Pickleball and Low Back Pain: Spine stability to prevent injury!

Pickleball requires players to perform movements in multiple planes of motion, which demands high levels of stability around the lumbar spine (low back). Side-to-side movements, spinal rotation, bending over, jumping, and running all place participants at increased risk of developing low back pain if spinal stability is impaired. Of all movements in pickleball, repetitive dinking is probably the most taxing on the lower back. Dinking requires players to stay low while moving side to side and it often combines bending over and twisting in order to hit a soft shot back over the net that will land in the No Volley Zone. Many players get low by bending through the spine rather than through the knees, which further increases their risk for injury while dinking.

Repetition of biomechanically disadvantaged movements in the lumbar spine can lead to injuries such as muscle strains, ligaments sprains, facet joint dysfunctions, disc bulges, disc herniations, and compression fractures. Each injury requires a different approach to rehabilitation, and if you are injured you should consult a Licensed Health Care Professional such as a Sports Physical Therapist in order to be evaluated and effectively treated.

Developing a stable spine by performing dynamic core stabilization exercises that are specific to the demands of Pickleball, is the only way to try and prevent low back pain. You can visit www.thepickleballdoctor.com to learn about strengthening exercises that will get you started on developing good lumbar spine stability to keep you on the court longer, and injury free!

If you have any questions, you can contact the Pickleball doctor at: thepickleballdoctor@gmail.com.

Don’t miss the next issue of USAPA Magazine for a complete article by The Pickleball Doctor!

Noe Sariban is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, Certified Pickleball Teaching Professional through the IPTPA, and a USAPA Rated 5.0 player sponsored by Engage Pickleball. Please visit www.thepickleballdoctor.com for more information on injury prevention and rehabilitation tips. Noe started his website to provide Pickleball players around the world with a reliable and free source of information. Please like his Facebook page (www.facebook.com/pickleballdoctor) for updates and new information.