Pickleball Points

In the September 2022 issue of the Greater Waukesha Area Pickleball eNewsletter, Certified Pro/Instructor, Will East, stressed the importance of proper footwear to avoid injuries. As a Physical Therapist who sprained an ankle badly wearing the wrong shoes playing indoor pickleball, I would definitely agree with Will about the importance of wearing the correct type of shoe when playing pickleball.

Pickleball is a sport that moves you in multiple directions on the court, and many of these movements happen quickly and swiftly. With these swift movements the risk for falls, or near falls, can occur when moving laterally or from slipping due to poor grip from the sole of your shoes.

Some examples of injuries that Physical Therapists, Orthopedic Specialists, Urgent Care Centers, and Emergency Rooms have seen from wearing the wrong type of shoes on the pickleball court include:

• Ankle sprain of one or multiple ligaments
• Sprained or torn knee ligaments, inside/outside/or the dreaded ACL
• Sprained hamstring muscle
• Torn knee cartilage due to a twist and load on the knee
• Tailbone or sacroiliac joint injury due to landing backwards onto the buttocks with sudden a usually asymmetrical load
• Severe back injury
• Severe head injury

The healing time, rehab, and pain from these injuries can last 4-6 weeks, or possibly even longer. That’s 4-6+ weeks away from playing pickleball!

Not only is having the correct shoe important to prevent injury, but making sure they are worn correctly is just as important.

When you tie up your shoes, make sure that you do not disregard the highest eyelet. The position of this eyelet is there for a reason and provides the maximum medial-lateral stability for those quick and swift side to side movements we encounter on the court.

There are pickleball shoes for indoor playing on court floors, and there are pickleball shoes for outdoor playing on asphalt/cement courts. Both of these floors have different textures that require a specific type of shoe.

According to Totalpickleball.com regarding the difference in the sole of the shoe for indoor versus outdoor use, the stiffness of the shoe should change based on need. Outdoor Pickleball requires a stiffer more controlling shoe compared to an indoor shoe, and soles will have a different appearance.

In order for you to determine the best type of shoe for you, take the time to look at the sole of your current pickleball shoes and observe your “wear pattern.” The ball of the foot under the great toe will most notably be worn away if you play a lot. This is due to the pivot point of movement side to side and quick stopping and push off. Another area of wear may be in the heel where you may be collapsing to the inside or outer edge. Pickleball shoes are structured to prepare for the multidirectional lateral movements versus a running shoe which is made to withstand prolonged straight-line motion.

If you’ve been playing Pickleball outdoors and plan on transitioning to indoor play this Fall and Winter, now’s the time to consider a new pair of shoes.

Let’s all be safe so that we can continue to play the sport we’ve all come to love!

LINDA LABORDE

Physical Therapist, Certified Spinal Manipulation & Pelvic Floor Therapy Specialist