Padel has exploded in popularity across Sheffield—and it’s easy to see why. It’s fast-paced, social, and incredibly fun and we have some great places opening up making it more accessible across the City but especially in locations near our clinic.

https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/EcclesallLawnTennisClub

https://playpadelgroup.com/

Whether you’ve just picked up a racket for the first time or you’re hitting the courts weekly, there’s a real buzz about padel in our city.

But with every new sport comes a wave of new injuries, and we’re seeing more and more padel-related aches, strains, and pains coming through our clinic doors. Which lead me to writing this article.

Why Padel Is Causing a Spike in Injuries:
Padel is deceptively demanding on the body. It combines the explosive movements of squash with the twists and turns of tennis—all in a compact space that leaves little room for error. Here’s why injuries are becoming so common:

• Repetitive strain on wrists, elbows, and shoulders from frequent swinging, often for those who have never played before or returned back to racket sports after several years off!
• Ankle sprains and knee injuries from sudden changes in direction and grabbing their old trainers out the back of the cupboard (or ones more suitable for other sports!)
• Lower back pain from rotational forces and awkward reaches (think of someone who sits at a desk all day and has suddenly decided to jump on the craze!)
• Tennis elbow (or rather, “padel elbow”) is making a real comeback! Again those who have gone from playing on holiday after a few San Miguels, to joining your pals on court for a very competitive game.

Top Tips If You’re Taking Up Padel in Sheffield:
Want to stay on court and off the treatment table? Here are our top physio-approved tips:

1. Warm up properly – 5–10 minutes of dynamic stretching and movement prep before you play can dramatically reduce your risk of injury. Don’t skip it. If you’re not sure what to do, just reenact some of the movements in a slower format without a ball and your competitive streak at play. (Don’t book a court for 7pm and start playing a competitive game at 7pm, give yourself at least a few minutes to warm up).
2. Strengthen the basics – Focus on core stability, ankle strength, and shoulder mobility. A strong foundation = better performance and fewer niggles. You wouldn’t hopefully just run a marathon without some training, so get booked in for a few lessons or an intro to padel class to get your body ready for some of the more dynamic movements.
3. Use the right equipment – Not all padels are created equal. Make sure your racket weight and grip size suit your hand and playing style and invest in a decent pair of trainers.
4. Don’t play through pain – A “niggle” today could be a full-blown injury tomorrow. Listen to your body. We have had so many ‘padel’ injuries in the clinic and it’s generally because your body is just not used to the repetitive, dynamic movements. If you are not sure if you need to get something looked at, give us a call for FREE and we can give you advice.
5. Book a preventative assessment – Get ahead of injuries by having a physio screen your movement and flag any weaknesses. There is nothing worse than starting something new, really enjoying it, and then having to stop again due to injury.

6. Train Your Deceleration, Not Just Acceleration – Most injuries in padel happen not when you’re sprinting to the ball—but when you’re slamming the brakes. Practice controlled lunges, single-leg hops, and agility drills that focus on stopping safely, not just moving fast.
7. Master the Recovery Day It’s tempting to play 4–5 times a week when you’re hooked—but muscles and tendons need recovery to adapt. Use one or two days per week for active recovery: Doing activities like Pilates or mobility sessions, Foam rolling, getting a sports massage, or going for a walk or swim.

Already Feeling the Padel Pain?
You’re not alone—and you don’t need to grin and bear it. Our physio team is already helping Sheffield’s padel players recover faster, move better, and get back on court stronger than before

🎾 Book your FREE 15-minute Padel Injury Consultation today
Let’s chat about what’s going on, what you need, and how we can help. No strings, no pressure—just expert advice tailored to your body and your game.

👉 Call or Whatsapp 07780685449 and chat to us to book your MOT or FREE consultation today!