Injured but Inspired: My Pickleball Pop-Up FIT Adventure (Injury → Recovery)
By Shelia Hicks — Fit Mom & part of the iLivFIT Dynamic Duo
www.ilivfit.com
The POP UP that POPPED my groin! – When the Pop-Up Fights Back
Hey hey, beautiful people! It’s your Shelia here — your favorite Fit Mom from the iLivFIT team — coming at you with a story full of bruises, breakthroughs, and a heck of a lot of heart. You know I love a good Pop-Up FIT Adventure — but sometimes life throws a curveball (or a pickleball) right at you.
This is the tale of the day I popped my groin, got sidelined for two weeks, and turned that setback into one of my proudest recovery stories. Grab your water, your journal, and your faith — we’re going on this journey together.
Where the Pop-Up Went Down
The stage for my pickleball misadventure? Chicken N Pickle — the place that combines racquet sports, food, fun, and a whole lot of energy. If you haven’t been, picture a vibrant, bustling space with multiple courts, chill seating areas, good food smells in the air, and people from toddlers to grandparents giving it a go.
We rolled in with mats, gear, bright vibes, cameras, and tons of anticipation. The crowd was hyped. The weather was fine. The energy? Electric.
Little did I know, by midday, my Pop-Up FIT vibe would be replaced by crutches, pain, and a whole new challenge: recovery.
The Pop-Up FIT Crew in Action
You know how iLivFIT rolls — we show up, turn up, and bring the heat. My son, Tjuan, is always ready to lace up alongside me. We coordinate each Pop-Up with gyms, local trainers, sponsors, sometimes even small businesses who want to co-host.
For this event, the Chicken N Pickle management and staff were incredible — flexible with space, supportive of our setup, and energized by what we were trying to bring to the community: new movement, new experiences, and joy in trying something different.
We brought our crew: videographers, sound, sign-up teams, warm-up leaders, and snack stations. Everything looked smooth … until I got too smooth and ignored my body’s warning signs.
The workout – From Pop-Up to Pull
So here’s where things get spicy.
I had never played pickleball seriously before. Folks always say it’s “gentle, relaxing, for ages 60+,” and I thought, “Cool — we’ll ease into this.” But in true iLivFIT fashion, I was ready to go ALL IN. I mean, if I’m gonna try something new, I’m doing it big.
We started with drills, light volleys, and setting the tone. I was warmed up, confident, and laughing. Then came the moment: I sprinted toward the net, lunged hard, attempted a stretch-y return from the “kitchen” (that dangerous zone near the net you’re not supposed to step into) — and SNAP.
I felt it: a pull in my groin, a twinge up through my glutes and quads. I paused. I tried to shake it off. But by the time I got off the court, the pain kicked in full throttle.
By the evening, I was limping. By the next day, I couldn’t walk properly. The Pop-Up was done for me — two crutches, no workouts, and an unexpected journey ahead.
What Happens Next!
That injury stung — emotionally and physically. But I don’t stay down. My faith, my mindset, and my years of fitness taught me that recovery is a different kind of work.
First thing I did: I called my Wellness Dream Team. It took just one text to realize I needed help, not shame. Here’s who I leaned on:
- SporTherapy in North Arlington (4010 N Collins St) for sports rehab and movement reeducation SporTherapy
- Active Spine & Sport Therapy in Fort Worth (Hulen St) for hands-on muscle and soft-tissue healing activespineandsport.com
- HealthSource Arlington-Matlock for chiropractic and spine care support HealthSource Chiropractic
- Restore Wellness Studio in Dallas for deep-tissue massage, cupping, and body restoration restorewellnessstudiotx.com
- Element Sports & Injury in Dallas for sports therapy, chiropractic, and rehab elementofcare.com
I scheduled 2–3 sessions per week for each modality. I stayed consistent even when motivation dipped. I leaned on prayer, mental resets, and gratitude—because healing is holistic, not just physical.
For Movement + Healing Near You
If you live around DFW and want places to plug into — whether for rehab, wellness, or extra support — here are three spots I recommend (and one near me I already work with):
1. Mansfield Chiropractic — Mansfield, Tx
Offers superb, wholistic health injury recovery solutions. Good for gentle movement and proper alignment. Mansfield Chiropractic
2. Sports Therapy: AOA Orthopedic Specialists — Mansfield, TX
If your body can tolerate light movement, their therapy offers are top-tier for stretching, mobility, and breath work. AOA Orthopedi Specialists
3. Stretch Lab: Stretch Studios — Arlington, TX
A female-forward wellness club mixing movement, restorative modalities, and community energy. Perfect spot for strength + healing fusion. Stretch Lab: Stretch Studios
(Plus, my own go-to team I listed above. You see? I don’t just talk, I walk it.)
[Rating] Fit, Flop, or Phoenix Rise?
When I assess workouts (or in this case, recovery), I usually ask: Did it build me? Did it teach me? Did I grow stronger?
This Pop-Up turned injury? It was a Phoenix Rise. Let me explain:
- Fit? No — my body wasn’t cooperating. I couldn’t push plates or run.
- Flop? Also no — because I gained more than I lost. I learned boundaries, patience, and faith.
- Phoenix Rise? Yes — I rose from pain, shifted into new habits, and reconnected with my body in deeper ways.
If you want it on a 1–10 scale for community use, I’d give this “Injury Adventure” a 9 for growth and a 6 for movement that first week (hey, I was on crutches). But by week two, that movement score got stronger, and so did my spirit.
Join Our Pop-Up Workouts
Now — here’s where you come in. If you think you can’t pop up because you fear “injury,” come pop up with us, where safety, scaling, and heart are built in.
Our Pop-Up Workouts are our love letter to community — we travel, we sweat, we laugh, and sometimes we heal together. I invite you: check our schedule at iLivFIT.com → click Events → see where we’re headed next.
You might show up thinking you’re just there for a workout… but you’ll leave with purpose, connection, and a fire in your soul.
Join Our Contact List]
Don’t miss out. If you want weekly challenges, behind-the-scenes recovery stories (like this one), tips, discounts, and pop-up alerts — drop your name and email into our iLivFIT contact list.
We won’t spam you — promise. We’ll just show up saying: “Hey sis, here’s your nudge. You got this.”
From Broken to Blessed
So there you have it — my Pickleball Pop-Up turned groin-pull journey. Out of that pain, I found renewed appreciation for my body, for rest, for community, and for faith.
Here’s what I hope you carry with you:
- You may get knocked off your game. That doesn’t mean your story ends.
- Healing takes time. Move at your pace.
- Surround yourself with people, places, professionals who lift you — not shame you.
- Your greatness is not lost because of an injury. It’s just being reworked.
I’ll continue posting my recovery steps — my stretches, my therapy wins, my mental check-ins — on iLivFIT.com. I’d love for you to walk that path with me.
Until next time, beautiful —
keep showing up, keep trusting your body, and always Live Fit.
Love,
Shelia “Fit Mom” Hicks
iLivFIT
