Padel is quickly becoming one of the fastest-growing sports globally, with over 860,000 players each year in the UK alone. With its simple rules and social nature, many people are choosing to meet up with friends in the courts rather than going to the pub.
But, as with any sport, injuries can happen, and unfortunately, padel injuries are no exception. Fast movements, change in direction and sudden stops all increase the risk of injury, especially if it’s been a while since you last picked up a racket.
Here’s how to treat ankle injuries in padel.
Why are injuries so common in padel?
If you’ve played padel before, you’re aware of how quick you have to move around the court to keep the rally alive. Unlike tennis, padel is played on a smaller, enclosed court, so rallies are often longer and involve more movement. Because of this,lateral movements side to side, bending in unusual ways to reach the ball, and jumping up for those higher shots all put pressure on your body, as the weight distribution shifts constantly.
There are a few risk factors when playing padel. These include:
- Poor footwear
- Weak ankle stability
- Previous injury
- Fatigue
Ankle injuries in padel often stem from poor footwear, because of the lack of support in certain trainers. Make sure to wear shoes that have good suspension and sturdy support of the ankle.
Common ankle injuries in padel players
When playing padel, there are multiple areas of your feet that are working hard to keep you agile. Injuries that might occur are:
- Lateral ankle sprains – these are the most common, and occur when the foot rolls inwards.
- High ankle sprains – these affect the ligaments higher up the ankle joint and often take longer to recover.
- Tendon injuries – these develop gradually through repeated strain.
- Fractures – these are less common but should be assessed promptly if you can’t put weight on your foot.
- Achilles rupture – also known as a snapped achilles, these injuries need specialist attention very quickly and are often extremely painful.
If you’re experiencing any kind of discomfort after playing padel, or any sport, our team of consultants can help, with personalised treatment plans and diagnosis of the root cause.
How to prevent ankle injuries in padel
We know sometimes ankle injuries are unavoidable. But, there are ways you can reduce the risk of hurting yourself. Make sure you are warming up properly before stepping up for your first serve. This will help your muscles stretch easily when you’re reaching for the ball and changing direction quickly. Strength and balance exercises also improve ankle stability, and wearing court-specific footwear allows for better grip.
How to treat ankle injuries in padel
Most of the time, ankle injuries can be treated at home, using the RICE approach. This looks like:
Rest
Ice
Compression
Elevate
However, not every ankle injury is as simple as being treated through home remedies. Some injuries might recover naturally over a few days, but others may require a visit to our clinic, for full diagnosis. Leaving ligament damage, tendon injuries and fractures untreated can lead to more complex conditions further down the road.
It’s common for people to try and ‘walk it off’, returning to the court too soon. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention:
- Swelling or bruising
- Difficulty putting weight on your foot
- Pain that doesn’t improve after a few days
- Ankle “gives way”
- Repeated ankle sprains
How physiotherapy can help
At the London Foot and Ankle Clinic, we will assess the severity of your injury to identify exactly which structures have been affected. From there, we create a personalised rehabilitation plan designed to get you up and active again.
We will first carry out a full comprehensive assessment of the ankle and surrounding joints. Then, we will offer:
- Prompt treatment to reduce pain and prevent further injury
- Strengthening exercises
- Balance and stability training
- Specific rehabilitation that focuses on restoring strength and confidence
- Advice on appropriate footwear for playing padel safely
Recovery times depend on the severity and complexity of your injury, but by following the advice from our consultants, you have the best chances of making a full recovery.
Suffering from an ankle injury?
Whether you’re playing padel regularly, or you’re brand new to the sport, taking ankle injuries seriously can help you stay active for longer. If you’re struggling with ongoing pain, our team can help you recover and return to the court with confidence.
To book an appointment, give us a call on 0207 078 3800 or fill out our online form.
