One more game can be hard to resist. But if your elbow aches with every volley or your knee hurts when you change direction, it may be time to adjust your approach. At Pritchette Physical Therapy, we help patients connect their rehabilitation goals with the activities they enjoy, including pickleball. The first step is understanding what is limiting your play.
Look at the demands of your game
Pickleball combines short bursts of movement, quick stops, reaching, and repeated paddle swings. Consider what changed before your symptoms started. Did you add another playing day, return after a long break, or spend an entire afternoon on the court? Those details help your therapist understand the demands your body is managing. The location of pain alone does not establish a diagnosis.
Build a plan around your limitations
Your evaluation may include shoulder motion, grip strength, leg strength, balance, and the way you squat or step. An elbow complaint may require a different approach from pain that appears during a sideways lunge. Your treatment plan can combine targeted exercise, movement practice, education, and hands-on care when appropriate. The goal is to improve the abilities your game requires and help you manage symptoms along the way.
Make your next outing more manageable
Before playing, spend a few minutes walking and rehearsing easy court movements and gentle swings. Start below your usual intensity. If longer sessions aggravate your symptoms, discuss shorter sessions or additional recovery time with your therapist. Avoid turning a warm-up into an aggressive stretch session. Footwear should feel secure and suit the playing surface.
Measure progress beyond pain relief
Feeling better during a quiet day is encouraging, but court readiness also involves repeated steps, controlled stops, and tolerating practice. Your therapist can help you select useful milestones and progress toward them. Track how you feel during activity, later that day, and the following morning. A flare-up can provide information for adjusting the plan; it does not automatically mean all progress is lost.
Keep your goals on the court
Persistent pain, recurring swelling, or a change in how you move deserves attention. A sudden injury with severe pain or inability to bear weight needs prompt medical assessment. If pickleball discomfort is keeping you on the sidelines, schedule an evaluation with Pritchette Physical Therapy in Ahwatukee. Visit www.PritchettePT.com to take the next step toward more comfortable play.
Contact us at 480-785-5415 if you are struggling with pain or injury from playing pickleball.
References
https://www.pritchettephysicaltherapy.com/services/physical-therapy
https://www.cdc.gov/physical-activity-basics/adding-adults/index.html