Padel is easier on the body than tennis, but it’s not injury-free. The rapid changes of direction, the walls forcing awkward body positions, and the volume of overhead shots all take a toll over time. Most padel injuries are preventable with warm-ups, proper technique, and the right gear – but the common ones still come up at every club.
The most common padel injuries are ankle sprains, tennis elbow (“padel elbow”), shoulder strains (especially from smashes and bandeja shots), knee injuries, lower back strain, and calf strains. Most are caused by poor warm-up, bad technique, or worn-out equipment (especially shoes). The good news is they’re almost all preventable with a proper 10-minute warm-up, decent padel shoes with a fishbone sole, and taking time to learn good shot mechanics.
This guide covers the seven most common padel injuries, their symptoms, how to prevent each one, realistic recovery timelines, and when you should see a doctor rather than keep playing through it.
