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Pediatric pickleball injuries: A multi-center database analysis of emergency department visits
Michaelangelo Coppa1, Aidin Gharavi1, Sergio M Navarro2
1Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, 200 First St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Insights
Pediatric pickleball injuries are increasing, with younger children more likely to get cuts and older children experiencing joint injuries. These trends are crucial for developing targeted safety measures as the sport grows.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Pediatric Injury Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Pickleball participation has surged in the U.S., with millions of players in 2024.
- Existing research on adult pickleball injuries is available, but pediatric injury patterns are not well understood.
- Emergency department (ED) visits for pediatric pickleball injuries require focused investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the epidemiology of pediatric pickleball injuries presenting to U.S. emergency departments.
- To identify demographic, injury type, and mechanism trends in pediatric pickleball injuries.
- To understand age-specific injury patterns in young pickleball players.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database from 2014-2024.
- Identification of pickleball-related injuries through narrative searches within the NEISS data.
- Statistical analysis, including univariable logistic regression, to assess age-related injury characteristics.
Main Results:
- An estimated 3011 pediatric pickleball injuries occurred nationally between 2014-2024, with over 58% in 2024.
- The majority of injured players were male (61.4%) and adolescents aged 13-17 (57.4%).
- Facial injuries (27.1%) and lacerations (23.8%) were most common; younger children had more lacerations, while older children sustained more knee and shoulder injuries. Hospitalization rates were low (4%).
Conclusions:
- Pediatric pickleball injuries exhibit distinct age-related patterns, with younger children more susceptible to lacerations and older children to joint injuries.
- While most injuries are mild, the rapid growth of pickleball necessitates age-specific safety measures and prevention strategies.
- Understanding these epidemiological trends is vital for safeguarding young athletes in this increasingly popular sport.
Background:
Pickleball is a rapidly growing sport, with participation increasing from 4.8 million players in 2021 to 19.8 million in 2024 in the United States. While injury patterns in adults have been studied, pediatric injury patterns remain poorly understood. In this study, we sought to examine the epidemiology of pediatric pickleball injuries presenting to emergency departments (EDs) across the United States.
Methods:
A retrospective analysis was conducted using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database from 2014 to 2024. Pickleball-related injuries were identified via narrative searches. Demographic information, injury type, and mechanism were recorded. Univariable logistic regression evaluated associations between age and injury characteristics.
Results:
An estimated 3011 pediatric pickleball injuries occurred nationally, 58.4 % occurring in 2024. Most injuries were to males (61.4 %) and to children between 13 and 17 years old (57.4 %). Facial Injuries (27.1 %) and lacerations (23.8 %) were the most frequent types of injuries. Younger children were more likely to sustain a laceration (OR: 0.84, 95 % CI: 0.72-0.98, p = 0.03), and older players were more likely to suffer an injury to the knee (OR: 1.46, 95 % CI: 1.11-2.05, p = 0.01) or shoulder (OR: 1.82, 95 % CI: 1.13-3.77, p = 0.04). Only 4 % of injuries resulted in hospitalization.
Conclusion:
Pediatric pickleball injuries show age-specific trends: younger children are more prone to lacerations, while older children experience more joint injuries, although all injuries tend to be mild. As participation grows, understanding these trends is critical for developing age-targeted safety measures and prevention strategies.
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