Pickleball Treatment Leaders in Iowa
Iowa Ortho is proud to provide specialized orthopedic and sports medicine care for pickleball players across Iowa. Whether you are new to the game or a seasoned competitor, our team is dedicated to helping you recover from pickleball injuries, improve performance, and continue enjoying an active lifestyle.
Pickleball’s fast pace and repetitive motions can place significant strain on the body, especially the shoulders, elbows, knees, hips, and back. Because every athlete moves differently and has unique goals, effective treatment requires an individualized approach focused on both recovery and long-term function.
Sports medicine care goes beyond simply treating pain. Successful recovery involves understanding the demands of the sport, identifying the source of the injury, and developing a plan that supports a safe return to play. For pickleball athletes, partnering with experienced orthopedic and specialty-trained experts can help reduce downtime and restore confidence on the court.
The specialists at Iowa Ortho diagnose and treat a wide range of pickleball-related injuries using advanced techniques and personalized treatment plans. From physical therapy and injections to minimally invasive surgical procedures, our team works closely with each patient to deliver the care needed to return to activity safely and effectively. Iowa Ortho’s physical and occupational therapists are an integral part of the pickleball recovery team. Outside referrals are now accepted, allowing pickleball players to access therapy directly without a physician referral.
Our pickleball injury specialists at Iowa Ortho are proud to be Pickleball Doctors. Offering expert tips for injury prevention, performance, and more, Pickleball Doctors is a group of elite doctors dedicated to helping you stay on—and dominate—the pickleball court.
Prepare for Pickleball & Help Prevent Injuries
Staying healthy on the pickleball court starts with preparation before the match begins. Building strength, improving flexibility, and maintaining proper conditioning can help reduce stress on joints and muscles while supporting better overall performance.
Warm-up exercises and targeted conditioning routines can improve balance, agility, endurance, and movement patterns during play. Incorporating these exercises regularly may help lower the risk of common injuries while keeping you prepared for competitive or recreational play. Explore our Pickleball 10 to Win routine below for exercises designed to improve flexibility, build strength, and support injury prevention.
Pickleball 10 to Win
These 10 targeted exercises are designed to improve mobility, strength, balance, and endurance to help players stay active, move efficiently, and reduce injury risk on the court.
For the Win: Do some resistance bear hugs. Hold a resistance band around your back. Then, reach your arms out in front of you like you are hugging someone. Hold for 3 seconds. Repeat 10 times.
For the Win: Do some single-leg hops. Balance on one leg and hop in place for 30 seconds. Repeat while balancing on your other leg. For better agility training, use a line to hop over from left to right.
For the Win: Try resistance leg lifts! While lying on your side, place a resistance band around your legs and above your knees while you complete your leg lifts. For more of a challenge, place the band around your ankles.
For the Win: Do single-leg extensions. Stand on one foot. Lift your other leg, extending it behind you, in front of you, and off to the side. Center your leg before each extension. Repeat 15 times on each side.
For the Win: Do kneeling quad stretches. Kneel on one knee with the opposite foot planted flat in front of you. Push your hips forward and hold for 30 seconds. Repeat for 3 sets on each side.
For the Win: Do some bodyweight rows. Instead of resistance bands, use your body weight. Find a stable horizontal surface, such as a table or bar, and lie underneath it, grasping the surface firmly with both hands. Pull yourself up then lower yourself back down. Repeat 15 times.
For the Win: Try side planks with resistance in your arms. Support your weight on one foot and forearm. Hold a resistance band in both hands, and extend your free arm toward the sky or ceiling. Repeat 10 times on each side.
For the Win: Try single-leg heel raises. Instead of using both feet, lift one foot off the ground while putting your weight on the other foot and lifting that heel up. Repeat 20 times on each side.
For the Win: Try single-leg squats. Instead of two feet down as you squat, lift one foot off the ground and extend it in front of you as you lower your hips and return to a standing position. Repeat 10 times on each side.
For the Win: Do backward and side lunges. For backward lunges, take a big step backward, lower, and push off your back foot to return to standing. For side lunges, take a step out to the side, lower yourself on that side, and push back up from that foot to return to standing.
Beyond these exercises, Iowa Ortho’s physical therapists can provide guided conditioning programs tailored to your fitness level, goals, and pickleball performance.
When to See a Doctor for a
Pickleball Injury
Ignoring pain during or after pickleball can lead to worsening symptoms and longer recovery times. Evaluation by a sports medicine specialist is recommended if you experience any of the following:
- A popping sensation or sudden pain after a fall or awkward movement
- Difficulty standing or placing weight on the foot, ankle, knee, or leg
- Persistent pain that does not improve with rest, ice, or activity modification
- Pain in the wrist, elbow, or forearm while gripping or swinging the paddle
- Shoulder, neck, hip, or back pain during play
- Swelling, tenderness, or warmth around a joint or muscle
Common Pickleball Injuries Treated By Our Specialists Include:
- Back and muscle strains
- Elbow tendon injuries, including tennis elbow, golfer’s, or pickleball elbow
- Fractures
- Hamstring injuries
- Herniated discs
- Knee cartilage and ligament injuries
- Plantar fasciitis
- Rotator cuff tears and shoulder injuries
- Sprains and tendon injuries
- Wrist and ankle injuries
Our Team
Complete Orthopedic Care for Pickleball Players
Treatment should support both immediate recovery and long-term performance goals. At Iowa Ortho, our specialists develop personalized treatment plans tailored to each patient’s condition, activity level, and goals for returning to play.
Therapy That Keeps You Moving
Physical therapy is an important part of recovering from a pickleball injury and returning to play safely. For wrist, elbow, and forearm injuries, Iowa Ortho also offers specialized hand therapy to help restore strength, mobility, and function. No physician referral is needed to schedule an appointment with our physical or occupational therapy team.
Learn More About Pickleball Injuries
Every athlete experiences injuries differently, which is why individualized care is so important. Explore the patient education resources below to learn more about common pickleball injuries and treatment options provided by our orthopedic and sports medicine specialists.