Pickleball has become one of the fastest-growing sports in Canada. Courts are appearing in communities across Ontario, including Ottawa, Kingston, Cornwall, Perth, and Carleton Place, as more people discover the sport’s accessibility and social appeal.
But alongside its popularity, another trend has emerged: a significant increase in pickleball-related injuries.
Recent studies and reports suggest that emergency rooms, physiotherapists, and eye specialists are seeing more injuries connected to the sport. While pickleball is often promoted as a low-impact activity, participants should understand that injuries can and do happen.
The simplest explanation is that more people are playing than ever before.
According to a CBC report, healthcare professionals have observed a growing number of pickleball-related injuries as participation rates continue to climb. Researchers have identified fractures, sprains, strains, and falls as some of the most common injuries associated with the sport.
Many new players are older adults who may not have participated in regular court sports for years. Quick lateral movements, sudden stops, and reaching for shots can place unexpected stress on joints, muscles, and bones.
While the sport is generally less physically demanding than tennis, it still requires balance, coordination, and agility.
One of the most significant injury risks in pickleball involves falls.
Players frequently move backward, pivot quickly, or stretch beyond their centre of gravity to return a shot. These movements can lead to slips, trips, and falls that result in wrist fractures, shoulder injuries, hip fractures, and head injuries to name a few.
In Ottawa and throughout Eastern Ontario, many pickleball facilities operate both indoors and outdoors. Surface conditions, court maintenance, lighting, and weather can all affect player safety.
When a serious injury occurs, determining how it happened often involves examining more than the player’s actions alone.
Another emerging concern involves eye injuries.
A recent study highlighted by CTV News found that pickleball-related eye injuries are increasing. The ball can travel at high speeds and is often struck at close range, giving players little time to react.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, players should consider wearing protective eyewear specifically designed for sports. Eye protection can help reduce the risk of serious injuries, including corneal abrasions, retinal damage, and other vision-threatening conditions.
Although many recreational players may not view protective eyewear as necessary, the growing number of reported injuries suggests that prevention deserves greater attention.
Not every sports injury leads to a legal claim. Courts generally recognize that participants accept certain risks when they voluntarily engage in recreational activities.
However, that does not mean every injury is simply an accident.
In some situations, legal responsibility may arise if an injury was caused by:
Ontario’s Occupiers’ Liability Act requires property owners and occupiers to take reasonable steps to keep visitors reasonably safe. Whether a facility met that standard depends on the specific facts of each case. For a closer look at how these duties apply in Ontario injury claims, see our article, Ontario’s Occupiers’ Liability Act: What It Is and How It Affects Your Injury Claim.
Many pickleball facilities and leagues also require participants to sign liability waivers before playing. While waivers can affect legal rights, they are not always enforceable in every circumstance. We discuss this issue in more detail in Liability Waivers and When They Are Enforceable.
Every injury claim must be assessed individually, and the circumstances surrounding the incident often matter as much as the injury itself.
If you are injured while playing pickleball, it is important to:
These steps can help preserve important information should questions later arise about how the injury occurred.
Pickleball offers tremendous physical, social, and mental health benefits. Its popularity across Ottawa and Ontario shows no signs of slowing down.
At the same time, the increase in reported injuries serves as a reminder that recreational sports are not without risks. Players, facility operators, and property owners all have a role to play in promoting safe participation.
The practical takeaway is simple: enjoy the game, understand the risks, and take reasonable precautions. Those including protective eyewear and awareness of court conditions before stepping onto the court.
If you have questions about a personal injury claim in Ottawa or anywhere in Eastern Ontario, the team at Bergeron Clifford Injury Lawyers is pleased to help. Schedule a free consultation through our website at https://www.bergeronclifford.com.
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