Padel tennis is one of the most popular sports in Spain, especially in warmer regions like Andalucia, where players can enjoy outdoor courts for the majority of the year.
However, the sport can be tough on your limbs and joints, especially if you’re new to the game or have underlying conditions.
According to a new study, nearly half of padel tennis injuries strike the feet and ankles, with plantar fasciitis topping the list of complaints among amateur players.
Published in the Spanish Journal of Podiatry, the research – backed by the General Council of Official Colleges of Podiatrists – looked at 96 amateur padel players who play at least twice a week.
It found that 42% of injuries affect the lower extremities, compared to 25% in the upper body. Of those lower-body injuries, 41% hit the foot and ankle.
The study, titled Determining Variables in Foot Pain in Padel Tennis Players, linked several risk factors to foot injuries: being overweight, poor body alignment and lack of complementary exercise.
Players under 175 cm, with a BMI in the overweight range, knock knees, and who had undergone specific training for padel, reported more pain over the last month.
The highest risk group were overweight players aged over 45, those with knee misalignment and/or a history of lower back pain. Players from these groups showed a significant spike in injuries over the past three months.
‘Overweight players tend to suffer more foot pain, especially post-match,’ said Juan Jose Perez Calonge, a podiatrist in Pamplona and the study’s lead author.
‘If poor biomechanics or knee valgus are also present, injury risk rises sharply.’
Calonge stressed the importance of proper body alignment, especially after age 45, when the body’s ability to absorb repeated impacts begins to decline.
He also flagged external factors – court surface, footwear, and accumulated playing time – as aggravating conditions.
‘You shouldn’t wait until pain becomes disabling. Seeing a podiatrist early can keep you in the game,’ he said.
Among the study’s top prevention tips are custom insoles. These help distribute weight, reduce impact, and correct posture, lowering injury risk over time.
Calonge said the next phase of his research will focus on building a full injury profile and prevention system tailored to padel players.
