Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the US. From teens to seniors, players will tell you it’s fun, social, and fast-paced. For retirees like Quad City Pickleball Club (QCPC) instructor Stephen Ebner, 73, it’s a welcome part of his active retirement, even after a shoulder injury temporarily sidelined him.
“I retired about 10 years ago from teaching and coaching and a friend suggested we play. I’ve been hooked ever since.
“I truly believe this sport helps people live longer. It’s great for seniors. It’s wonderful exercise with not a lot of long sprints. I see people playing four to five times a week. For me, I teach intermediate and advanced players in five clinics about three days a week.”
The social, fast-paced game attracts players, but the sport’s demands on pivoting, serving, and quick footwork can take its toll on senior pickleballers.
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) has reported a significant increase in pickleball-related fractures, particularly among older adults, with a 90-fold increase from 2002 to 2022.
Studies indicate that a large majority of pickleball injuries, including fractures, occur in individuals aged 60 and older. Falls are a primary cause of these injuries, especially in older players, who may have weaker bones or reduced balance, increasing their vulnerability to fractures.
Read How to Train and Prevent Pickleball Injuries with ORA PT Blogger Blake Ryan
A Pickleball Injury Led Stephen to ORA
Stephen says that 48 years of coaching football and girls’ softball at Rock Island High School wore his shoulder out. “I couldn’t lift my arm over my head. I was playing pickleball, and I hit a shot and then felt a tear.”
A consultation with ORA Orthopedics’ Surgeon, Dr. Thomas VonGillern, confirmed his shoulder had torn.
Stephen underwent a reverse shoulder replacement. In a conventional shoulder replacement procedure the device mimics the normal anatomy of the shoulder: A plastic cup is fitted into the shoulder socket and a metal ball is attached to the top of the upper arm bone or humerus.
In a reverse total shoulder replacement, the socket and metal ball are switched. The metal ball is fixed to the socket, and the plastic cup is fixed to the upper end of the humerus.
Stephen says the outpatient procedure was successful, and he did not experience significant pain. Four days after the surgery, he began a three-month rehab journey with ORA Physical Therapist, Nicole Norton.
Stephen says, “My goal was to get back to pickleball and golf as fast as I could. I knew I couldn’t go too hard, but Nicole was great about telling me when to back off.”
“Stephen had high goals,” adds Nicole. “We always ask patients how they want to return to the activities they enjoy, and Stephen’s goals were ambitious for a total shoulder replacement.
“Because it was a reverse replacement, we needed to recruit new muscles to restore shoulder motion at a level where Stephen could teach and play pickleball as well as play golf.
Back on the Court Thanks to ORA
“We also focused on regaining strength and flexibility with stretching and strengthening exercises.”
Nicole says pickleball is demanding on older frames. “It takes agility and quick movements, and especially with seniors who have new joints, regaining mobility and flexibility takes time.
After three months of rehabilitation, Stephen began playing again. “At six months, I was at 90-percent and now it’s been over a year. I don’t notice any pain or have any problems anymore.
“ORA took great care of me. They explained everything and understood my goals. I am now back to playing four or five times a week at the Quad City Tennis Club and I feel great.
“At 73, I prefer to keep moving. In fact, I feel better on days I do play, than on days I don’t move at all.” See you on the court, Stephen.
