MOTION WORKS

Lower back pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal problems affecting active adults and can be particularly frustrating for people playing racket sports such as padel.

Padel places repeated demands on the lower back through rotation, rapid changes of direction, reaching for low balls and repeated overhead shots.

For many people, lower back pain after playing padel does not mean that something has been seriously damaged. Symptoms can develop through a combination of increased training load, reduced movement capacity, muscular fatigue, previous injury and sensitivity of the structures around the lower back.

Understanding these contributing factors is an important part of managing the problem and returning confidently to the court.

Why Does My Lower Back Hurt After Playing Padel?

Padel involves frequent bending, rotation and rapid changes of direction, requiring the lower back, hips and surrounding muscles to repeatedly absorb and produce force.

Common contributing factors include:

• Repeated rotation through the lower back

• Rapid acceleration and changes of direction

• Repeated bending to reach low balls

• Overhead shots involving extension and rotation

• Sudden increases in padel frequency

• Reduced hip mobility

• Reduced trunk and hip strength

• Muscular fatigue

• Insufficient recovery between sessions

For recreational players, padel may also be added alongside gym training, running, golf or other sports. The combined weekly training load can therefore increase considerably without the player necessarily realising it.

The Real Problem: Back Pain Does Not Always Mean Damage

It is understandable to worry that lower back pain means something has been damaged.

However, the relationship between pain and structural changes in the spine is more complicated.

Changes such as disc degeneration, disc bulges and facet joint changes are commonly identified on scans, including in some people who do not experience lower back pain.

Pain can instead be influenced by several interacting factors, including:

• Tissue irritation

• Training load

• Previous episodes of pain or injury

• Strength and physical conditioning

• Movement confidence

• Sleep and recovery

• Stress

• Sensitivity of the nervous system

This is why an assessment should consider the individual as a whole rather than focusing exclusively on one structure or an MRI finding.

Evidence-Based Treatment for Lower Back Pain

Modern management of uncomplicated lower back pain generally focuses on maintaining appropriate activity, gradually restoring movement and improving physical capacity.

Complete rest is rarely the long-term answer.

Instead, management should identify which movements and activities are currently difficult and gradually rebuild tolerance to them.

Load Management

A sudden increase in padel frequency or intensity can contribute to lower back pain, particularly when the body has not had sufficient time to adapt.

This does not necessarily mean you need to stop playing completely.

Depending on your symptoms, load management may include:

• Temporarily reducing the number of padel sessions each week

• Reducing the duration or intensity of sessions

• Avoiding repeatedly pushing through significant pain

• Allowing adequate recovery between matches

• Temporarily modifying particularly aggravating movements

• Gradually increasing playing volume as symptoms improve

The aim is to find an appropriate level of activity that you can tolerate before progressively building back towards normal training.

Exercise and Rehabilitation for Lower Back Pain

Exercise is an important part of managing recurrent and persistent lower back pain.

There is no single exercise that is best for everybody. Rehabilitation should instead be based around the individual’s symptoms, physical capacity and sporting demands.

This may include:

• Hip strengthening

• Gluteal strengthening

• Trunk and abdominal conditioning

• Rotational strength

• Hip mobility

• Lumbar movement exercises

• Single-leg stability

• Gradual exposure to bending and lifting

• Sport-specific strength and conditioning

For padel players, rehabilitation should eventually progress beyond basic exercises.

The body needs to be prepared for the rotation, acceleration, deceleration, bending and repeated loading required during a match.

Can I Continue Playing Padel With Lower Back Pain?

In many cases, some level of activity can be maintained while recovering from lower back pain.

The important consideration is how your symptoms respond during and after playing.

Mild discomfort does not necessarily mean that you are causing damage. However, significant or progressively worsening pain, neurological symptoms or a substantial reduction in function should be assessed.

It is often possible to modify training rather than stopping exercise completely.

The Importance of Hip and Trunk Function

Although the pain may be felt in the lower back, other areas of the body can influence the demands placed on it.

Padel requires considerable movement through both the hips and trunk.

If hip movement, strength or control is limited, the body may compensate elsewhere in the kinetic chain.

An assessment may therefore consider:

• Hip rotation

• Hip flexion and extension

• Gluteal strength

• Single-leg control

• Trunk rotation

• Thoracic mobility

• Squatting

• Hip hinging

• Lunging

This allows rehabilitation to address potential contributing factors rather than simply focusing on where the pain is felt.

Manual Therapy and Chiropractic Care

At Motion Works Chiropractic near York, management of lower back pain may include a combination of:

• Joint mobilisation or manipulation where appropriate

• Soft tissue therapy

• Assessment of lumbar and hip movement

• Strength and movement testing

• Exercise rehabilitation

• Advice around training load and recovery

• Gradual return-to-sport planning

Manual therapy can help some people with pain and movement in the short term, but it should generally form part of a broader management plan rather than being relied upon as the only treatment.

