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Musculoskeletal and Sports Medicine

Picking Pickleball - Why pickleball may be the ideal adaptive sport for your next patient: A Case Report

Thursday, October 23, 2025
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM MT
Location: Open Kiosks

    Primary Author(s)

  • Maverick Salyards, MS

    Medical Student
    University of North Texas HSC Fort Worth Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
    Fort Worth, Texas

    • Poster Presenter(s)

  • Caitlyn E. Smith, MS (she/her/hers)

    Medical Student
    University of North Texas HSC Fort Worth Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
    Fort Worth, Texas

    • Co-Author(s)

  • Patricia Colucci, DO

    Resident
    Baylor University Medical Center PM&R Program
    Dallas, Texas

  • AH

    Austin Henke, DO

    Attending Physician
    Baylor Scott and White Institute for Rehabilation
    Dallas, Texas

Disclosure(s):
Maverick Salyards, MS: No financial relationships to disclose
Caitlyn E. Smith, MS: No financial relationships to disclose
Patricia Colucci, DO: No financial relationships to disclose
Case Diagnosis: This report examines a prominent North Texas adaptive pickleball initiative, and the unique benefits it offers to wheelchair users.

Case Description or Program Description: Pickleball, the fastest-growing sport in the United States, is accessible to many ages and abilities. However, wheelchair pickleball remains rare, with only a few programs nationwide. This North Texas program includes approximately 35 regularly appearing wheelchair athletes of varied ages. The program is open to people with any disability, such as spinal cord injury, amputation, spina bifida, and cerebral palsy. The program, supported by a for-profit pickleball chain, provides accessible courts and sport wheelchairs for free.

Setting: An accessible wheelchair pickleball group

Assessment/Results: The program highlights three major benefits: accessibility, sociability, and transferability of skills. First, pickleball is highly accessible, requiring minimal equipment and space while allowing for casual or competitive play. Its low-impact nature and small team size make it a safe and practical choice for adaptive athletes. Second, its slower pace fosters social interaction and community building. Hybrid play, where wheelchair and able-bodied athletes compete together, further enhances inclusion and offers opportunity to play with family. Lastly, pickleball develops hand-eye coordination, upper body strength, and wheelchair mobility—skills that transfer directly to community reintegration, environmental navigation, and build confidence in novel situations.

Discussion (relevance): Research has demonstrated the health benefits of adaptive sports, but beyond these physical benefits, adaptive pickleball can play a role in rehabilitation. Early exposure to the sport in inpatient rehab could have benefits in quicker community reintegration, translational skills such as wheelchair pivots and chair navigation, and improvements to mental well-being. Given its adaptability and low physical demands, pickleball could be introduced early in rehabilitation to bridge the gap between inpatient care and community-based adaptive sports.

Conclusions: Healthcare providers should consider incorporating adaptive pickleball into rehab programs to enhance physical recovery, improve transition to sports, and foster community for wheelchair users.