Hip Strength, Change of Direction, and Falls in Recreational Pickleball Players

While a high incidence of pickleball-related falls is reported, little is known regarding factors differentiating persons with and without a fall history during play.

This study aimed to determine differences between recreational pickleball players who fell while playing and those who did not. Additional aims were to determine reasons for falling and to investigate associations among assessed factors.

Cross-sectional study.

Participants completed a survey reporting age, fall history, and reasons for falling during play. Hip abduction strength, single leg squat form, ankle dorsiflexion, and change of direction time using a modified T-test on a pickleball court (i.e. pickleball T-test) were assessed.

Among the 92 individuals participating in the study, 42% reported a fall while playing and 30% reported falling more than once. Leading reasons for reported falls were lunging and moving backward. Participants who reported falling were significantly older (z = -2.60, p = 0.009) and slower on the pickleball T-test (z = -2.10, p = 0.036) than those who did not report falling. Hip abduction strength was not associated with fall history but was associated with faster time on the pickleball T-test (left r = -.41, p < 0.001, right r = -.48, p < 0.001). Single leg squat form and dorsiflexion were not related to fall history.

Falls are common among recreational pickleball players, particularly older players. Fall prevention programs for pickleball players should be considered including multi-directional lunging, lower extremity strength and power development, and change of direction training that includes moving backward.

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