Injuries And Hospitalizations Associated With Playing Pickleball From 2020 To 2022: A National Database Study

PURPOSE: Pickleball has become an increasingly popular sport in the United States. The purpose of this study was to report the estimated number and the types of pickleball-related injuries presenting to U.S. emergency departments from 2020 to 2022, as estimated by the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database. METHODS: Data from the NEISS database were queried to characterize pickleball-related injuries that presented to 96 NEISS-affiliated emergency departments across the United States between 2020 and 2022. The estimated number of injuries and hospital admissions were calculated using weights assigned by the NEISS based on the geographical location. Narratives were reviewed for each patient to categorize the type and site of injury. Multivariable analyses were used to determine risk factors associated with pickleball-related hospital admissions. RESULTS: The estimated number of annual pickleball-related injuries presenting to U.S. emergency departments increased 91% from 2020 to 2022 (8,894 vs 16,997 injuries). Pickleball-related hospital admissions increased 257% from 2020 in 2022 (992 vs 3,541 hospital admissions). The majority of injuries (73%, 9,932 estimated injuries per year) were sustained by patients between 60 and 79 years of age (mean ± SD: 63.9 ± 14.7 years). The most common types of injuries were fractures (29%, 3,990 estimated injuries per year) and strains/sprains (21%, 2,808 estimated injuries per year). Multivariable analyses controlling for age, sex, injury type, and site of injury demonstrated that patients ≥65 years old were at an increased risk for hospitalization (OR: 2.48, 95% CI: 1.54-4.11, P < 0.001) compared to those <65 years old. CONCLUSIONS: The estimated number of pickleball-related injuries presenting to U.S. emergency departments and subsequent hospital admissions has increased 91% and 257%, respectively, from 2020 to 2022. Patients who were 65 years or older at the time of injury were at an increased risk for hospital admission.