Pickleball Is Booming in Frisco. So Are the Injuries

In Frisco, pickleball is exploding in popularity. Courts are packed on weekday mornings and weekend afternoons alike, and players of all ages are discovering why the sport is so addictive. But there’s a side of pickleball that’s not talked about nearly enough: the nagging lower back pain, the elbow that won’t quit aching, the hip that feels “off” after a long session. These complaints are more common than most players realize, and they don’t have to sideline your game.

Experiencing pain after playing? We often hear things like:

• “My back tightens up after a few games.”
• “Twisting for a shot sends a sharp pain through my low back.”
• “My elbow aches for days after I play.”
• “My hip feels ‘off’ when I pivot or lunge.”

Why Pickleball Is Harder on Your Body Than You Think

The sport looks deceptively easy from the sideline. But every match involves quick lateral shuffles, sudden stops, pivots, and repetitive swing motions. Over time, those movements stress the lumbar discs, strain the sacroiliac joint, and load the elbows and shoulders in ways that gradually build toward injury.

A big reason these injuries sneak up is that pickleball exposes the weak links most people don’t notice day to day. These include limited spinal or hip mobility, lingering postural stress, poor core stabilization, and muscle imbalances that shift strain into the low back, SI joint, or shoulders. Add in inadequate recovery between sessions or ramping up play too fast, and it’s easy for small irritations to build into something that won’t settle down on its own.

The Injuries We See Most

Lower back pain is by far the most common complaint. The combination of repeated bending and rotation is tough on lumbar discs and the SI joint, especially when core stability is lacking or mobility has been lost over time. Players often describe stiffness after matches or sharp pain during twisting. What feels like a simple muscle strain can actually be a disc or joint issue that needs proper evaluation.

We also see true SI joint irritation appear on its own, especially when the pelvis is absorbing repeated side-to-side forces and quick pivots. This often feels like one-sided low back or deep buttock pain and can sometimes mimic sciatica, which is why pinpointing the exact source matters.

Beyond the back, elbow pain from repetitive paddle mechanics, shoulder strain from overhead shots, and calf or Achilles issues from hard acceleration and stopping are all regular visitors to our practice.

What the Adjustment Actually Does

Adjusting one bone up or one bone down from the actual source of the problem produces no change at all. That’s why precision isn’t a preference at Venn Chiropractic and Wellness Center. It’s the whole point.

That’s the Gonstead philosophy in a nutshell. Rather than applying a general adjustment to a region of the spine, Dr. Jason Venn identifies the specific vertebrae or joints involved and addresses those precisely. For pickleball players, this often means evaluating the lumbar spine, SI joint, hip mobility, and core stability together, because they’re all part of the same movement chain.

Getting to the Root

Care at our practice starts with identifying the true source. Depending on what’s found, care may involve Gonstead adjustments, spinal decompression for disc involvement, SI joint correction, targeted rehabilitation, or postural and movement analysis.

“We see people every week who’ve been dealing with pain for months, sometimes years, assuming it was just part of getting older or playing hard. Often, there’s a specific mechanical issue driving the problem. When we correct that, the change can be remarkable,” says Dr. Venn.

Can You Keep Playing While Getting Care?

In many cases, yes. Stopping entirely is rarely necessary. For most patients, modified activity while undergoing care is both appropriate and encouraged. The goal isn’t to bench you. It’s to address the underlying issue so your body can handle the demands of the sport more efficiently.