Padel is a "beginner friendly" sport: even if you are not a trained sportsman, you can still enjoy a game with friends. In fact, padel has many differences from tennis, which make it simpler and more accessible to everyone: it is played in doubles, even mixed; the serve is performed diagonally, but from bottom to top, and is played on a court with solid walls on which the ball can be bounced. However, the number of injuries is higher than you might think: accidental and overload injuries, elbow or lower back injuries, up to rotator cuff problems that require a knee brace for padel.
Injuries, however, can be limited thanks to adequate athletic training and targeted prevention action.
The major causes of injuries in padel
There are various types of injuries related to padel, which can mostly be treated with manual therapies (physiotherapy, massage) without resorting to drugs. Each has specific root causes:
- The accidental injuries they are caused by elements present on the field or by random accidents, such as catching a ball, colliding with the grill or glass or hitting each other with the shovel;
- Injuries from overload they occur when joints, muscles and ligaments are not trained enough to withstand the required effort, in a very long match or when you play very often in a short period of time;
- Injuries related to a poor technical mastery they are determined by the fact that incorrect executive mechanics can lead to joint or muscle injuries, up to serious cases such as padel shoulder dislocation;
- Injuries related to ano or insufficient heating they are due to the fact that starting to play cold can cause muscle injuries such as contractures and strains, for example an ankle sprain;
- Even the weather conditions they may play a role, causing injuries related to wet and slippery pitches, temperatures that are too cold or too hot, and so on;
- There dehydration and/or poor dietfinally, they can lead to cramps, contractures and fatigue, which in turn can cause more serious injuries.
The most common injuries in padel
Even if it is not a contact sport, such as rugby or football, where most of the injuries derive from the impact with other players, muscles, joints and the skeletal system are highly stressed in padel, making it a physical activity where the risk to get hurt is not to be underestimated. Among the most common problems is the shoulder injury, very frequent in padel in the form of tendonitis or bursitis.
The most frequent injury isepicondylitis (commonly known as "tennis elbow"). It mainly depends on the blade you use: it can cause problems with your forearm muscles and elbow joint if it is too stiff, if it has a small sweet spot, if it lacks harmful vibration damping, if it is not suited to your level of game.
The annoyances follow Achilles tendon, related to the shoe you use and how it affects the muscle-tendon system. If you make frequent changes of direction it is better to opt for a light shoe, with a reduced drop (height from the ground) and a certain flexibility; if, on the other hand, there are few of them, a heavier shoe, capable of cushioning impacts with the ground well, is better.
I lumbar problemsfinally, they are instead typical of a sport, such as padel, in which the playing positions require many stops and restarts, which often require you to be with a low center of gravity. This risks straining the lumbar area excessively, including the buttocks, to maintain a certain adherence to the ground and be ready for jerks and leaps upwards.
How to prevent injuries in padel
Although padel is a sport accessible to players of the most diverse levels of athletic training, to limit the risk of injury the first rule to follow is to avoid "do it yourself" and approach the sport only after proper physical preparation. This means:
- At least once a week match strengthening exercises to enhance physical-muscular work, which not only focus on the lower limbs but also act on the arms and core;
- Pay particular attention to the phases pre and post game: first, a few minutes of running and some exercises to gradually activate the muscles, and, after, a few minutes of stretching;
- Possibly, involve in your training cycle mobility exercises, to improve flexibility, and exercises proprioceptive gymnastics, to improve balance and coordination;
- Choose theright equipment: shoes with good grip and well cushioned, or light and flexible if you prefer mobility and changes of direction; racket suitable for your style of play, which absorbs vibrations well; technical compression stockings that support movement.
Biomechanical technical socks for padel and tennis
The FLOKY padel and tennis socks they assist the athlete with a localized compression action: they improve stability, support movement, facilitate athletic movement, protect against injuries and speed up recovery.
The specific construction of the S-SMASH sock, the first biomechanical sock specific for padel and tennis, facilitates the return of the foot to the extended position, cushioning the impact with the ground and guaranteeing a sense of push. Thanks to the innovative screen-printing applications, studied on the principles of biomechanics, S-MASH guarantees foot stability, prevents the onset of injuries and inflammation due to very frequent leaps, abrupt movements and sudden jerks and speeds up post-training or post-competition recovery.
