Kitchen & Court

Is Pickleball Safe for Seniors?

What the injury data actually says about players 60+ — the real risks are falls and wrist fractures, not the sport itself — and the concrete steps that lower them.

By Stephen V.Last updated How we research

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Short answer: yes, pickleball is safe for the great majority of seniors — and the risks it does carry are largely preventable.It’s lower-impact than tennis or running, it’s played on a small court that limits sprinting, and people take it up and play well into their 70s and 80s. But “safe” isn’t the same as “risk-free,” and understanding where the real risk lies is exactly how you avoid it. So let’s look at what the data actually says.

What the injury data shows

The honest picture from the research is that injury risk does rise with age, but it concentrates in one specific way. A study of pickleball-related geriatric injuries found that adults 60 and older accounted for the large majority of pickleball emergency-room visits, were meaningfully more likely to fracture than younger players, and that more than half of those geriatric injuries came from ground-level falls. A separate analysis of senior pickleball and tennis injuries found that for players 60+, the single most-injured body part was the wrist, followed by the pattern you’d expect from falls: strains, sprains and fractures.

Read those findings together and a clear story emerges. Older players aren’t getting hurt because the sport is violent — they’re getting hurt because they lose their footing, fall, and put a hand down to catch themselves. The wrist takes the impact. That’s why fall prevention is the whole gamewhen it comes to playing safely, and it’s a genuinely hopeful conclusion, because falls are among the most preventable injuries there are. (One more finding worth knowing: women in these studies face several times the fracture risk of men, so the advice below matters even more for women players.)

The six things that actually lower your risk

  1. Wear proper court shoes. This is number one for a reason. Running shoes are built to roll you forward and offer almost no sideways support, which makes them tippy on a pickleball court. A court or tennis shoe with a low, stable base and a grippy sole is the single biggest thing you can do to prevent a fall. See our shoes for seniors.
  2. Warm up every time.Five minutes of easy movement before you play — walking, gentle arm and wrist circles, a few practice swings. Cold muscles and stiff joints are more likely to strain, and warming up matters more with age, not less.
  3. Never backpedal for a lob. Shuffling backward is how players catch a heel and fall flat. When a ball goes over your head, turn and run to it, or let it go. This one habit prevents a huge share of the worst falls.
  4. Play the soft, controlled game.Lunging and diving for everything is how you tweak something. Pickleball rewards placement and patience near the kitchen line — which is both the smart way to win and the safe way to play.
  5. Build strength and balance off the court.A little regular leg-strength and balance work — sit-to-stands, heel raises, standing on one foot — makes you steadier during play. The CDC recommends balance and strengthening work for older adults for exactly this reason.
  6. Support a sore joint, and stop for real pain. A knee brace or wrist supportcan steady a joint that feels vulnerable. But sharp pain, swelling or a joint giving way is a signal to stop and see a doctor — not to tape it up and push on.

Who should check with a doctor first

Pickleball is widely recommended for older adults, but a quick conversation with your doctor is sensible before you start if you have a heart condition, uncontrolled blood pressure, balance or dizziness problems, a recent injury or surgery, or significant arthritis. None of this is medical advice — it’s the context to have a better conversation with someone who knows your health. For the overwhelming majority of people, the answer that conversation produces is “yes, go play — sensibly.”

The bottom line

Pickleball is safe for most seniors, and the benefits — cardio, balance, strength, friendship — far outweigh a risk that is mostly about falls and mostly preventable. Get the shoes right, warm up, don’t backpedal, play the soft game, and support a sore joint when you need to. Do that, and you’re set up to enjoy the sport for a very long time.

General information, not medical advice. Kitchen & Court is written by a pickleball enthusiast, not a doctor or physical therapist. If you have arthritis, a heart condition, a recent injury or any concern about starting a new sport, talk to your doctor first. Warm up, start gently, and stop if something hurts.

Frequently asked questions

Is pickleball safe for a 70-year-old?

For most healthy 70-year-olds, yes — it's lower-impact than tennis or running and widely played into the 70s and 80s. The main risk is falls, which good court shoes, a warm-up and sensible play largely prevent. If you have a heart condition, balance problems, or a joint issue, check with your doctor before starting.

How common are pickleball injuries in older players?

Injuries do rise with age — studies show adults 60+ make up a large share of pickleball ER visits and are more likely to fracture. But the injuries are concentrated in falls and wrist fractures rather than the sport being inherently dangerous, and most are preventable with the right shoes and movement habits.

What is the most common pickleball injury for seniors?

For players 60 and older, wrist injuries top the list — largely because people put a hand out to catch a fall — along with strains, sprains and other fracture types. That's why fall prevention (court shoes, not backpedaling for lobs) is the single most valuable thing an older player can focus on.

How can I avoid getting hurt playing pickleball?

Wear proper court shoes, warm up before every session, don't backpedal for lobs (turn and run instead), play the controlled soft game rather than lunging for everything, and stay hydrated. Build strength and balance off the court, and use a brace on a sore joint. Most senior pickleball injuries come from preventable falls.

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