Injury risk and epidemiology of pickleball players in South Korea: a cross-sectional study

Pickleball is rapidly growing in popularity, yet limited research exists regarding injury epidemiology and associated risk factors, particularly in South Korea. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, characteristics, and predictors of injuries among recreational pickleball players.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted during the 1st HEAD Korea Open Pickleball Championship in 2024, with 232 participants (mean age 50.5 ± 12.2 years) completing a questionnaire on demographics, playing habits, and injuries experienced over the previous 12 months.

34.2% reported at least one injury. The most affected regions were the knee (23.3%), elbow or forearm (18.1%), and shoulder or upper arm (17.2%). Overuse injuries (i.e., those with a gradual onset and no single traumatic event) accounted for 78% of reported cases, while 22% were related to acute trauma. The most frequent injury types were muscle or tendon injuries (33.3%) and joint sprains or dislocations (28.3%). Logistic regression analysis identified higher self-rated skill level as significantly associated with a reduced risk of injury (odds ratio [OR] = 0.789, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.624-0.992, p = 0.044), as well as greater weekly play hours (OR = 0.913, 95% CI: 0.861-0.963, p = 0.001). In contrast, age, gender, total playing experience, and frequency of weekly play were not significantly associated with injury risk.

These findings underscore the need for skill-based and volume-conscious injury prevention strategies, particularly for beginner and recreational players, to support safe participation in this fast-growing sport.