Pickleball participation has grown rapidly across age groups and skill levels, bringing new opportunities—and new considerations—for physical therapists.

In Part 1 of this two-part APTA Orthopedics podcast series, host Dhinu Jayaseelan, PT, DPT, DHSc, OCS, FAAOMPT is joined by Dr. Eric Hegedus to break down who is playing pickleball, why the sport has exploded in popularity, and what PTs should understand about its physical demands.

This episode explores movement patterns, footwork, cardiovascular load, skill development, training considerations, nutrition and hydration, and early risk factors that may influence injury. These insights help clinicians better prepare patients for safe participation and performance—before injuries occur.

Stay tuned for Part 2 where we'll dive deeper into pickleball-specific injuries, diagnosis, rehabilitation, and prevention strategies