Strains, sprains, and overuse injuries from pickleball can keep players off the court for months. Thankfully, CBD’s natural benefits help support many of these common challenges. But what type of CBD administration works best for pickleballers? In the following article, we take on this question head-on, providing a comprehensive plan to combat pickleball injuries with CBD. 

Injuries Facing Pickleball Players

Pickleball is growing rapidly due to its accessibility, ease of play, and low impact. However, while the sport allows more people to become active, pickleball-related injuries are rising, up to 200%, according to a report from the AAOS. 

Below are some of the most common pickleball injuries.

• Strains and Sprains - Limbs are highly susceptible to injury, including rolled ankles, pulled muscles, and strained wrists. 

• Pickleball Elbow - The repetitive stroke strains the muscles in the forearm, leading to excessive inflammation. 

• Back Pain - Many players, especially older pickleballers, can experience pulled muscles or more serious back injuries. 

• Rotator Cuff Soreness - Bursitis tendonitis and rotator cuff tears are common due to repetitive swinging motions. 

• Fractures - Falls on the court leading to fractured bones are the most common reason players visit the ER. 

How Can CBD Help Pickleball Injuries?

While CBD can’t cure every pickleball-related injury, its healing properties can expedite recovery times. Three main benefits can directly help the injuries doctors are seeing from racket sports. 

Reducing Inflammation

The endocannabinoid system regulates essential immune responses, including inflammation. Common injuries, like pickleball elbow, are caused by an excess inflammatory reaction to repetitive motion; regular CBD use may help lower the response and speed up recovery. 

Pain Relief

CBD has the potential to relieve pain because the cannabinoid inhibits the release of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides from presynaptic nerve endings. In other words, using CBD may slow down the signs that tell our brain when we should be experiencing pain. 

Improve Sleep

Novice athletes don’t understand the importance of sleep regarding recovery. Our bodies aren’t fully functional without adequate, quality sleep. For more on CBD and sleep, check out this article. 

What Type of CBD to Use for Pickleball

CBD’s range of potential benefits fits perfectly into the road to recovery for pickleball players. But there are so many ways to take CBD, choosing one can be overwhelming. 

Below, we break down the pros and cons of the major CBD administration methods. 

Topical CBD

Creams, balms, lotion, salves, and roll-ons all fall into the topical CBD category. 

Advantages

Topicals provided focused relief directly to problem areas. Creams and roll-on CBD are perfect for pickleball players to keep in their bag and use as needed. 

Disadvantages

The skin is less permeable than mucolas membranes. So, topicals aren’t as efficient as other administration methods. 

Sublingual (CBD Oil)

CBD oil is designed to be delivered sublingually or absorbed through the mucosal membrane in our mouth. Swallowing CBD oil reduces bioavailability, the most effective way to use this method is to allow the oil to fully absorb under the tongue. 

Advantages

When used correctly, CBD oil has a significantly higher bioavailability rate than other administration methods. And when taken regularly, CBD oil is the best way to maintain healthy  endocannabionid production. 

Disadvantages

Many people aren’t used to using sublingual oil. Allowing it do dissolve along with the taste can be a barrier to entry for some novice CBD users. 

Gummies

While gummies are technically an edible, the delivery is more effective bioavailability rate than drinks or baked goods. 

Advantages

Gummies are the most popular edible because they are efficient. The candy breaks down in the users mouth, where much of the CBD is absorbed sublingualy rather than swallowed. 

Disadvantages

While gummies are by far the best edible option, CBD oil taken sublingually is still more effective. 

Edibles

CBD cooked into butter or oil is a great way to overcome the earthy taste of hemp. Baked goods like cookies, brownies, and rice crispy treats are common CBD edibles but the category includes any CBD good that is being processed through the digestive tract. 

Advantages

CBD edibles taste great and there aren’t any requirements to consumption. 

Disadvantages

While edibles are easy to take, they are highly inefficient. The CBD has to be processed through the liver and very little ends up in the blood stream.  

The Best CBD for Pickleballers

While every pickleball player will have different needs, we recommend a multifaceted approach using topical and sublingual CBD. Topical products can be applied directly to sore or inflamed muscles and joints, and sublingual CBD can be taken at least once daily.

Choosing a sublingual product must fit the user’s lifestyle. While we recommend CBD oil, as it is the most efficient, consistent use is crucial. Therefore, if you are more likely to take gummies everyday, and may have issues consistently using oil sublingually, just scale up your dose. This will ensure you get enough CBD into your body to deliver benefits with CBD gummies. 

Our CBD Recommendation for Pickleball

The ideal combination for pickleball is a topical for your bag and an everyday sublingual or gummy to boost endocannabinoid production. Our most popular topical is available in a the KannaFreeze 750mg Cream or KannaFreeze 1000mg Roll-On. Each product combines premium full spectrum CBD with natural pain relievers including menthol, aloe vera, witch hazel, and queen of the prairie. Sublingual oil is the most efficient way to deliver CBD daily, and you won't find a better option than our Full Spectrum CBD Oil. This combination ensures you have on the spot relief at your fingertips and promotes daily use for a thriving endocannabinoid system. 

If you have any questions about what CBD fits your active lifestyle, don’t hesitate to reach out on our contact page!