THE PADEL FOOT, DOES IT EXIST?

Common padel injuries

Common injuries when playing padel include foot, ankle and knee injuries, as well as wrist and elbow injuries. Rapid acceleration and hard braking, lateral movements, missteps and one-sided movements are the main reasons the body gets injured.

We will now look more closely at the types of foot injuries that occur in padel and how you can prevent and treat them.

Calf strain – warming up

Padel is known for its fast pace with powerful accelerations and sudden stops. This puts a heavy strain on the calf muscles, and calf and lower-leg muscle strains can occur. This usually happens when you reach for a low ball, or jump up to smash. In most cases, you will feel a strain as a sharp pain in the calf, after which the leg goes numb and pain sets in.

A proper warm-up prepares the muscles for rapid movements and heavy strain, and can help reduce the risk of injury. Here you can read more about calf muscle strains, which are also known as calf sciatica.

Ankle support can reduce injuries from missteps

Everyone who has taken a padel lesson knows how important footwork is. Sprains and twisted ankles usually occur when you step awkwardly while trying to reach a ball. 

By stabilising the ankle with an ankle support, you can also reduce the risk of injury from missteps. Compression socks in turn provide close-fitting support around the foot and lower leg during play.

Socks for heel spurs

Heel pain is a problem that can occur in padel. What is often called a heel spur is usually caused by overuse of the tissue under the foot, the plantar fascia. Calcium deposits on the heel bone can sometimes occur, but are not always the cause of the pain. Relief, tailored exercise, stretching and suitable shoes can all be part of the treatment.

To reduce heavy strain on the heel, it is important to choose the right shoes and socks. Shoes with cushioning reduce strain. Socks with padding around the heel can also make your step softer and more comfortable in your shoes.

Recovery and rest

Padel puts a lot of strain on the body, especially if you are untrained and play a little too often out of pure enthusiasm. It is important for the body to rest and recover between training sessions. Compression socks with graduated compression improve blood circulation and help prevent tired and swollen legs after a training session.

Tips for avoiding injuries in padel

1. Warm up – a good way to prevent strains and muscle tears
2. Stretch – make sure to keep your body mobile and flexible
3. Recover – give your body time to rest and recover
4. Strength train regularly – give your body the best possible chance to handle uneven strain
5. Support – stabilise the calf muscles, ankles and hard steps with supportive protection