In this article we will look at other types of muscle injuries such as contusions, delayed onset pain syndrome and muscle strain or tear.
Before going into them, we should ask the player several aspects. First, we must measure the physical activity load, meaning, how many hours of padel he/she dedicates each week and the intensity used in each one of them. Physical training is not the same as tactical training, nor does playing a single match require the same effort as playing a tournament for days.
Next, we should ask about the mechanism of injury, whether it was during a change of pace, sprint or start, during a change of direction, during a stretch or an accidental collision with a concussion. It is important to know when the injury occurred, whether it was during a training session, warm-up, single match or competition.
And finally, we will be interested in the player’s feelings, whether the symptoms have appeared immediately or are delayed, whether or not they improve with the passing of days, whether the pain is relieved or worsened by exercise, in terms of intensity and length of the exercise.
Muscle Contusions
They are very frequent injuries in padel, I would say almost common, either after a collision with the racket in a sudden movement, against the glass or even with an absent-minded partner. They can manifest themselves as a large oedema or significant haematoma, the pain does not usually last more than a day.
Delayed onset muscle soreness syndrome (DOMS)
Significant muscle pain, colloquially called “soreness”, which usually appears 24-36 hours after strenuous activity, such as a tournament or after periods of inactivity, and disappears in approximately 5 days. There are several theories that try to explain it, the most accepted being a mechanical tension maintained with micro-tears, although in the past it was tried to be explained by the lack of oxygen and accumulation of lactic acid crystals, a hypothesis that was disproved years ago.
Muscle strain or tear
The most severe in this group of injuries. They are classified into 3 levels:
- Level 1 – Mild: Muscle strain or muscle elongation, microscopic injury resulting in minimal bleeding and rapid recovery.
- Level 2 – Moderate: Fibrillar rupture, partial rupture with significant haemorrhage and considerable functional repercussions.
- Level 3 – Severe: Muscle rupture, complete rupture with considerable visible haemorrhage, swelling and possible discontinuity on palpation. If it occurs at the myotendinous junction, it can lead to disinsertion of the muscle (avulsion) and is more serious.
In all these muscle injuries, the clinical examination usually provides a lot of information about the type of injury; although the certainty and extent of the injury is provided by imaging tests such as ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging.
As #padeltip, when you suspect a muscle injury, stop exercising immediately, apply local cold (cryotherapy) and visit your doctor and/or physiotherapist to start treatment and a proper recovery plan. Take care of your diet to maintain a healthy weight and drink more than 2 litres of water a day, this will help you get back on the court in a better way.
