Don't let knee pain stop you from getting on the court for America's fastest-growing sport. Yep, we're talking about pickleball (again). ~100,000 Floridians are already recreational pickleball players, and this number is only expected to grow.

We recently shared where you can play pickleball in Lakeland — and now, we're exploring health advice for getting in on the action.

Pickleball is low-impact, meaning it's easy on the joints and perfect for people who experience knee pain. But there are a few things you should still keep in mind.

🏓 Pain-free playing tips

Wear proper footwear with good arch support and cushioning.
Warm up before you play by walking around the court to loosen your muscles.
Use a knee brace for extra support.
Use a light paddle with a large sweet spotto reduce stress on the knees.
Avoid running and jumping. Instead, focus on your footwork and make smooth, controlled movements.
If your knees start to hurt, take a break.

🩻 When surgery (or orthopedic care) is needed

If you have knee pain and follow these tips, you should still be able to enjoy playing pickleball. But if your knees are bothering you to the point of not being able to play (or not being able to step off a curb, climb your stairs, drive, or lift items off the floor), Lakeland Regional Health Orthopedics offers the only ROSA® Knee System in Polk County — a robotic-assisted knee surgery with:

3-D customized model of your knee
Individualized surgical plan
No CT scan (think: save money, time, and exposure to radiation)
Faster, more efficient surgery time than traditional knee replacements
Smaller incisions + reduced scarring
Shorter hospital stays
Faster recovery time + less post-operative pain

The bottom line? The innovative system can help you get back to moving sooner, faster, and with less pain than ever.

The Lakeland Regional Health Orthopedics team will work with patients to determine ROSA eligibility — and can also help with all other orthopedic concerns, including hand + wrist, spine, pediatric, and trauma orthopedic care.

So get ready to say goodbye to pain and hello pickleball weekends.

Who qualifies for robotic-assisted surgery?