What better way to start out 2025 than a boring topic most of us ignore or just want to avoid thinking about.
Welcome to the world of warming up and cooling down before you grab your paddle and head to the kitchen
line to warm up your dinks.
Let me share with you what you already know about the importance of getting your body prepared to play its
best. Let’s back up a few weeks and I’ll tell you a quick story about visiting Twin Cities Orthopedics for my
wife’s total knee follow-up. The waiting room was the busiest we’d ever seen it, standing room only. Check-in
staff had to peruse the hallways of the waiting room to announce the next patient who could now see the
“wizard” also known as the orthopedic surgeon. When my wife’s number hit the jackpot and we were finally
sitting in the doc’s office, I asked him, “Your office has never been this crowded before, what’s up?” His one-
word reply, “pickleball!” He told us 80% of his new patients were related to pickleball injuries. This doc was
busier than a cashier at SCHEELS Sporting Goods the week before Christmas.
This got me thinking…I need a topic to explore for my next USAP blog post for the Twin Cities Pickleball Club
(TCPC). The topic of warming up sounded like an excellent path to help readers improve their ability to avoid
injuries on the court. Thankfully, I do take the time to warm-up before I walk on the court. It’s not a huge deal
that takes me 15-minutes. It’s only a 2-3 minute simple ordeal. But, that being said, I think that’s the primary
reason I’ve never been on the injured list (at least not as of this writing) from playing pickleball.
Our friends at OSR might take issue with my “express” warm up of 2-3 minutes. So, if you’re willing to invest
more time, that’s great…I’m sure more is better. Honestly, I know it’s better. However, the reality is I glance
over at the court as I stretch, see the players shrugging their shoulders, waving me on the court and peer
pressure kicks in. 2-3 minutes it is. The take-away message is just do a few leg stretches, deep hamstring and
arm stretches (at a minimum) versus walking onto the court cold. That is the very least you should do. Every
time you play, no exceptions. Then after your match, before you hop in the car or on your bike, take another 2-
3 minutes for a quick cooldown stretching session.
I wanted to keep this post brief. There are plenty of pictures/videos on-line. A quick Google search will help you
find effective and useful stretches. Additionally, OSR will be offering a free seminar on stretching and injury
prevention at their Eden Prairie location on Saturday, March 1 st at 10a. They will provide handouts, coffee and
bagels! To learn more or signup, here’s the link:
Wishing you a wonderful 2025, filled with the blessings of good health and great pickleball matches!
Let the fun begin!
Dave
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