The Blubber

A fresh hypothesis put forward by UBG Group AG, an investment banking firm, establishes a connection between escalating healthcare expenses and the harm suffered by elderly individuals engaging in pickleball games.

According to UBS's disclosed findings to Bloomberg, the occurrences of pickleball-related injuries in 2023 have led to an approximate medical cost of $377 million. UBS undertook an investigation into pickleball injuries due to the decline in shares of prominent health insurance companies earlier this month. This drop followed an announcement by UnitedHealth Group Inc., which revealed an uptick in healthcare usage rates, primarily driven by an increased frequency of hip replacements, knee surgeries, and other elective medical procedures.

UBS approximates that senior citizens constitute around one-third of the "core players" who actively participate in pickleball at a minimum of eight occasions each year. This sport, recognized as the fastest-growing in America, is anticipated to witness a remarkable surge of 150% in its participant numbers this year, amounting to 22.3 million individuals, as reported by the Sports and Fitness Industry Association.

Based on UBS's analysis of studies concerning pickleball-related injuries, players of the sport visit emergency departments at a rate of approximately 0.27%. The majority of these injuries are observed among individuals aged 60 and above. Strains, sprains, and fractures emerge as the most prevalent types of injuries, with the wrists and lower legs being particularly susceptible.

"In total, our calculations project 67,000 emergency department visits, 366,000 outpatient visits, 8,800 outpatient surgeries, 4,700 hospitalizations, and 20,000 post-acute episodes," UBS conveyed via Bloomberg. "Taken together, we estimate that medical expenses linked to pickleball amount to $377 million, out of which $302 million (80%) can be attributed to outpatient care, while $75 million (20%) is associated with inpatient care."