Treating Pro Pickleball Players at the Melbourne PPA
Last weekend I swapped the Sunshine Coast warmth for a Melbourne winter to treat pro pickleball players at the PPA tournament. Four full days of fun, and treatments. Here is what I saw courtside, what I treated, and why events like this make me a better chiropractor for you back home in Buderim.
Four Cold Days Treating The Pros In Melbourne
From the 16th to the 19th of July I was down in Melbourne working at the Melbourne PPA pickleball tournament. Let me tell you, it was cold. It reminded me of a good old New Zealand winter, and I quickly realised that living in Queensland has made me soft. Worth it though. I spent four full days treating the pro athletes at the Raya Pickleball club with a local massage therapist, while some of my colleagues covered the amateur division over at Pickle4Real. Working an event like this is a completely different rhythm to a normal week in the clinic. You are treating athletes between matches, sometimes minutes before they step back on court. You have to think fast, assess quickly, and give them what they need to keep competing safely. It is high pressure and high energy, and I absolutely love it. There is nothing quite like being courtside, watching the sport up close, and knowing your hands are helping these athletes perform at their best. Events like this are a big part of why I do what I do. They stretch me, they sharpen my skills, and they remind me how much the body can handle when it is looked after well. Then I bring all of that knowledge straight back to Health by Hayley on the Sunshine Coast, where it benefits everyone who walks through my door in Buderim.
The Injuries I Saw And Treated Courtside
Pickleball might look gentle from the sidelines, but do not be fooled. It puts real demand on the body. Over the four days I saw and treated a range of injuries, and a few patterns stood out. The lower back was a big one. All that quick rotation, lunging and sudden direction change loads the spine and hips hard. Knees came up often too, because the stop start nature of the game asks a lot of them. I treated ankles that had rolled or been overworked, and plenty of shoulders that were sore from the repetitive overhead and reaching movements. This is where sports chiropractic and rehabilitation really comes into its own. It is not just about adjusting a sore spot. It is about assessing how the whole body is moving, finding where the load is going wrong, and helping the athlete get back on court without making things worse. I looked at biomechanics, joint function and muscle balance, then treated accordingly. Some players needed manual adjustments to restore movement. Others needed soft tissue work, or advice on how to manage the injury through the rest of the tournament. The same principles apply to you, whether you play pickleball, run, lift or just want to move well through a busy life. Understanding why an injury happened matters just as much as treating the symptom. That is the approach I take with every single person I see back home in Queensland.
Why Working With Athletes Makes Me A Better Chiro
One of my favourite parts of the weekend was seeing athletes I had treated before, plus getting to work alongside the PPA Australia team. There is something really special about a familiar face walking up mid tournament and trusting you to sort them out again. It builds a relationship, and it shows me how their body has responded over time. That kind of ongoing insight is gold for a chiropractor. Working with elite athletes pushes me in the best way. When someone is performing at a high level, there is no room for a vague approach. You have to be precise, you have to explain what you are doing, and you have to get results quickly. Every event I work sharpens my assessment skills and adds to my toolkit. I get to test my knowledge in real time and learn from other practitioners in the field. But here is the thing I really want you to know. You do not need to be a pro athlete to benefit from this level of care. The exact same skills I use courtside are the ones I bring to Health by Hayley on the Sunshine Coast every week. Whether you are a weekend warrior, a tradie, a busy parent or someone who just wants to feel better in their body, you get a chiropractor who has been tested in demanding environments and genuinely loves the craft. That is what expanding my skills is all about.
You do not have to be a pro athlete to deserve the same quality of care as one.
Great question, because pickleball injuries are becoming really common as the sport grows across the Sunshine Coast and all of Queensland. The most frequent ones I treat are to do with the lower back, knee pain and shoulder issues. Pickleball involves a lot of quick rotation, lunging and sudden stopping, which loads the spine, hips and knees hard. The shoulder takes a beating too because of all the reaching and overhead shots. Ankles roll easily when you are changing direction fast on court. The good news is most of these injuries respond really well to sports chiropractic and rehabilitation, especially when you get onto them early. I look at how your whole body is moving, not just the sore spot, so we can find and fix the actual cause. If you are playing regularly and feeling a niggle, do not wait for it to become a bigger problem. Come and see me at Health by Hayley in Buderim and we will sort out a plan to keep you playing.
Not at all, and this is one of the biggest misconceptions I hear. Sports chiropractic is not just for pros or serious athletes. The same skills and assessment methods I use courtside at events like the PPA tournament apply to anyone who wants to move well and feel good. That includes busy parents, office workers, tradies, weekend sport players and people who just want to stay active as they age. The whole point of sports chiro is understanding how your body moves and where things might be breaking down. Everyone has movement patterns, load and biomechanics to consider, whether you are chasing a title or chasing your kids around the backyard. At Health by Hayley on the Sunshine Coast, I treat a really wide mix of people. Some are training hard, others just want to get through the day without pain. You get the same thorough, hands on care no matter what your goals are. So if you have been wondering whether it is for you, the answer is almost certainly yes. Book in and let us have a chat about what your body needs.
Prevention is honestly my favourite topic, because it is so much easier than fixing something that has already gone wrong. If you play pickleball regularly, the best thing you can do is build strength and resilience in the areas that take the most load. That means your hips, knees, ankles, core and shoulders. A tailored strength and conditioning program is one of the most effective ways to injury proof your body. Warming up properly before you play makes a big difference too. Do not just walk onto the court cold and start smashing shots. Get your joints moving and your muscles firing first. Good movement patterns matter as well, so if you are lunging or twisting inefficiently, over time that adds up to strain. This is where a biomechanical assessment really helps, because I can spot the small issues before they become injuries. Recovery counts too, including sleep, hydration and not ignoring niggles. At Health by Hayley in Buderim I can put together a plan that keeps you strong and playing your best. Prevention is always the smarter path, and your future self will thank you for it.
When you come in for a sports chiropractic assessment at Health by Hayley on the Sunshine Coast, the first thing I do is listen. I want to understand your history, your sport, your goals and exactly what is bothering you. Then I look at how your body actually moves. This is the part that sets sports chiro apart. I assess your biomechanics, joint function, muscle balance and movement patterns to find where the problem is really coming from. Often the sore spot is not the source of the issue. For example, a cranky knee might actually be about how your hip or ankle is working. Once I understand what is happening, I explain it to you in plain language so you know exactly what is going on. From there we create a treatment plan that might include manual adjustments, soft tissue work, mobility or a strength program. It depends entirely on what your body needs. My goal is not just to get you out of pain, but to help you move better and stay that way. Every plan is tailored to you, whether you are an athlete or just want to feel good again.
Health by Hayley is located on Buderim High Street on the Sunshine Coast, right here in beautiful Queensland. Whether you are dealing with a sports injury, ongoing back pain, or you just want to look after your long term health, I would genuinely love to help. I offer chiropractic care, sports chiropractic and rehabilitation, kinesiology and TBM, concussion/vestibular/occular assessments, strength and conditioning, and wellness and long term care. So whatever stage you are at, there is an option that suits you. Booking is really simple. You can head to my website at healthbyhayley.com.au and book online, or get in touch directly and my team will help you find a time that works. If you play pickleball or any sport, or you just want to move and feel better in everyday life, do not put it off. The sooner we get started, the sooner you will notice the difference. I look forward to seeing you in the clinic soon.
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