The Role of Padel in Improving Physical Fitness and Health Promotion: Progress, Limitations, and Future Perspectives—A Narrative Review

Effects of padel activity and proprioception training on soccer players in an off-season period

BACKGROUND

Off-season periods imply considerable changes in the fitness status of soccer players. So far, no studies evaluated the effects of proprioception-focused training during soccer off-season periods. In this work, we assessed how much some players' abilities (static and dynamic balance, reaction times, quickness, strength, and technical skills) were affected by proprioception training and padel activity during an off-season period of 12 weeks.

METHODS

Twenty-eight non-professional adult male soccer players were organized into three groups: a group carried out regular padel activity, ~2 h once a week. Another group underwent a regular proprioception training program, ~ 20 min, twice a week. The third group did not perform any specific activity (control). Static and dynamic balance, reaction times, quickness, strength, and technical skills were evaluated at three time-points: before starting, after 6 weeks, and after 12 weeks.

RESULTS

Both padel activity and specific proprioception training carried out for 12 weeks significantly improved players' monopodalic static balance with eyes open and dynamic balance. No significant effects of these training regimens were found on monopodalic static balance with eyes closed, visual and acoustic reaction times, acyclic quickness, and strength. Furthermore, proprioception training considerably improved technical skills.

CONCLUSIONS

Coaches may use padel activity and proprioception exercises for off-season programs featured by ease of execution, low training volume, and high compliance.

The Padel phenomenon after the COVID-19: an Italian cross-sectional survey of post-lockdown injuries

The impact of COVID-19 on sport and physical activity has been a subject of considerable interest and concern. Padel satisfies the desire for social interaction and a return to sport after a period of inactivity. The aim of this study is to show a correlation between return to sport and related injuries in a population of Padel players. The study was carried out in a survey mode, consisting of a questionnaire with four sections and fifty questions on the biographical data of the individual, lifestyle before and after the pandemic, knowledge and playing level of Padel and injuries. The self-administered online questionnaire was developed and validated by a panel of physiotherapists, orthopaedic surgeons, and physiatrists with experience in clinical practice and/or musculoskeletal research. The study was conducted in a survey mode from a smartphone or computer via a link to a multiple-choice document. The link to the questionnaire was distributed via mailing lists, social media, and chat applications.

Identifying the Sweet Spot of Padel Rackets with a Robot

Although the vibration of rackets and the location of the sweet spot for players when hitting the ball is crucial, manufacturers do not specify this behavior precisely. This article analyses padel rackets, provides a solution to determine the sweet spot position (SSP), quantifies its behavior, and determines the level of vibration transmitted along the racket handle. The proposed methods serve to locate the SSP without quantifying it. This article demonstrates the development of equipment capable of analyzing the vibration behavior of padel rackets. To do so, it employs a robot that moves along the surface of the padel racket, striking it along its central line. Accelerometers are placed on a movable cradle where rackets are positioned and adjusted. A method for analyzing accelerometer signals to quantify vibration severity is proposed. The SSP and vibration behavior along the central line are determined and quantified. As a result of the study, 225 padel rackets are analyzed and compared. SSP is independent of the padel racket shape, balance, weight, moment of inertia, and padel racket shape (tear, diamond, or round) and is not located at the same position as the center of percussion.

Performance Analysis in Padel: A Systematic Review

The aim of the study was to carry out a systematic review of the most recent research on performance analysis in padel. An electronic search was made in four sport science databases: Web of Science, Pubmed, Scopus and Google Scholar. Systematic review principles were used to identify and select studies following inclusion and exclusion criteria. From a total of 261 articles identified in the initial search, 27 articles were included in analysis, all dating from after 2018. The articles were classified according to four study variables: temporal aspects, game actions, on-court movements and match score studies, ordered in turn according to the year of publication. The results show differences in the four study variables according to the gender or the level of players, the side or the zone of play and the duration of the match. In conclusion, the results define the relevant aspects of the game with the aim of being used at a technical, tactical and physical level, as well as contributing to the development of scientific knowledge in padel, allowing future research to address less studied topics and carry out more complete and specific studies and interventions for a greater understanding of the needs of padel.

New regression models to predict fat mass in intermediate-level male padel players

PURPOSE

Padel is a racquet team sport that has generated great interest in recent years, but the anthropometric and body composition characteristics of padel players have not widely been investigated. So, this study has a threefold aim: i) to draw two specific linear regression models to estimate fat mass from Dual X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) to anthropometry or bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA); ii) to provide a BIA-vector (BIVA) profile of intermediate level padel players; iii) to understand if anthropometric, body composition and handgrip strength differ among padel's roles.

