Injuries in competitive sports: an analysis of Brazilian padel athletes

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study aimed to analyze the prevalence of injuries in Brazilian padel athletes. In total, 62 padel players (40 men) participated, with an average age of 31.03±7.32 years who periodically trained for at least eight months. All individuals responded to the Referred Morbidity Survey in a stage of the national circuit of the sport, which contained questions on the athletes’ identification, anatomical site, mechanism, nature, time, and severity of the injury and return to normal activities and injury recurrence. Results showed an injury rate of 1.39 per athlete and 2.05 per injured athlete, with the most prevalent injury mechanism being non-contact and the most frequent injury occurring at the end of the matches. The most affected anatomical site was the upper limb with mild severity and a symptomatic return to activities. We concluded that padel players show a high injury rate per athlete, as well as a high injury rate per injured athlete.