For active patients, the longer-term goal is to restore movement, strength, confidence and the physical capacity required for their sport.

Why Does My Lower Back Pain Keep Coming Back?

Recurring episodes of lower back pain are common and do not necessarily mean that your back is weak or damaged.

Several factors can contribute to recurrent symptoms, including:

• Rapid increases in training load

• Reduced strength or conditioning

• Poor recovery

• Periods of inactivity followed by intense exercise

• Reduced hip movement

• Insufficient exposure to bending and lifting

• Previous episodes of lower back pain

• Returning to full sport before capacity has been rebuilt

For padel players, rehabilitation should therefore aim to do more than settle the current episode.

The goal should be to rebuild the physical qualities required to tolerate repeated matches and training sessions.

Lower Back Pain Treatment Near York: Motion Works Chiropractic

Motion Works Chiropractic & Sports Injury Clinic provides evidence-based assessment and treatment for lower back pain and sports-related injuries.

Based at The Padel Farm in Sutton-on-the-Forest, near York, our location provides a unique environment for assessing and rehabilitating active individuals, including padel players.

We work with patients from York, Sutton-on-the-Forest, Easingwold, Malton and the surrounding North Yorkshire area.

Our approach focuses on:

• Understanding your symptoms and potential contributing factors

• Reducing pain and restoring movement

• Improving strength and physical capacity

• Gradually rebuilding load tolerance

• Returning you to the activities and sports you enjoy

• Reducing the risk of recurrent problems

Treatment is tailored to the individual rather than using the same approach for every episode of back pain.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Padel Bad for Your Lower Back?

Padel itself is not inherently bad for your back.

However, the sport involves repeated bending, rotation and rapid changes of direction. If the amount of padel you are playing exceeds your current physical capacity or recovery, symptoms can develop.

Gradually increasing your playing volume and maintaining appropriate strength and conditioning can help prepare your body for these demands.

Why Does My Back Hurt After Playing Padel?

There is rarely one single explanation.

Lower back pain after padel can be influenced by training load, muscular fatigue, previous episodes of back pain, hip mobility, strength, recovery and sensitivity to particular movements.

An assessment can help determine which factors are most relevant to you.

Can I Play Padel With Lower Back Pain?

Often, yes.

Many people can continue some level of activity while recovering from uncomplicated lower back pain.

How much you should play depends on the severity of your symptoms, how you respond after exercise and whether there are any neurological or other concerning symptoms.

Should I Rest if I Have Lower Back Pain?

Prolonged complete rest is generally not recommended for uncomplicated lower back pain.

Remaining appropriately active and gradually returning to normal movement is usually preferable, although temporarily modifying aggravating activities may be useful.

Can a Chiropractor Help With Lower Back Pain?

Chiropractors assess and manage musculoskeletal conditions, including lower back pain.

At Motion Works Chiropractic, treatment may combine manual therapy with exercise rehabilitation, movement assessment and advice around activity and training load.

The appropriate treatment depends on the individual and the findings from their assessment.

Key Takeaways

Lower back pain after padel does not automatically mean that your spine is damaged.

Padel places repeated bending, rotational and loading demands on the lower back.

Sudden increases in playing frequency or overall training load can contribute to symptoms.

Remaining appropriately active is generally preferable to prolonged complete rest.

Exercise and progressive strengthening are important components of longer-term management.

Manual therapy can support recovery but should be combined with active rehabilitation where appropriate.

Hip, trunk and whole-body function should be considered when preparing to return to padel.

When Should You Get Lower Back Pain Assessed?

Consider having your lower back assessed if:

• Your pain is not improving

• Symptoms repeatedly return when playing padel

• Pain is preventing you from exercising or playing normally

• You are changing the way you move because of pain

• Pain repeatedly travels into your leg

• You experience persistent numbness, tingling or weakness

Certain symptoms require urgent medical assessment. These include significant or progressive leg weakness, changes in bladder or bowel control, altered sensation around the saddle or genital region, or other significant unexplained systemic symptoms.

Final Message

If lower back pain is preventing you from playing padel, training in the gym or staying active, understanding the factors contributing to your symptoms is an important first step towards recovery.

At Motion Works Chiropractic at The Padel Farm near York, we provide evidence-based assessment, treatment and rehabilitation for lower back pain and sports injuries.

Our approach combines appropriate hands-on treatment with movement assessment, exercise rehabilitation and progressive load management.

The aim is not simply to provide temporary symptom relief. It is to help you restore movement, rebuild physical capacity and return confidently to the activities you enjoy.

Experiencing lower back pain or struggling to play padel comfortably? Get in touch with Motion Works Chiropractic to arrange an assessment.