Pickleball Treatment Leaders in West Michigan
Shoreline Orthopaedics is a trusted destination for pickleball players across West Michigan seeking expert care for orthopaedic and sports-related injuries. From recreational players to competitive athletes, our team is dedicated to helping you stay active, recover safely, and continue enjoying the sport you love.
Pickleball’s quick movements, sudden direction changes, and repetitive swings can place stress on joints, muscles, and tendons. Because no two players are alike, injuries require personalized evaluation and treatment. Effective recovery means working with experienced doctors who understand both the physical demands of pickleball and your individual goals.
In sports medicine, successful treatment starts with understanding the athlete. Return-to-play timelines, performance expectations, and long-term joint health all influence the care approach. For pickleball players, choosing a sports medicine team with focused experience can be the difference between lingering pain and a confident return to the court.
The doctors at Shoreline Orthopaedics specialize in diagnosing and treating pickleball-related injuries. With advanced training and extensive clinical experience, our specialists develop customized treatment and rehabilitation plans to restore movement and function. Our team provides care close to home in Holland, Hudsonville, and Zeeland, including walk-in Orthopaedic Urgent Care for acute injuries. Whether your care involves therapy, injections, or surgical intervention, we work with you to find the right path back to play.
Our pickleball injury specialists at Shoreline Orthopaedics are proud to be Pickleball Doctors. Offering expert tips for injury prevention, performance, and more, Pickleball Doctors is a group of elite doctors dedicated to helping you stay on—and dominate—the pickleball court.
Prepare for Pickleball Play & Reduce Injury Risk
Staying competitive in pickleball isn’t just about time on the court; it’s also about preparation away from it. Strength training, flexibility work, and proper conditioning can help protect joints, improve balance, and reduce the risk of common overuse and acute injuries.
Incorporating a consistent warm-up routine and targeted exercises before and after play can enhance endurance, speed, and overall performance. Proper conditioning supports safer movement patterns and helps players maintain consistency throughout long matches. See our Pickleball 10 to Win routine below for exercises focused on strength and flexibility to keep you court-ready and help prevent injuries.
With these 10 targeted exercises, you can improve your flexibility, agility, strength, and endurance to win on the court and stay on the court.
BEAR HUGS
Stand straight or lie on your back and open up your arms, pulling your shoulders back to broaden your chest. Bring your arms back in, wrapping them around your chest, and pat the back of your shoulders. Repeat quickly 20 times.
For the Win: Do some resistance bear hugs. Hold a resistance band around your back. Then, reach your arms out in front of you like you are hugging someone. Hold for 3 seconds. Repeat 10 times.
POGO HOPS
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Bend your knees slightly, but keep your posture straight. Keep your feet together and jump up and down in place. Repeat for 30 seconds.
For the Win: Do some single-leg hops. Balance on one leg and hop in place for 30 seconds. Repeat while balancing on your other leg. For better agility training, use a line to hop over from left to right.
SIDE-LYING LEG LIFTS
Lie on your side with your legs straight and one leg on top of the other. Bend your knees slightly and move your top leg toward the sky or ceiling. Lift your leg slowly and lower it slowly. Repeat 10 times on each side.
For the Win: Try resistance leg lifts! While lying on your side, place a resistance band around your legs and above your knees while you complete your leg lifts. For more of a challenge, place the band around your ankles.
SINGLE-LEG BALANCE
Stand with your feet hip-width apart, and lift one foot off the ground. If you need, hold your arms out to help you balance. Hold this position for up to a minute or as long as you can and repeat on the other side.
For the Win: Do single-leg extensions. Stand on one foot. Lift your other leg, extending it behind you, in front of you, and off to the side. Center your leg before each extension. Repeat 15 times on each side.
STANDING QUAD STRETCH
Stand on one foot and pull the other behind you, holding the ankle. If you need, hold onto something for balance. Pull your heel toward your buttocks, and hold for 30 seconds. Repeat on each side.
For the Win: Do kneeling quad stretches. Kneel on one knee with the opposite foot planted flat in front of you. Push your hips forward and hold for 30 seconds. Repeat for 3 sets on each side.
ROWS
Put a resistance band around a stable surface, like a tree or fence, holding the band in each hand. Stand facing the band with your feet hip-width apart. Pull the band toward you, squeezing your shoulder blades. Return to your starting position. Repeat 15 times.
