Padel is an exciting and accessible sport, but behind its success lies a lesser-known reality: it presents a higher injury rate to that of tennis and many racket sports.
Understanding these risks is the first step towards better anticipating them. In this first article, we review the statistics, types of injuries, and the most affected areas.

1. Padel, a successful sport… but not without risks

Do you love playing padel? You're far from alone. But are you really aware of the risks inherent in this sport?
Padel has an injury rate superior to that of tennis and other similar sports.

Knowing these risks means play betterlonger, and without pain.

2. Key figures: what the studies say

Two major French studies (Hauts-de-France) reveal:

  • 52% players have been injured in the last 12 months.
  • 5,4 injuries / 1000 hours of play → a rate 3 to 6 times greater than tennis.
  • 36% injuries are severe (stoppage > 28 days).
  • 50% leave lasting effects.

These figures should not be alarming, but responsibility Knowing the risk allows you to reduce it.

The risks of padel: understanding, anticipating, preventing

3. The most frequent injuries

1. Calf & Achilles tendon – 18,8%

Area most affected, particularly among players over 40 years old or playing > 4 hours/week.
Symptoms: Sharp pain, tension, sometimes a “cracking” sound.

2. The elbow – 18,5%

The famous “Padel Elbow”.
Intensified by the lack of strings on padel rackets (which are more rigid).
Increased risks if:

  • racket > 350 g,
  • The racket is too stiff.
  • less than 5 years of experience.

3. Shoulder & ankle

  • Shoulder : 13–14%, more frequent in women.
    Related to smashes, re-hits, and volleys.
  • Ankle : 10%, sprains as a priority.

4. Lower back – 22,3% of pain

61% of players experience pain while playing.
The lumbar rotation/extension of the smashes is the main factor.

4. Who gets injured the most?

Intrinsic factors

  • Age > 40 years → risk x4.
  • High BMI → proportional increase.
  • Men → more injuries to the upper limbs.

Extrinsic factors

  • Level 6+ → more power, more intensity, more injuries.
  • > 4 hours/week → overload.
  • 1 to 3 years of experience → increased risk.
  • Fatigue / overtraining → > 50% of injuries.

5. Severity of injuries

  • 36% → severe
  • 28% → moderate
  • 50% → persistent after-effects
  • 41% continue to play despite the pain (for > 1 month)

The risk exists, but it is not inevitable: To know in order to prevent betterHere is the key.
In the next article, we will see how to set up a optimal warm-up to reduce almost all of these risks.

Raphael Tournier

Physiotherapist, Training Manager at the Vichy Physiotherapy Training Institute, but above all a padel fanatic!

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