Assessing the Spread of the Sport of Padel and the Prevalence and Causes of Injuries Among Padel Players

Objectives: To study the prevalence of injuries among padel players in Madinah and investigate potential causes. This study makes an attempt to add to the gaps in the literature regarding injury risks and preventive strategies in this fast-growing sport. Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study on 305 padel players who come from Madinah, consisting of 193 men and 112 women aged 18-40 years. Data were collected using an online Google Forms questionnaire, including descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests, among which the chi-square test was performed, aiming for the assessment of demographic and injury-related variables. Results: There were significantly different incidences of injuries with regard to gender at the p = 0.001 level. A 44.6% prevalence was recorded among women, while men had a prevalence of 8.2%. With respect to the severity of injuries from moderate to severe, there are higher percentages in women that comprised 40.4% and 5.6%, respectively. The most frequent types of upper body injuries among women were ligament sprains and muscle strains. Stress and poor warm-up practices were some of the lifestyle factors identified to increase the risk of sustaining an injury. Conclusions: This study highlights gender-specific injury patterns among padel players in Madinah, emphasizing the need for targeted injury prevention programs, including structured warm-ups and strength training. The findings contribute valuable insights for enhancing player safety and aligning with public health objectives under Saudi Vision 2030.