or lingering pain, our clinics in Willow Park and Westman Village Mahogany provide comprehensive, evidence-based care designed to restore movement, reduce pain, and improve performance.

Why Pickleball Injuries Are So Common

Pickleball involves:

Repetitive swinging
Overhead shots
Sudden stops and starts
Lateral shuffling
Lunging and pivoting

These movements place high demand on joints, muscles, tendons, and connective tissue. Without proper mobility, strength, and recovery strategies, overuse injuries and strains can develop over time. Our team-based approach focuses on identifying the underlying causes of injury, not just treating symptoms.

Common Pickleball Injuries Active Sports Therapy Treats

Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)

One of the most frequent pickleball injuries, tennis elbow causes pain on the outside of the elbow and forearm.

Treatment may include:

Soft tissue therapy
Joint mobilization
Progressive strengthening programs

Shockwave therapy (when appropriate) LINK WEBPAGE TO SHOCKWVAE
Education on paddle grip size, equipment, and physical load management

Golfer’s Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis)

Pain along the inside of the elbow often related to repetitive gripping and wrist motion,

Treatment focuses on:

Reducing tendon irritation
Restoring mobility
Strengthening forearm and upper limb muscles
Gradual return-to-play progression

Shoulder Pain and Rotator Cuff Injuries

Overhead shots and repetitive swinging can overload the shoulder complex.

Treatment may involve:

Manual therapy to improve mobility
Rotator cuff and scapular strengthening
Movement retraining
Progressive loading and sport-specific exercises

Achilles Tendinopathy

Common in players who perform frequent starts, stops, and quick direction changes.

Treatment may include:

Progressive tendon loading exercises
Calf strengthening
Ankle mobility work
Shockwave therapy
Activity modification strategies

Plantar Fasciitis

Heel and arch pain often feels worse first thing in the morning or after activity. Calgary’s diverse pickleball court surfaces — indoor, outdoor, concrete, and gym flooring, this can all contribute to increased foot strain.

Treatment may involve:

Soft tissue therapy
Foot and ankle mobilization
Strengthening intrinsic foot muscles
Shockwave therapy
Footwear and orthotic guidance

Knee Pain

Includes patellofemoral pain, tendon irritation, or meniscal symptoms.

Treatment focuses on:

Improving hip, knee, and ankle mechanics
Strengthening quadriceps and glutes
Balance and stability training
Movement pattern correction

Low Back Strain

Twisting, bending, and rotational forces during pickleball can strain spinal structures.

Treatment may include:

Manual therapy
Core stability exercises
Mobility work
Postural and movement education

Calf Strains

Often occur with explosive push-offs and quick acceleration.

Treatment includes:

Soft tissue therapy
Gradual strengthening
Range-of-motion restoration

Pickleball injury assessment at Active Sports Therapy includes:

Detailed movement and biomechanical evaluation
Identification of contributing factors
Individualized treatment plan
Progressive rehabilitation and strengthening
Injury prevention strategies

Our Unified Team of Chiropractors and Physiotherapists communicate closely to ensure your care is coordinated and focused on long-term results.

Why Choose Active Sports Therapy in Calgary?

Integrated Chiropractic and Physiotherapy care
Evidence-based rehabilitation
Sports-focused clinicians
Shockwave Therapy available
Two convenient Calgary locations

We help you move better, feel stronger, and get back to doing what you love.

If pain is limiting your pickleball performance, let our team help!

Book your appointment with Active Sports Therapy in Willow Park or Westman Village Mahogany today.

This is the first step towards pain-free movement and a stronger return to the court.

Injury Prevention During Race Season.

By: Active Sports Therapy

Spring and Summer are a fantastic time to get the competitive juices flowing by signing up for various races and challenges in and around the city. Maybe it’s your first 5k, your second marathon of the summer or a community triathlon, either way, you’ll want to be ready for it.

In addition to the obvious…which is training properly for the event, we’ve compiled a list of a few more things that can help.

Gait Analysis: Have your gait looked at to determine if there are any corrective measures you can take. Orthotics can be a game-changer for many a runner especially if you have excess pronation, suffer from plantar fasciitis or in general, just have poor foot biomechanics.

See a Running Expert: Calgary is home to a very strong running community so you’ll definitely be able to find someone who can analyze your form and help you make injury-preventing corrections. One great example is Solo Sport Systems in Calgary.

Listen to Your Body: Not just in running, but in everyday life. This is advice we always give to our patients for injury prevention. If there’s pain, don’t dismiss it. We recommend you take quick action to nip the problem in the bud by seeing your practitioner as soon as possible before the pain bumps you out of the race completely.

Just RICE it!: Rest. Ice. Compression. Elevation. As soon as the injury happens RICE it for 10-15 minutes, several times a day. In addition to this, be sure to protect the area with crutches, rest, and avoidance of activities that cause pain in the area.

Stay Positive: Sounds simple enough right? This can be a challenge for many, especially if you've been taken away from an activity that you love. Focus on some brain conditioning during this time to help you achieve the best possible recovery by remaining optimistic and confident in your ability to recover.

See a Chiropractor: A chiropractic adjustment can help ensure there is the proper alignment of your spine and pelvis leading up to the big race. Active Release Therapy can also play a role in loosening up tight muscles by breaking up restrictive adhesions, allowing your movement to be more fluid and pain-free.

Visit an MAT Specialist: MAT stands for Muscle Activation Technique. This technique can assess and correct muscular imbalances, and instability of joints, and help correct any difficulties with a range of motion allowing your muscles to move, fire, and function at their very best.

Book in for Chiropractic, Active Release Therapy, a foot analysis to see if Orthotics are right for you, or MAT right here at Active Sports Therapy.

*This blog is not intended to officially establish a physician-patient relationship, to replace the services of a trained physician, naturopathic doctor, physical therapist or chiropractor or otherwise to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]