For the Win: Do some bodyweight rows. Instead of resistance bands, use your body weight. Find a stable horizontal surface, such as a table or bar, and lie underneath it, grasping the surface firmly with both hands. Pull yourself up then lower yourself back down. Repeat 15 times.
PLANKS
Put your hands and knees on the ground, and then extend your legs behind you. Support your weight on your forearms and toes. Keep your body straight from your head to your heels. Hold this position as long as you can.
For the Win: Try side planks with resistance in your arms. Support your weight on one foot and forearm. Hold a resistance band in both hands, and extend your free arm toward the sky or ceiling. Repeat 10 times on each side.
HEEL RAISES
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Slowly lift your heels off the ground, rising up onto the balls of your feet. Pause as you get to your tip-toe position, then lower your heels slowly back down to the ground. Repeat 20 times.
For the Win: Try single-leg heel raises. Instead of using both feet, lift one foot off the ground while putting your weight on the other foot and lifting that heel up. Repeat 20 times on each side.
SQUATS
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Lower your hips down and back as if you are sitting down in a chair. Keep your weight on your heels. Return to a standing position. Repeat 10 times.
For the Win: Try single-leg squats. Instead of two feet down as you squat, lift one foot off the ground and extend it in front of you as you lower your hips and return to a standing position. Repeat 10 times on each side.
LUNGES
Stand with feet hip-width apart. Take a big step forward with one foot. Lower your hips down until your front knee is bent at a 90-degree angle. Keep your weight on your front heel. Push off your front foot to return to a standing position. Repeat 10 times on each side.
For the Win: Do backward and side lunges. For backward lunges, take a big step backward, lower, and push off your back foot to return to standing. For side lunges, take a step out to the side, lower yourself on that side, and push back up from that foot to return to standing.
Pain should never be ignored during or after pickleball play. Continuing to compete while injured can worsen symptoms and extend recovery time. Prompt evaluation by a doctor experienced in sports injuries is recommended if you experience:
- A fall followed by a popping sensation or sudden pain in the shoulder, arm, wrist, hip, knee, or back
- Difficulty bearing weight on the foot, ankle, knee, or leg
- Persistent muscle or joint pain that does not improve with rest or icing
- Hand, wrist, or forearm pain when gripping the paddle
- Shoulder, neck, or back discomfort during swings
- Ongoing, localized pain that is tender, swollen, or warm to the touch
We treat many different injuries experienced by pickleball players, including:
- Back strains and muscle injuries
- Elbow overuse conditions, including tennis, golfer’s, and pickleball elbow
- Fractures
- Hamstring strains
- Herniated discs
- Knee cartilage and ligament injuries
- Plantar fasciitis
- Rotator cuff tears and shoulder injuries
- Tendon injuries
- Wrist and ankle sprains
Who to See
About Dr. Hall
Dr. Teresa Hall is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon with advanced fellowship training in sports medicine. She provides both surgical and nonsurgical treatment for a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions, helping patients of all ages and activity levels return to the activities they love safely and confidently. Her clinical expertise includes arthroscopic and open procedures of the shoulder and knee, knee and shoulder joint replacement, fracture care, and general orthopaedics.
Who to See
About Dr. Hop
Dr. Jon Hop specializes in hip and knee surgery. He is the most experienced fellowship-trained total joint replacement surgeon in the area, having performed over 8,000 hip and knee replacements since joining Shoreline Orthopaedics in 1998. He is a Michigan native who was born in Zeeland and grew up in Midland. He returned to West Michigan when he attended Hope College for his undergraduate education, which he completed with honors. Dr. Hop then attended the University of Michigan medical school, where he also graduated with honors.
Who to See
About Dr. Howell
Dr. Richard Howell’s specialties as an orthopaedic surgeon are surgery of the hand and wrist. He graduated with distinction from Kenyon College and received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Ohio State University College of Medicine, followed by his residency at Henry Ford Hospital. After completing his fellowship in hand and microvascular surgery, Dr. Howell became an instructor in the hand fellowship program and in the orthopaedic residency program at the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Who to See
About Dr. Huprikar
Dr. Thereseann Huprikar is board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation, with subspecialty training in interventional pain management, sports medicine, and electrodiagnostic medicine. Her multifaceted approach includes therapy, osteopathic manual medicine, medications, and injections. She is passionate about using her knowledge of diagnosing and treating neurological and musculoskeletal conditions to help patients become more functional and reach their goals.
