Pickleball Elbow Is Exploding in Niagara. Here’s How Maverick Health Helps Players Heal and Stay on the Court. By Jayne BFebruary 5, 20260 Back to Home Pickleball Elbow Is Exploding in Niagara. Here’s How Maverick Health Helps Players Heal and Stay on the Court. Pickleball has taken Niagara by storm and so has one of its most common overuse injuries: pickleball elbow. If you play regularly, you may already recognize the warning signs: A sharp or burning pain on the outside of the elbow Stiffness or weakness when gripping the paddle Pain lifting everyday objects like a coffee mug or grocery bag At Maverick Health in St. Catharines, Dr. David Harper (Doctor MoveWell) sees this condition daily, not just in elite players, but in recreational athletes who simply love the game. "Pickleball elbow isn’t caused by one bad swing,” explains Dr. Harper. "It’s the result of repetitive load, poor movement patterns, and compensation upstream, especially through the shoulder, spine, and posture.” Left unaddressed, what starts as mild soreness often becomes persistent pain that limits play, confidence, and enjoyment of the sport. What is Pickleball Elbow Really? Pickleball elbow is a form of lateral elbow tendinopathy — a condition involving microscopic breakdown of the tendon that anchors the forearm extensor muscles to the elbow. Unlike an acute injury, tendinopathy: Develops slowly Does not heal well with rest alone Worsens when faulty movement patterns continue The problem isn’t just the elbow — it’s how the body is managing load during play. Why Pickleball Elbow Keeps Coming Back Many players are told to: Ice it Rest it Take anti-inflammatories "Wait it out” Unfortunately, this approach often fails because it doesn’t address why the elbow is overloaded in the first place. Common contributing factors include: Limited shoulder rotation forcing the elbow to compensate Forward head posture and rounded shoulders reducing efficiency and circulation Poor grip mechanics and excessive tension Repetitive play without proper recovery or conditioning At Maverick Health, pickleball elbow is viewed as a movement problem, not just a painful tendon. The Maverick Health 3-Phase Pickleball Elbow Recovery Framework Rather than chasing symptoms, Maverick Health uses a structured, progressive 3-phase approach designed to restore movement quality, rebuild tissue capacity, and support long-term performance. Phase I – Reset the System Calm Pain • Restore Alignment • Improve Control The first phase focuses on reducing pain by correcting the mechanical and neurological stressors contributing to the elbow overload. This phase may include: A detailed musculoskeletal and postural assessment Targeted chiropractic care to improve joint motion in the spine, shoulder, elbow, and wrist Soft-tissue and mobility work to reduce excessive tension through the forearm and upper body Nervous system re-education to normalize muscle firing patterns Guidance on modifying activity so healing can begin without complete inactivity Pain is not the enemy — it’s feedback. When movement improves, pain often follows. Typical timeframe: Weeks 1–2 (varies by individual) Phase II – Rebuild Capacity Strengthen • Stabilize • Load Intelligently Tendons heal when they are loaded correctly, not when they are avoided. Phase II focuses on rebuilding: Forearm and grip strength Shoulder and scapular stability Postural endurance for longer play sessions Whole-body coordination to reduce elbow strain This phase emphasizes progressive strengthening and movement retraining that mirrors the real demands of pickleball — without rushing the process. Many repeat injuries occur when players skip this phase or return to play before capacity has been restored. Typical timeframe: Weeks 3–6 Phase III – Perform & Protect Return Stronger • Play Smarter • Stay Durable Phase III is about more than "returning to play.” It’s about returning with confidence and resilience. This phase includes: A gradual, structured return-to-play strategy Ongoing movement screening to catch overload patterns early Maintenance care recommendations for active pickleball players Education on recovery, lifestyle factors, and long-term tendon health Strategies to support consistency throughout the season The goal isn’t just to heal the elbow — it’s to remove the reason it was injured in the first place. Typical timeframe: Ongoing, season-long support How St. Catharines Chiropractors Fix Pickleball Injuries (Drug-Free) Evidence-based chiropractors in the Niagara region use a combination of spinal and extremity adjustments, soft-tissue therapy (Myofascial Release), and Specific Muscle testing (Applied Kinesiology), and custom rehab plans to get players back on the court faster than rest alone. Dr. David Harper of Maverick Health Centre specializes in pickleball and racquet-sport injuries, movement screening, Triple 7 Framework recovery plans, and Red Light Therapy for stubborn tendon pain. Maverick Health Centre is regulated by the College of Chiropractors of Ontario and most plans (Sun Life, Manulife, Great-West Life, etc.) cover treatment. Five Simple Ways to Protect Your Elbows Right Now Relax your grip — excessive tension overloads the forearm Warm up your shoulders and wrists before every session Build shoulder strength — most elbow pain starts upstream Respect recovery — tendons need time to adapt Get assessed early — small issues are easier to correct than chronic ones Play Longer. Play Stronger. Play Smarter. Pickleball elbow is not a sign that you’re "getting old” or that you need to stop playing. It’s a signal that something in your movement system needs attention. At Maverick Health, the focus isn’t just pain relief — it’s helping you move well, stay active, and enjoy the game for years to come. If elbow pain is interfering with your pickleball season, now is the time to address it — before it sidelines you completely. Having health problems? Don’t wait! Contact us today! Back to Home