METHODS

Participants were 15 padel players (26.66 ± 11.84 years, 71.6 ± 12.51 kg, 173.13 ± 7.63 cm) who competed in the same championship. DXA, anthropometry, BIA and vector analysis were assessed. The stepwise procedure for the best general linear model was performed. The one-way ANOVA was used to compare right and left-side players. The Bland-Altman method, concordance correlation and Pearson's correlation coefficients, and statistical power achieved were computed.

RESULTS

The regression models achieved high goodness of fits in fat mass estimation (anthropometric adj. R2 = 0.984, BIA adj. R2 = 0.949) with four and two regressors, respectively. Padel players showed BIVA features close to teams' (D = 0.22) and power's (D = 0.37) sports. Also, no significant differences between left and right players were found in body composition and handgrip strength.

CONCLUSION

This study provided novel and useful information on players' body profiles for coaches and trainers. Also, our resulting equations provide easy-to-assess field methods in the accurate estimation of players' body composition characteristics.

Incidence, prevalence and nature of injuries in padel: a systematic review

Objective

It is unclear what the incidence, prevalence and nature of injuries are that can occur during playing padel. This study aimed to systematically review the incidence, prevalence and nature of injuries in padel.

Method

A literature search was performed up to December 2022 through MEDLINE Ovid, PubMed, Cochrane Library, SportsDiscus and CINAHL. Following database search, article retrieval and title and abstract screening, articles were assessed for eligibility against predefined criteria. Studies were assessed for methodological quality. Data on injuries' prevalence, incidence and nature of injuries were extracted, analysed and described in a descriptive statistical manner which did not include a pooling strategy as part of a formal meta-analysis.

Results

Eight studies with 2022 participants were included (range of mean age: 31-57). The incidence rate was 3 injuries per 1000 hours of padel training and 8 injuries per 1000 matches of padel practice. The overall prevalence range was 40%-95%. The elbow was the most common anatomical site of injury, followed by the knee, shoulder and lower back. Tendinous and muscular injuries were the most reported injury types.

Conclusion

Injuries are common among padel players, with an incidence rate of 3 per 1000 hours of padel training and 8 per 1000 matches of padel practice-as based on limited literature. The overall prevalence range was 40%-95%. The elbow was the most frequently reported anatomical region concerning location injury distribution, and injuries were mainly of tendinous or muscular origin.

A Comparison of Match Load Between Padel and Singles and Doubles Tennis

PURPOSE

To quantify match load associated with padel and compare responses with both singles and doubles tennis.

METHODS

On separate days, 12 participants (7 men and 5 women) played 60-minute padel (PADEL), singles tennis (SINGLES), and doubles tennis (DOUBLES) simulated games. Participants wore a 10-Hz GPS/100-Hz triaxial accelerometer unit and heart-rate monitor. Exercise-related sensations and blood lactate concentration were monitored every 20 minutes. Match-play characteristics (temporal structure) and shot selection were derived from video analysis. Vertical jump ability was assessed before and after each game.

RESULTS

Heart rate, exercise-related sensations (overall perceived exertion and limb discomfort), and physical load (total distance covered, PlayerLoad, acceleration density and load) for SINGLES were higher compared with DOUBLES and PADEL (all P ≤ .05). Blood lactate concentrations remained low (1-2 mmol·L-1) and did not differ between conditions. Effective playing time (P < .001) was lower in SINGLES and DOUBLES compared with PADEL. The number of forehands (P = .002) and backhands (P < .001) was greater for SINGLES than for DOUBLES and PADEL. The number of volleys/smashes and lobs (P < .05) was greater for PADEL compared with SINGLES and DOUBLES. Performance for squat, countermovement, and multirebound jumps was similarly reduced below baseline after match play (P < .05), independent of condition.

CONCLUSION

Padel imposes a unique match load on players that is different from singles tennis and more closely resembles that of doubles tennis. Cardiovascular stimulation and physical load are highest in singles tennis, while padel sees players hit a larger variety of shots with higher effective playing percentages.

Análisis secuencial de golpeos finales del punto en pádel mediante árbol decisional

El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar la secuencia de los dos últimos golpeos del punto en pádel, y clasificarlos a través de árbol decisional multivariante. Se analizaron un total de 2110 acciones de juego, siendo las variables analizadas: golpeo, zona de la pista, eficacia, dirección, resultado y lado de juego. Los partidos fueron analizados mediante observación sistemática. Los resultados mostraron que mantener posiciones cercanas a la red aumenta las probabilidades de victoria, observándose que las secuencias de finalización más frecuentes son las de fondo-volea y globo-remate. Las parejas ganadoras realizan mayor número de puntos ganadores en la red y menos errores en el fondo de la pista. Además, utilizar trayectorias cruzadas en el penúltimo golpe aumentará las posibilidades de un error posterior de los rivales. Estos datos tienen aplicación práctica en el entrenamiento perceptivo y decisional del jugador de pádel, y la aplicación de feedbacks por parte del entrenador.