Epidemiology, Incidence, Prevalence, and Treatment of Injuries in Padel: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Padel has gained considerable popularity in recent years; however, the characteristics of padel-related injuries characteristics and epidemiological estimates remain poorly defined. This scoping review aimed to describe the epidemiology, incidence, and prevalence of injuries in padel reported following PRISMA extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. The literature search was conducted between January and June 2025, and studies published within the last five years were eligible for inclusion. Studies were identified through PubMed, SCOPUS, and SPORTDiscus. Methodological quality was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS) for observational and cohort studies and AMSTAR-II for systematic reviews. Fourteen studies including 3581 players were analyzed. In the upper limbs, the elbow was the most commonly injured region, followed by the shoulder, with a predominance of tendinous injuries, particularly involving the extensor carpi radialis brevis tendon. In the lower limbs, the knee and ankle were the most affected joints, with ligament injuries being the most frequent, mainly involving the anterior cruciate ligament and the posterior talofibular ligament, respectively. Padel shows a high incidence and prevalence of injuries, with limited evidence regarding treatment. This review provides a structured overview of injury patterns in padel that may inform clinicians and coaches when prioritizing prevention and conditioning strategies, while highlighting the need for prospective, standardized injury surveillance and padel-specific intervention research.