Paddle is a sport that has been practiced for many years, but since the 2000s and especially in recent years it has boomed worldwide. Being practiced by people of all ages, sexes and physical conditions. It is similar to tennis, but it should not be confused with it because there are some differences, as they have their own peculiarities and rules.
There are many benefits that practicing a sport like paddle gives to human beings, but, like any sport, this one is not exempt from its players suffering from injuries or suffering. Padel injuries are the order of the day, the ones that we indicate below are the ones that occur most in professional players and in players who play regularly, as a general rule muscle injuries and those of certain limbs are the most prone.
As for the injuries themselves that are commonly caused by playing paddle, the most common are: wrist sprain, tennis elbow, contractures or muscle injuries, plantar fasciitis, ankle sprain, shoulder injuries, back injuries. To avoid them, we will list some recommendations for you to take better care of your joints and not have to stop playing paddle for a while to recover.
First of all, it is essential to warm up 15-20 minutes before starting to play. Jog a little off the track, bend over, get up, stand on tiptoe, move your shoulder, knees, wrists, give mobility to your joints. Any exercise necessary to warm up the body and prepare it for the training you are going to face.
It is also important to reinforce the paddle exercise with muscle strengthening. Complement with weight exercises, at home or at the gym. Try to do 3 days of knee, shoulder and elbow exercises especially. As it is an impact sport, it is necessary that all the muscles are in good condition.
Make sure that the material you use for your training and matches is of quality. For example, footwear in poor condition will cause our grip to be inferior, which can cause injuries. New balls make the elbow and shoulder suffer less. Used balls have less pressure, which makes it harder for us to hit the ball and therefore both the vibration and the stroke make us suffer more.
On the other hand, we recommend:
Look at your grip, you may need a narrower or wider grip.
Review the grip, consult an instructor if you have doubts.
Stretch before and after training and matches gently. That the tension of the forearm does not cause pain.
Distribute your matches and training sessions with enough rest. Rest is part of training and essential to improve.
Don't always use wrist braces or wrist joint stabilizers, because they will weaken your wrist in the long run.
Maintain a regular practice, remember that consistency is the key.
For padel to take you beyond your limits and for it to be an activity that you can maintain over time without injuries or setbacks, it is of great help that you follow these tips that we mentioned above and remember that if you feel any discomfort, do not hesitate to contact us to treat your ailment.