Who to See
About Dr. Kelsheimer
As an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in hand, wrist, elbow, shoulder, and microsurgery, Dr. Alexander Kelsheimer provides comprehensive upper extremity care that includes fracture management, nerve and tendon injuries, sports injuries, trauma, and arthritic conditions of the hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder. He performs a variety of procedures, including minimally invasive arthroscopic and endoscopic procedures as well as upper extremity total joint replacements. Dr.
Who to See
About Dr. Khoury
Dr. John Khoury is a fellowship-trained orthopaedic foot and ankle specialist. He grew up in Farmington Hills, Michigan, and earned his bachelor’s degree in microbiology from the University of Michigan in 1996. After the sudden death of his father at a young age, Dr. Khoury worked full-time as an EMT in Detroit while completing a master’s degree in biology at Wayne State University. He conducted basic science research at Henry Ford Hospital’s Bone and Joint Center and received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine in 2003. Dr.
Who to See
About Dr. Lamping
Dr. Jeffrey Lamping is a fellowship-trained spine surgeon who specializes in minimally invasive and traditional surgical techniques. He treats patients experiencing nerve-related symptoms, such as pain, weakness, or numbness, often caused by conditions like spinal instability, tumors, trauma, infections, degenerative spine disease, or complications from previous surgeries.
Who to See
About Dr. Marcolina
Dr. Austin Marcolina is board-certified in interventional pain management and physical medicine and rehabilitation. His extensive training allows him to use a multidisciplinary, research-based, and opioid-sparing approach to address a variety of painful disorders. Dr. Marcolina has particular expertise in comprehensive spine and musculoskeletal care, including advanced treatment options, such as spinal cord stimulation, regenerative medicine, and minimally invasive interventions. Leveraging the latest techniques, Dr.
Who to See
About Dr. Paff
Dr. Brian Paff specializes in the treatment and surgery of the hand and upper extremities as well as general orthopaedic trauma. As a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine orthopaedist, his approach to medicine and patient care is uniquely holistic. Patients can be confident that he will exhaust all nonsurgical measures before recommending surgery. Dr. Paff entered medicine because he felt called to help people in need, and his early experience as a nurse assistant has imparted a uniquely developed sense of patient care.
Who to See
About Dr. Spiering
As an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in hip and knee surgery, Dr. Tyler Spiering is fellowship-trained in total joint replacements. In addition to general orthopaedic surgery and injury treatment, his extensive training has provided experience in both anterior and posterior approaches for total hip replacement, partial and total knee replacements, knee arthroscopy for meniscus and cartilage disorders, and rapid recovery protocols as well as complex primary and revision surgery, including pelvic reconstruction and periprosthetic infections. Dr.
Who to See
About Dr. Stewart
Dr. Bruce Stewart is an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine, a specialty within orthopaedic surgery that treats injuries to bones, joints, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and muscles. He specializes in minimally invasive techniques and arthroscopy to treat complex injuries of the shoulder, elbow, knee, and ankle. Dr. Stewart’s extensive training and experience includes caring for athletes and treating common orthopaedic problems ranging from pediatric injuries to fractures and other injuries of the musculoskeletal system.
Who to See
About Dr. Watkins
Dr. Philip Watkins specializes in a wide array of podiatric foot and ankle pathologies, with interests in minimally invasive correction of bunions, hammertoe, and tailor’s bunion deformities. He has extensive experience in the Lapidus procedure for bunion correction, including the Lapiplasty® technique. Dr.
Complete Sports Injury Care for Pickleball Players
Treatment should support both recovery and long-term performance. Our doctors at Shoreline Orthopaedics are skilled in treating pickleball-related injuries, and they develop individualized care plans based on your diagnosis, activity level, and goals. Whenever possible, care begins with conservative and nonsurgical options such as physical therapy, bracing, and injection treatments.
If surgery is necessary, our surgeons use advanced and minimally invasive techniques to support safer procedures and faster recovery. From diagnosis through rehabilitation, our team is committed to helping you return to the pickleball court with confidence.
Learn More About Pickleball Injuries
Care is personalized for athletes of all levels and sports, including pickleball. Explore the patient education resources below to learn more about common conditions treated by our sports injury doctors.