Padel fills the courts all over France and attracts both beginners and experienced athletes. Easy to learn, friendly and dynamic, this racket sport continues to gain popularity. In a video published on Instagram, Dr. Jean-Michel Cohen, nutritionist, discusses the reasons for this success, while reminding that a joint deserves special attention.
Why padel attracts so many players
Padel shares several points in common with tennis, but it differs in its accessibility. Dr. Jean-Michel Cohen summarizes this difference by stating: “It’s a sport for which we need a smaller field, it’s less technically demanding.“
This ease of handling allows novices to quickly enjoy themselves, while more experienced players appreciate the pace of the exchanges. The more affordable cost of infrastructure and equipment also contributes to the enthusiasm observed in recent years.
How many calories burns an hour of padel?
Beyond its fun aspect, padel constitutes a particularly complete physical activity. Permanent movements require the legs, strikes mobilize the arms and shoulders, while changes of direction and anticipation require constant concentration.
Dr Jean-Michel Cohen explains: “We mobilize all the structures of our body… We count, on a normal padel sequence per hour, between 450 and 500 calories.“
This energy expenditure places padel among the most interesting sports for those who wish to combine pleasure and regular physical activity.
Tennis elbow: the injury to watch out for at padel
Even if padel is less technically demanding than tennis, the elbow remains heavily stressed during each exchange. Repeated gestures can promote the appearance of the famous “tennis elbow“, pain caused by overuse of the joint.
Dr. Cohen warns practitioners: “Only problem, be careful, in the same way as in tennis, we put a lot of strain on the elbow joint. Protect it!“
To limit this risk, he recommends taking care of your warm-up, favoring a good hitting technique and using a suitable racket in order to reduce the stress exerted on the elbow.