Most Common Injuries in Padel: A Guide for Beginners

The most common sport injuries in Padel; the worst that could happen from entry to exit the court.

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Whether you are a beginner or a regular player, from the moment you step onto the padel court to the final handshake with your opponents, there are plenty of painful possibilities when injuries occurred. Fortunately, in this article, we will go through the most common padel injuries, helping you to understand and avoid them. We will describe the worst that could happen in one game, using simple terms and vocabulary with a hint of humour. Are you ready? Let’s enter the court! But watch your steps and don’t trip over the door frame; that would be a bad start.

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Ankle sprain | Shoulder injury | Tennis elbow | Calf injury

After a good warm-up, you are finally ready to start the game. Unfortunately, today you forgot your padel shoes and you are playing with your sneakers. They don’t provide the same support, and you realise it right away during the first rally. To get a tricky ball, you suddenly change direction, and you roll your ankle. The pain is not too vivid, and you decide to keep playing, but after a few more rallies, you step on a stray ball, sending your ankle into a painful twist. This time, it hurts.

How to avoid ankle sprain:

• Wear proper padel shoes: padel shoes offer more support and are adapted for the padel court surface.

• Keep the court clear: regularly check and remove stray balls.

• Warm-up.

You decide to pursue the game, despite your sore ankle, but now you are more concerned by an upper body injury. Just one point away from winning the first set, you feel confident and go for a powerful smash. That heroic smash now feels like a mistake; the pain radiates through your shoulder. You won the set, but you probably lost your shoulder.

The repetitive overhead movements (like smashes) put a lot of stress on the shoulder. It disturbs its balance by developing some muscles while others stay weak, leading to pain and injury.

How to avoid shoulder injuries:

• Rest: Take some time off playing.

• Use proper technique.

• Warm-up

• Strengthen your shoulder muscles.

Ignoring the two previous incidents, you continue playing. The game is now tight, making the rallies long and exhausting. Your body reminds you of your past as a tennis player.

The repetitive forearm motions cause overuse of your tendon. The vibrations of the racket when you hit the ball also lead to this elbow injury. Your elbow starts to hurt, your hand is weak, and you have trouble grabbing your racket firmly. But don’t worry, you are not alone. The tennis elbow is the most common injury in padel and tends to affect more beginners due to a less effective technique.

How to avoid tennis elbow:

• Rest: Take some time off playing.

• Use proper technique, especially for backhands; increase your wrist extension.

• Warm-up.

• Strengthen the forearm muscles.

• Choose the right racket: the weight, balance and core composition of the racket can reduce the strains and vibrations on your forearm.

I invite you to read this article to help you choose your padel racket.

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Determined to finish the game, you decide to hold nothing back. On the match point, just after your serve, you are sprinting like Usan Bolt to get this last ball. Results? Victory, but also a sharp pain in your calf.

You just tore your calf muscle, exactly like if someone stabbed you. Instead of feeling like a superhero, you are hobbling around, feeling sore and frustrated. Explosive movements like running or jumping cause a constant overload on the calf muscle, which can lead to this muscular injury, and it requires a significant recovery period.

How to avoid calf injuries:

• Warm-up.

• Stretch your calves.

• Strengthen your legs muscles.

Conclusion

You’ve made it through the game, and it’s time for the final handshake. But remember, it’s just a handshake, not a test of strength. Don’t take revenge by crushing your opponent’s finger.

Padel is exhilarating, but like every sport, it comes with its share of risks. While this scenario is exaggerated, by being aware of the most common padel injuries, you can take measures to prevent them. So, the next time you step onto the padel court, keep these insights in mind. Your body will thank you for it.

Understanding the injury severity can help you take appropriate measures for recovery and prevention. By keeping these tips in mind, you can reduce your risk of injury and enjoy a safer padel experience.