Pickleball is increasingly becoming common with time. While the sport is fun, making a professional career in it comes with a set of challenges. These include the risk of increased injuries, including torn meniscus. If you have faced it or fear that playing pickleball might put you at risk of developing it, then this guide is for you. Keep reading as we discuss every aspect of playing pickleball with a torn meniscus in detail. We have also explored how to prevent this condition from occurring. So, let's begin!
Table of Contents
What Is A Torn Meniscus?
The meniscus is basically a crescent-shaped band of cartilage, which is rubber-like and has a thick structure. Concerning anatomy, it is attached to the tibia or shinbone. There are two types of meniscus: medial meniscus and lateral meniscus. The former is located on the inner side of your knee joint, while the latter is found on its outer region. Regarding function, the meniscus precisely performs the job of shock absorber to prevent deep injuries. In addition, it also helps keep your knees stable.
So, what leads to a torn meniscus? Such a situation can arise when you put your foot on the ground, and it twists suddenly for any reason. A meniscus tear can cause your cartilage to split in half, or it could even partially detach from the knee. Sometimes, this issue can develop quickly, while other times, it may aggravate over time. A meniscus tear does not even cause any symptoms for years in many cases. However, a single trigger, like tripping over, can lead to worse scenarios.
All in all, the severity and symptoms of torn meniscus can vary from person to person, depending on how they develop this condition. While anybody can face a torn meniscus, young athletes and those involved in outdoor sports are more prone to it. This is because they perform aggressive physical activities, which double the chances of twisting the joint.
Symptoms Of Torn Meniscus
A meniscus tear can manifest in the form of the following signs:
- Pain in knee
- Swelling around the knee joint
- Difficulties in bending over the leg
- Straightening the leg may also be challenging
It takes almost one day for all these symptoms to appear after you have torn your meniscus. Thus, you may continue playing pickleball without realizing that you are aggravating your injury. This can actually prolong the time required for your cartilage to recover fully, adding more to your troubles.
Treatment Of Torn Meniscus
The treatment for a torn meniscus depends upon the severity of the condition. If it is subtle, your physician might recommend a rest of a few weeks for the cartilage to recover on its own. Other than that, you might also be prescribed painkillers or anti-inflammatory medicines to relieve pain and swelling. Ice compression can work as well in this scenario. However, make sure to consult your physician before trying it all by yourself.
Contrarily, if your torn meniscus is serious and the condition persists for 3 months, you might have to go through a corrective surgery. After that, the recovery can even take a few years, and you might have to stop playing pickleball for this duration. However, you can definitely return to the court once your cartilage and joints recover fully.
When you play pickleball, you have to make sudden and agile movements to hit accurate shots. These directional changes and frequent pivoting, especially when you swing a racket to hit the ball, can potentially lead to a meniscus tear. The chances for this increase when you pivot too abruptly, eventually straining your muscles, tendons, and cartilage.
However, it is not usually developed suddenly unless you twist your leg too much accidentally. Rather, the repetitive nature of these movements in pickleball is to be blamed for. When your meniscus is strained continuously without adequate rest or recovery, it can tear at some point.
Can I Play Pickleball With A Torn Meniscus?
Now that you have understood what a torn meniscus is, along with incidences that can lead to this condition, let’s explore whether it is possible to play pickleball with it. To be precise, there is no need to give up on your favorite sport if your injury is minor. However, there are certain precautions that you must take to ensure the issue does not get worse due to overexertion. Let’s have a look at some of the things that you must do when playing pickleball with a torn meniscus:
- Wear a knee brace to ensure your knee gets enough support, reducing the overall risk of re-injury.
- Avoid quick jumps, turns, or sudden stops while playing the game. This can strain your knee, exacerbating the meniscus tear.
- Make sure not to overexert yourself. If you think playing pickleball is increasing the pain, you must stop doing so.
- Always start playing shorter games when your injury is fresh. You can then prolong the length of the matches over time.
- If you are undergoing physical therapy or rehabilitation for a torn meniscus, make sure to prioritize it. Your love for the sport must not overdo your recovery process.
- Always stay hydrated and give your body the rest it deserves. This gets more important when you are going through an injury.
Recommended Reading:Playing Pickleball After Knee Replacement
While you can not instantly treat a torn meniscus, some precautions can help you avoid it altogether. Let’s explore them:
1- Do Not Ignore Your Knee Pain
When you play pickleball daily, always watch out for even minor pains in your body, especially in your knees. If you ignore it, then the potential meniscus tear can get worse over time, and you might have to go through surgery as a treatment measure.
2- Perform Lower-Body Strengthening Exercises
You should do different exercises that target the muscles around your knee, including your hamstrings, adductors, abductors, and core muscles. Crunches, Russian twists, side planks, leg raises, and supine toe taps are to name a few.
3- Allow Your Muscles To Rest
Do not play multiple pickleball matches back to back. This can lead to muscle overuse, making them more prone to injuries. Thus, make sure to rest for some time, allowing your muscles to recover from the previous pickleball session before starting a new one.
4- Do Stretching
Before you play pickleball, make sure to incorporate dynamic stretching into your routine. This type of stretching basically involves smooth movements of muscles and joints through their full range of motion. It particularly helps with the prevention of multiple sports-related injuries that also include a torn meniscus.
5- Wear Proper Shoes
Your footwear for the sport must be supportive to prevent multiple knee injuries, including a torn meniscus. Choose one that offers adequate balance between cushioning and support while fitting well to your foot’s shape without being too loose or too tight. It is equally essential to use shoes that provide good arch support to prevent knee issues from occurring.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Activities Should You Avoid With A Torn Meniscus?
You must avoid all those activities that include the risk of twisting, pivoting, or turning your knee when your meniscus is damaged. This might include playing high-impact sports like basketball and soccer, walking upstairs, getting out of the car, performing deep squats, etc.
Should I Wear A Knee Brace For Pickleball?
Yes, wearing a knee brace when playing pickleball can be beneficial, especially when you have a history of torn meniscus. This accessory not only provides support but also stabilizes your joints, allowing you to play the sport comfortably.
Can You Play Pickleball With A Knee Replacement?
You can definitely play pickleball after going through a knee replacement surgery. However, it requires a lot of patience as you must give your knee enough time for adequate healing. Make sure to consult with a doctor before making a comeback, as avoiding reinjury is crucial.
Can I Play Tennis With A Torn Meniscus?
Tennis is such a sport that requires quick, lateral movements, and doing so can aggravate your torn meniscus. Thus, you must avoid it for some time until your healthcare professional deems your knee fit to play the sport.
Conclusion
The answer to whether you can play pickleball with a torn meniscus is yes. However, only when the issue is minor. Plus, you need to take a few precautions to prevent the tear from getting worse. Make sure to consult your doctor for proper guidance. In case of high-degree damage to the cartilage, surgery might be needed, and it would take time for you to be completely fit to return to the court. Do you take proper measures to avoid injuries while playing pickleball? If yes, share them in the comment section below!
