Pickleball injuries could cost America up to $400 MILLION a year as insurance companies see an increase in hip replacements, knee surgeries and other elective procedures
- UnitedHealth says there has been a higher than expected frequency of hip replacements, knee surgeries and other elective procedures
- Investment bank UBS says the surge in surgeries is due to more people being injured playing pickleball – the fastest growing sport in the US.
- UBS estimates pickleball-related injuries could lead to costs ranging from $250 million to $500 million by 2023
With the rise in popularity of pickleball in the US, the potential injury costs of the fastest growing sport in the country are also on the rise.
Investment bank UBS estimates that pickleball injuries alone could lead to $250 million to $500 million in health insurance bills by 2023.
Health insurer UnitedHealth Group recently reported a higher than expected frequency of hip replacements, knee surgeries and other elective procedures.
Analysts from the UBS Group say part of the increase – the number of players is up 159 percent in three years – is a direct result of more and more people picking up their rackets to hit the court and play pickleball .
In the sport, which is a hybrid of badminton, ping pong, and tennis, players use a plastic-perforated ball, slightly heavier than a whiffle ball, and wooden or composite paddles about twice the size of ping pong paddles.
UnitedHealth says there has been a higher-than-expected frequency of hip replacements, knee surgeries and other elective procedures as a result of more people taking up pickleball
UBS estimates that pickleball-related injuries could lead to costs ranging from $250 million to $500 million in 2023 alone
There has been a huge increase in the number of people who suddenly started picking up pickleball. UBS estimates that the number of people playing the game has increased by 150 percent
Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the US with 22.3 million people on the courts now
The surge in pickleball’s popularity has led to the installation of hundreds of outdoor courts. UBS estimates that the number of people playing the game has increased by 150 percent this year, with 22.3 million people on the field now.
Of those, about a third are seniors who play at least eight times a year.
Two formal studies have been rounded up to injuries sustained by players of the relatively new sport.
Based on their analysis of these studiesUBS stated that most injuries occur in people age 60 and older.
The most common injuries are strains, sprains and fractures, with the wrist and lower leg being most susceptible Bloomberg.
The surge in pickleball’s popularity has led to the installation of hundreds of outdoor courts. Pictured are people playing pickleball on opening day at the new CityPickle courts on Wollman Rink in New York’s Central Park
Players use a plastic perforated ball, slightly heavier than a wiffle ball, and wooden or composite paddles about twice the size of ping pong paddles
As the sport gains popularity, UBS has calculated medical costs for the year and forecasts 67,000 ER room visits, 366,000 outpatient visits, 8,800 outpatient surgeries, 4,700 hospitalizations with 20,000 follow-up episodes related to injuries caused by pickleball.
A total of $377 million in medical costs can be attributed to pickleball, with $302 million (80 percent) in outpatient settings and $75 million (20 percent) in inpatient settings.
“While we generally view exercise as having a positive impact on health outcomes, the “can-do” attitude of today’s seniors may put them at greater risk in other areas, such as sports injuries, leading to an increased number of orthopedic procedures. , UBS analysts write in a discouraging conclusion.