Pickleball has become the new hot thing in the summer months! Nine million Americans head to the court and over a million Canadians grab a racket all to play the sports fad. While it started in the mid-60s, since Covid it is becoming very mainstream. It is an easy, fast “ish” paced game for all ages that are mobile. But for some who aren’t usually as nimble and athletic – it can be a bit of challenge.
The most common injuries include
- Calf strains and tears
- Flares of knee arthritis
- Herniated disks in the lower back
- Meniscus tears
- MCL, LCL, hamstring and ankle strains
- Plantar fasciitis
- Achilles injuries
Because pickleball players swing paddles, the upper extremities — shoulder, wrist, elbow — are also prone to injuries. Those include:
- Tennis and golfer’s elbow (tendinitis involving the forearm muscles)
- Wrist tendinitis
- Rotator cuff tendinitis and tears
- Labral tears
Many of these are inflammation or topical injuries that can be treated with marijuana or cbd. For serious injuries like tears or breaks – it can help you with pain before and after you see a physician. Increasingly, professional athletes in sports ranging from football to bicycling to long-distance running have turned to using cannabis to reduce pain from post-game injuries and to help speed recovery.
RELATED: Why You Should Be Using Cannabis, Not Ice, For Injuries
People unfamiliar with marijuana aren’t usually aware that it has so many healing properties, mainly its anti-inflammatory effect. Inflammation can result after an injury either on the field or due to conditions like arthritis. Using cannabidiol (CBD), the non-psychoactive component of marijuana, may be more effective (and practical) for treating sprains and injuries. In fact, it can take the place of ice completely. CBD is simply more convenient since you can carry topicals for spot treatment as well as oral CBD products for when you have an accident. It also has the added benefit of being free from THC, which is an advantage for athletes.
So if you are picking up the racket and head out, know that marijuana can be helpful if something goes wrong on court.
RELATED: Is Cannabis Better For Sports Injuries Than Traditional Painkillers?
