ScholarWorks@성균관대학교

초록

PURPOSE: Pickleball is a racket sport that blends elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. As its global popularity has grown, research on the sport has also increased. However, little academic work has been done in South Korea, especially regarding injuries. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of injuries among recreational pickleball players in South Korea. METHODS: A total of 165 adult players (57.6±9.1 years) who participated in the 1ST 2025 OakValley Pickleball Championship completed a cross-sectional injury survey. The questionnaire included items on demographic information, pickleball participation characteristics (e.g., frequency, weekly play hours, skill level), and injury-related experiences during pickleball over the past 12 months. Participants were asked to self-report the body regions, type, mechanism, and severity of injuries sustained during pickleball activity. RESULTS: Among participants, 44.8% (n=74) reported at least one injury in the past 12 months. The most frequently injured sites were the knee (24.4%), elbow/forearm (18.3%), and ankle/foot (13.7%).The most commonly reported injuries were muscle or tendon injuries (49.5%), followed by joint injuries such as sprains and dislocations (29.5%). Overuse accounted for 58.0% of injuries. Most injuries occurred during play (71.6%), rather than before (1.4%) or after (27%) play. Notably, 22.5% of injured participants stopped activity for ≥1 month. CONCLUSIONS: Recreational pickleball players exhibited a notable rate of lower limb injuries, particularly involving muscles, tendons, and joints, primarily sustained during play.This study provides foundational data on injury patterns among recreational pickleball players in South Korea, highlighting the need for future research to better understand the characteristics and potential risk factors of injuries in this growing population.

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