Padel Tennis and Elbow Pain – What Every Player Should Know

Padel tennis is one of the fastest growing sports in the UK, with more people discovering its fast pace, social nature, and accessible gameplay. Across North London, including Southgate, Barnet, Enfield, and Potters Bar, more recreational players are taking up the sport.

However, as participation increases, physiotherapists are also seeing a rise in overuse injuries related to padel, particularly a condition often referred to as “Padel Elbow.”

At Southgate Physio, we regularly treat sports injuries associated with racquet sports and help athletes return to play safely with expert sports injury rehabilitation and shockwave therapy.

What Is “Padel Elbow”?

Padel elbow is similar to tennis elbow and refers to pain on the outside of the elbow caused by repetitive strain on the forearm muscles and tendons.

Padel places unique demands on the arm because of:

• Repetitive forehand and backhand shots
• Overhead smashes
• Quick lateral movements
• Repeated gripping of the racquet

These movements can overload the tendons that attach to the lateral epicondyle of the elbow, leading to irritation and pain.

Why Padel Can Strain the Elbow

Although padel and tennis share similarities, padel involves different playing mechanics that can increase strain on certain muscles.

Common contributing factors include:

Frequent Overhead Shots

Padel often involves repeated overhead smashes, which require powerful wrist and forearm movements.

Shorter Racquet Grip

Padel racquets are solid and slightly heavier than tennis racquets, which can increase forearm muscle load during play.

Fast Lateral Movements

Players often make quick side-to-side movements, leading to rapid racquet swings and increased strain on the elbow tendons.

Increased Playing Frequency

Because padel is highly social and enjoyable, players often play multiple times per week, sometimes without sufficient recovery time.

Early Signs of Padel Elbow

Recognising symptoms early can help prevent the condition from worsening.

Common signs include:

• Pain on the outer side of the elbow
• Weak grip strength
• Pain when lifting objects
• Discomfort during backhand shots
• Forearm tightness after playing

If these symptoms persist, physiotherapy can help address the underlying cause.

Physiotherapy Treatment for Padel Elbow

At Southgate Physio, our physiotherapists perform a detailed assessment to identify factors contributing to the injury.

Treatment may include:

• Load management and activity modification
• Forearm strengthening exercises
• Stretching and mobility exercises
• Manual therapy to reduce muscle tension
• Gradual return-to-play programmes

The goal is to reduce tendon irritation while restoring strength and resilience in the forearm muscles.

Shockwave Therapy for Persistent Elbow Pain

For more persistent tendon injuries, shockwave therapy may be recommended.

Shockwave therapy can help:

• Stimulate tendon healing
• Improve blood circulation
• Reduce chronic pain
• Support tissue recovery

This treatment is often used for chronic tendon injuries that have not responded to traditional therapy alone.

Sports Injury Rehabilitation for Racquet Sports

Our physiotherapists design sport-specific rehabilitation programmes for padel players.

Rehabilitation focuses on:

• Strengthening forearm and wrist muscles
• Improving shoulder stability
• Correcting movement patterns
• Gradual return to sport

By addressing these factors, players can reduce the risk of recurrence and improve their performance on the court.

Book an Assessment at Southgate Physio

If you are experiencing elbow pain while playing padel or other racquet sports, the physiotherapy team at Southgate Physio can help. We provide expert sports injury rehabilitation and shockwave therapy for patients across Southgate, Barnet, Enfield, and Potters Bar.

Contact us today to arrange an assessment and get back to playing pain-free.