Page 28 - Waterfall City SeptOct Issue 2025
P. 28
Waterfall City Health
Expert tips to prevent
PADEL INJURIES
What every amateur padel enthusiast shoulder, and wrist are also prevalent,
especially among players using heavy
should know to stay injury-free. rackets and less experienced players
who are still working on improving
T he fast-paced rallies and City Hospital’s Sports Orthopaedic their technique.”
doubles play of padel, have
Surgery (SOS) Centre.
attracted a major following
Dr Naidoo points out that many padel
across South Africa. However,
as more people take to the courts, Recent research from Europe shows injuries can be avoided. “Prevention
of injuries is always better than
that around 36% of recreational padel
injuries are becoming increasingly players sustain injuries each year, at a treating them, and given the growing
common. Experts say that with the rate of approximately 2.8 injuries per popularity of padel, I would advise
right approach, these injuries do 1,000 hours of play. anyone who is enjoying this sport
not have to deter enthusiasts. to make prevention part of their
“Many of the common padel preparation.”
“The sport is an excellent form of injuries affect the lower limbs, with
cardio exercise, however as more ankle sprains, overused knees, Physiotherapist Ulaysha Narandas,
amateur players take to the padel calf and thigh strains, and Achilles part of the multidisciplinary team at
courts, we are seeing an increase in tendon problems fairly common – Netcare Waterfall City SOS, highlights
injuries associated with it, especially particularly in players over 30 and in the importance of warming up
to the knees, shoulders, elbows, those who are new to the game,” he properly.
and ankles,” says Dr Ashley Naidoo, says.
an orthopaedic surgeon with “Research from European and Latin
subspecialist expertise in upper “Padel players should also be aware American sources has consistently
limb and sports-related conditions, of the risk of upper limb injuries, as highlighted one common theme:
who practises at Netcare Waterfall pain or strains affecting the elbow, the absence of a structured warm-up
26 Waterfall City Sept/Oct 2025
