Today is your day Boomer! I know, I know....another pickleball blog. But it is the fastest-growing sport in North America and a big favourite of Boomers! This time, we focus on injuries associated with the sport. Here is a list of the five most common pickleball injuries:(1)Achilles’ strains or tears (2)Shoulder problems (3)Rotator cuff injuries (4))Lower back problems such as disc strains (5)Lateral epicondylitis, commonly known as tennis elbow. Sports medicine expert Stephanie Bourassa says "It’s a fast-paced game, requiring a lot of quick reactions; there's not a lot of running, but there’s lots of quick pivots, lunging, rotating and twisting. These motions can put a lot of strain on the body, especially when in a compressed position. If you were previously sedentary, you need to warm up.” So, Boomer pickleballers....how can you protect yourself from injuries? Bourassa has four tips: (1)Hydrate in advance and stay hydrated during play (2)Eat before play (3)Increase heart rate before play (you should actually be sweating before you start)(4)Stretch or activate muscle groups in advance;use bands to activate your knees, hips and shoulders. I know all this stuff pretty well; here is a list of my injuries playing tennis, which is a similar sport: torn hamstring, stretched groin, torn knee cartlidge, and Achilles' tear. Yikes! Let's do it right Boomers, enjoy the pickle, and stay injury-free. Cheers!

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