Risk factor of pickleball injury: systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background and purpose Purpose: to identify and evaluate critically the evidence pertaining to pickleball injury risk factors. Material and methods The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework was followed for conducting the systematic review. Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus article searches The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) flow technique is used during the data collection phase of the literature review. The following factors are taken into consideration while looking for research journals: (1) variables that match the needs of the writing; (2) consistent data collection techniques; (3) measurable and reliable research findings; and (4) clearly and precisely stated data analysis. Researchers used the Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus databases to search for literature on the subject of risk factors for pickleball injuries. Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus were chosen because of their ease of access and eligibility to get complete and in-depth articles. In addition, researchers are looking for open-access articles so that they can access them for free. Keywords used include pickleball, injury, risk, and factor. In the initial search, 417 articles were found, consisting of 406 articles from Google Scholar, 9 articles from Scopus, and 2 articles from PubMed. After going through the selection process, 392 articles were automatically deleted, and 25 potentially relevant articles were obtained to go through the next selection process. Of the 25 articles, 5 that did not meet the inclusion criteria were removed, and 20 articles were found. Of the 20 articles reviewed through research titles and abstracts, 10 were deleted, and the remaining 10 were worth analyzing. Of the 10 articles analyzed by researchers, six were found to be reviewed. The deletion of 4 articles was due to 2 articles not being able to explain risk factors for injury to pickleball, 1 article being a systematic literature review, and 1 article not explaining injury to pickleball. Result Age, gender, technique, equipment, a lack of warm-up and stretching, past injuries, overuse, and court surface were found in six articles to be risk factors for pickleball injuries. Conclusion Excessive use and a lack of stretching and warming up are two things that require attention out of all the risk factors for injury that have occurred in the past. The greatest risk factor for injuries to recur years later is prior injuries. To reduce the likelihood of more injuries, the best therapy must be given. A pickleball player must be aware of the volume, intensity, and rest intervals of their activities as these can be risk factors for injury. Prior to participating in sports, especially pickleball, it's important to take into account the lack of a warm-up and stretching routine. Despite the lack of particular study on this topic, it is crucial to lower the risk of harm.