Full Motion Physio
Padel
Padel is what happens when Tennis stops being afraid of its boundaries and squash agrees to a net! It has become a centre point for socialising, meeting friends and making new ones. If you prefer numbers, the International Padel Federation says that Padel is now played in over 100 countries with around 25-30 million people playing worldwide, now looking to sweep across the city of Manchester! With courts opening in the Deansgate, Ancoats and Northern Quarter areas.
One common misconception is that Padel is “immune” to injuries because the ball travels slower than in tennis. However, the risk is not about how fast the ball is moving but about the frequency and intensity of game play.
Padel Physiotherapy
Long-term injuries shouldn’t be the ‘price of entry’ for your Padel game. Whether it’s a nagging elbow or a sudden calf strain, physiotherapy is your roadmap back to the cage.
At Full Motion, I cut through the guesswork to identify exactly why you’re hurting—whether it’s a workload spike, or the wrong gear. Together, we’ll build a precise, step-by-step recovery plan that doesn’t just ‘fix’ the pain but bullet-proofs your body so you can return to the court.
Common Padel Injuries
The Padel Injury Paradox: Why ‘Easy’ Isn’t Always ‘Safe’
- The “Addiction Spike” (Overuse)
Padel is deceptively easy to pick up, leading many beginners to dive from zero activity to 3–5 matches a week almost overnight. This “too much, too soon” approach creates a massive load-compromise; while your cardio might keep up, your tendons (specifically the Achilles and triceps) are notoriously slow to adapt to sudden overload. Without a structured build-up, these tissues reach a breaking point, leading to chronic tendinopathy.
- The “Cage” Mechanics (Acute Load)
The enclosed court demands constant, high-intensity multi-directional shifts. You aren’t just running; you are making explosive “micro-sprints” combined with rapid trunk and knee rotation. These sudden acceleration-deceleration forces place an incredible amount of mechanical stress through the hips, lower back, and knees—areas that are often under-conditioned for such specific, violent pivots.
Padel Injury Prevention
Prevention is always better than a cure. To stop an injury from becoming a recurring nightmare, your training must include Padel-specific mobility and strength work. A generic gym routine won’t cut it for the 360-degree rotational demands of the cage.
Choosing a Padel Physio: Who is in Your Corner?
Don’t just look for a therapist; look for a specialist who understands the unique “joint-tax” Padel demands.
- Look Beyond the Pain: Your physio should investigate not just your current injury, but the old “niggles” that are secretly sabotaging your performance.
- Find the Root Cause: The best approach doesn’t just “patch you up”—it identifies the underlying weaknesses, so the injury doesn’t return the moment you hit a match-point.
Recovery: It’s Played Between the Ears
Injury recovery is rarely just physical. Beyond the swelling and bruising, there’s a mental hurdle that often stops us from returning as quickly as we could.
You need a physio who is “on your side of the court”—someone who empathises with the frustration of being benched and gives you the confidence to swing freely again. Those “intangibles” are often just as vital as the technical rehab. You want to feel that your physio is committed to getting you back into the game, not just off the treatment table.
Injury Prevention: Choose the Right Racket!
Select a Round Shape: Round-shaped rackets have a larger, centralised “sweet spot” and a low balance (weight toward the handle). This makes them easier to manoeuvre and significantly reduces strain on the elbow and wrist.
Weight Matters: For those prone to injury, aim for a lighter weight (below 355g–360g). While heavier rackets provide more power, they increase the load on the shoulder and elbow during long rallies.
Anti-Vibration Systems (AVS): Specifically seek out brands like Nox or Head that include built-in vibration-dampening technologies.
Essential Gear & Maintenance
Padel-Specific Shoes: Do not wear standard trainers. Padel shoes feature “clay” or “omni” soles designed for the sand-on-turf surface, providing the grip needed to prevent ankle sprains.
Fresh Overgrips: Replace your overgrip regularly. A worn-out, slippery grip forces you to squeeze the handle harder, which is a primary cause of forearm fatigue and tendonitis.
Safety Strap: Always wear the mandatory wrist cord to prevent the racket from flying out of your hand and injuring yourself or others.
If you choose Full Motion Physio
Playing the sport regularly myself I understand the challenges that come with suffering from an injury. I have experience working with people who have suffered multiple different types of injuries while playing Padel. This includes ankle sprains, shoulder sprains and hip impingement issues.
My focus is not simply treating and discharging my patients: I aim to provide you with the tools to help self-manage your recovery, giving you a sense of ownership and an understanding of the problem, to help you to get back in action as quickly as possible.
My approach is described in the Full Motion Method page. Extensive research has identified the essential elements for the best physiotherapy. The Full Motion Method covers each of these elements.
One last point: Early diagnosis and intervention minimises the risk of the injury getting worse.
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