
‘Making Cash’ host Charles Payne discusses the rise in reputation of pickleball, the price of accidents and the surge of recognition in new sports activities.
It’s all enjoyable and video games till a pickleball participant winds up within the hospital with a damaged hip — or till medical health insurance premiums begin to skyrocket.
Because the pickleball craze continues to comb the nation, the racket/paddle sport might rack up well being care prices as excessive as $250 million to $500 million in 2023, based on statistics from the New-York based mostly funding financial institution UBS.
Led by govt director Andrew Mok, CFA, the Wall Road analysts projected the price improve quickly after UnitedHealth Group, the biggest supplier of well being care insurance coverage within the U.S., introduced a big improve in hip and knee surgical procedures.
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On the heels of UnitedHealth’s June 14 announcement, quite a few medical health insurance firms noticed their inventory costs slide.
“Whereas we usually consider train as positively impacting well being outcomes, the ‘can do’ perspective of right this moment’s seniors can pose larger threat in different areas resembling sports activities accidents, resulting in a larger variety of orthopedic procedures,” the usanalysts mentioned, per a Bloomberg report.
Pickleball is a hybrid of tennis, badminton and ping pong. It was declared the fastest-growing sport earlier this 12 months by the Sports activities & Health Trade Affiliation (SFIA). (Angelica Stabile/Fox Information Digital / Fox Information)
Pickleball, a hybrid of tennis, badminton and ping pong, was declared the fastest-growing sport earlier this 12 months by the Sports activities & Health Trade Affiliation (SFIA), which is predicated in Maryland.
Participation doubled in 2022 and skyrocketed greater than 158% over a three-year interval, the SFIA acknowledged on its web site.
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As participation has elevated, so have the accidents.
The uptick in accidents is probably going attributed to the game’s fast rise in reputation slightly than any inherent risks.
Between 2010 and 2019, there have been almost 29,000 pickleball accidents amongst gamers age 60 and older, based on a 2021 research printed within the journal Harm Epidemiology.
Nearly all of these accidents have been strains/sprains, fractures and contusions, with most of them attributable to slipping, tripping, falling or diving.

“Due to the character of transferring your physique to lunge at a ball, potential accidents can embrace pulling a muscle, breaking or spraining an ankle or wrist, or falling and scraping your pores and skin,” mentioned one physician. (Angelica Stabile/Fox Information Digital / Fox Information)
One other 2020 research printed in The Journal of Emergency Drugs analyzed pickleball accidents that resulted in emergency room visits between 2001 and 2017.
Greater than 90% of the sufferers have been 50 or older.
Once more, strains, sprains and fractures have been the commonest accidents.
“Keep hydrated and take breaks as wanted.”
“Due to the character of transferring your physique to lunge at a ball, potential accidents can embrace pulling a muscle, breaking or spraining an ankle or wrist, or falling and scraping your pores and skin,” Dr. Laura Purdy, a board-certified household drugs doctor in Brentwood, Tennessee, instructed Fox Information Digital.
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The uptick in accidents is probably going attributed to the game’s fast rise in reputation slightly than any inherent risks, Purdy mentioned.

A physician critiques a post-operative X-ray of a shoulder. Pickleball is “no more harmful than different crew sports activities, however as with all exercise, it’s essential to take heed to your physique and know your limits,” mentioned one doctor. (Jeff Greenberg/Schooling Photos/Common Photos Group by way of Getty Photos / Getty Photos)
“With extra individuals enjoying, extra accidents are being reported,” she defined.
“The game itself shouldn’t be extra harmful than different crew sports activities, however as with all exercise, it’s essential to take heed to your physique and know your limits.”
It’s essential to prep your physique earlier than participating in bodily exercise, Purdy mentioned.
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“Stretch earlier than enjoying and ensure your muscle groups are free,” the physician advisable. “Keep hydrated and take breaks as wanted.”
Added Purdy, “Take heed to your physique in case you are injured, really feel fatigued or want a break.”