Mayo Clinic Health Matters Attack of the Pickleball Elbow: Treating Sports Injuries
Oct 28, 2025
In this discussion, Dr. Christopher Camp, an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine expert at Mayo Clinic, unpacks the nuances of sports injuries like tennis elbow and the newly dubbed pickleball elbow. He shares vital insights on recognizing early signs of tendon injury, emphasizing pain management and the importance of modifying activity. Dr. Camp also highlights preventive strategies such as cross-training and the significance of strength training and recovery in injury prevention, ensuring both athletes and casual players can stay in the game.
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All ‘Elbow’ Conditions Share A Tendon Root
- Tennis, golfer's, and pickleball elbow are all tendon injuries caused by irritation and microtears.
- They commonly affect people in their 40s–60s due to overuse and poorer blood supply to tendons.
Prevent Overuse By Cross-Training
- Avoid repetitive identical motions and cross-train to reduce overuse risk.
- Mix sports or activities so you use different muscles and tendons on different days.
Chronic Tendon Pain Is A Healing Imbalance
- Chronic tendon problems result when microtears outpace the body's limited healing, especially in poorly vascularized areas.
- Pain reflects a balance of ongoing breakdown versus repair.