Padel has taken the sports world by storm—blending action, strategy, and social fun. But with its rising popularity comes a pressing question: how often do players get hurt? A 2023 systematic review published in BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine set out to answer that, compiling available research on injury incidence and prevalence in padel
How Often Do Padel Injuries Happen?
The review found that the incidence rate of injuries was approximately 3 injuries per 1,000 hours of padel training, and even higher during matches—8 injuries per 1,000 padel matches. This shows that while padel is generally safe, injuries are not uncommon, especially with frequent play.
Which Body Parts Are Most at Risk?
Among all injury locations, the elbow was the most frequently reported anatomical region. This is likely due to repetitive swinging and the explosive movements typical in padel rallies. Other commonly affected areas included the shoulder, knee, and ankle, reflecting the sport’s demand for rapid changes in direction and upper limb force generation.
What Kind of Injuries Are Most Common?
The systematic review showed that most injuries were tendinous or muscular in origin—specifically, tendinopathies and muscle strains. These often result from overuse, poor technique, or insufficient recovery between training sessions and matches.
Why This Matters
Understanding injury patterns helps players and coaches adopt targeted prevention strategies. For example:
- Strength training to support tendons and muscles.
- Proper warm-up and cool-down routines to prepare and recover the body.
- Technique coaching to reduce mechanical stress on joints.
- Scheduled rest days to minimize overuse risks.
Conclusion
This review highlights that while padel is fun and fast-paced, it’s not without physical risk. Knowing that 3–8 injuries per 1,000 sessions may occur—and that elbows, tendons, and muscles are the usual suspects—can help guide smarter training and recovery decisions.
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