Is Padel Causing More Injuries in the UK?
Padel is one of the fastest-growing sports in the UK, but its explosive movements can increase the risk of Achilles tendon injuries, calf strains, shoulder pain and tennis elbow - especially in players returning to sport after a break.
Padel is everywhere.
New courts are opening across the UK. Clubs are full. League nights are booked out weeks in advance. And people who haven’t played competitive sport in years are suddenly sprinting, lunging and smashing overheads three times a week.
It’s addictive. It’s social. It’s competitive.
And it’s far more physically demanding than most people expect.
At Wimbledon Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic, we’re seeing a steady rise in padel-related injuries - especially in players aged 35–60 who are returning to high-intensity sport after years away.
Most of these injuries are manageable. Many are preventable. And one, in particular, needs to be recognised quickly.
Let’s break it down properly.
Why Padel Is So Demanding (Even Though the Court Is Smaller)
Padel looks like “easier tennis.”
It isn’t.
The smaller court creates:
- More rapid accelerations
- More short explosive push-offs
- More reactive changes of direction
- More rotational trunk loading
- Frequent overhead smashes
- Constant deceleration
It’s not endurance-based. It’s repeat power.
And repeat power stresses tendons.
The Most Common Padel Injuries
1. Achilles Tendinopathy (Persistent Tendon Pain)
This is one of the most common padel-related issues we see.
Why it happens
Padel demands:
- Pain lifting the arm
- Night discomfort
- Reduced power overhead
- Ache after matches
If your calves aren’t strong enough for that demand, the Achilles tendon becomes overloaded.
Early signs:
- Morning stiffness at the back of the ankle
- Tightness walking downstairs
- Pain that “warms up” during play
- Tenderness when squeezing the tendon
Many players ignore these signs because they can still play.
That’s often when it becomes persistent.
2. Tennis Elbow (Lateral Elbow Tendinopathy)
Despite the name, padel produces this just as often.
Solid rackets + repetitive gripping = forearm overload.
Symptoms:
- Pain on the outside of the elbow
- Weak grip
- Pain lifting everyday objects
- Discomfort on backhands
Playing through it rarely solves it.
Strength-based rehab does.
3. Shoulder Pain & Rotator Cuff Overload
Padel involves frequent overhead smashes in a confined space.
If shoulder blade control is poor, the rotator cuff becomes overloaded.
Common symptoms:
- Pain lifting the arm
- Night discomfort
- Reduced power overhead
- Ache after matches
Especially common in desk-based professionals who:
- Bench press regularly
- Rarely train upper back strength
4. Calf Strains
The classic: “I pushed off and felt it go.”
Often happens during:
- Back-to-back matches
- Tournament weekends
- Sudden increases in frequency
Many calf strains are actually early warning signs that the tendon capacity isn’t keeping up.
If it feels like someone has kicked, shot you in the calf and no-one is there, this is something completely different and it maybe you have ruptured your Achilles Tendon, this is a different management plan and will be covered in the next blog.
5. Knee Pain
Repeated lunging and deceleration stresses:
- Patellar tendon
- Fat pad
- Degenerative meniscus
Common signs:
- Pain going downstairs
- Swelling after matches
- Stiffness the next day
The Real Pattern: Capacity vs Load
Almost every padel injury we see follows one pattern:
A sudden increase in intensity or frequency.
Tendons love consistency. They struggle with spikes.
Going from: “Occasional gym sessions” to “Three matches a week and league night”, is a spike. And spikes increase injury risk.
How To Reduce Your Risk
If you want to play long-term:
1. Strengthen your calves properly
Heavy, controlled calf loading - bent and straight knee.
2. Train rotation
Cable rotations, medicine ball throws, anti-rotation holds.
3. Strengthen your shoulder blade
Rows, face pulls, external rotations.
4. Manage volume
Build gradually over 6–8 weeks.
Final Thoughts
Padel is fantastic.
It improves:
- Reaction time
- Fitness
- Social connection
- Cognitive speed
But it is explosive.
Explosive sport requires preparation.
Most other injuries are highly manageable if addressed early.
The goal isn’t to stop playing.
It’s to play for the next 20 years.