The Pickle Problem

Injuries for America's latest phenomenon, Pickleball, could cost between $250-500 million this year, according to a recent UBS analysis. Injuries among players 60 and older have risen the most and one study noted that pickleball has become “an increasingly important cause of injury" - even though I'd argue it's a great way to keep people moving. The analysts estimated medical trips and procedures due to injuries will result in approximately $377,000,000 of medical costs, 80% of which likely tie to outpatient care. Many health insurers report outsized outpatient health services utilization in the first half of this year and the pickleball craze likely is a part of that.  For our part, predicting pickleball injuries is fairly easy - you can see it in people when they walk on the court, or don't stretch, but also in those who try to play like they are Rafael Nadal…