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Wrist pain from padel, tennis and gym training is becoming increasingly common.
As more people take up racket sports, strength training and high-intensity fitness, hand and wrist specialists are seeing a growing number of patients with overuse injuries, tendon problems and acute trauma.
At London Bridge Orthopaedics, our consultants regularly assess patients who have developed wrist pain from padel, tennis, weightlifting, CrossFit, racquet sports and gym training.
The good news is that most wrist injuries respond well to early diagnosis and the right treatment plan.
“We always aim to restore confidence as well as function, so patients can return to sport safely and perform at their best.” – Sam Gidwani
Padel has grown rapidly because it is social, accessible and fun. However, many new players underestimate the physical demands on the wrist, forearm and elbow. Repetitive gripping, sudden changes of direction, off-centre ball strikes and awkward volleys can overload tendons and ligaments.
Tennis creates similar stresses, especially during topspin forehands, serves and repeated backhands.
Gym participation has increased significantly, with more people lifting heavier weights or doing functional training.
Exercises such as bench press, cleans, snatches, push-ups, front rack positions and handstands can place the wrist into repeated extension under load.
Many injuries happen when people go from occasional exercise to frequent sessions without gradually building strength, mobility and tolerance.
As Simon Owen-Johnstone explains: “The wrist is a remarkably adaptable joint, but it dislikes sudden spikes in load.”
Wrist tendonitis, or wrist tendinopathy, is one of the most common overuse injuries seen in people playing padel, tennis and undertaking regular gym training.
It occurs when the tendons around the wrist become irritated, overloaded or begin to degenerate due to repetitive strain and insufficient recovery.
Many patients initially notice mild discomfort that comes and goes, particularly after sport or exercise. However, without appropriate treatment, symptoms can gradually worsen and start affecting daily activities such as gripping, typing, lifting or opening jars.
In racket sports such as padel and tennis, repeated gripping, topspin shots, volleys and off-centre ball contact place significant stress through the wrist and forearm tendons.
Poor technique, sudden increases in playing frequency, heavy rackets or incorrect grip size can all contribute to overload.
In the gym, wrist tendon problems are frequently linked to exercises that place the wrist into repeated extension under load.
Patients commonly report “pain on thumb side of wrist from gym training” or “wrist pain lifting weights”, particularly during push-ups, bench press, front squats, cleans, overhead lifting or handstands.
In some cases, reduced shoulder mobility or poor lifting mechanics can increase the load transferred through the wrist.
Symptoms may include:
At London Bridge Orthopaedics, diagnosis involves a detailed clinical assessment to identify exactly which tendon structures are involved and whether there may also be associated problems such as ligament injury, joint irritation or nerve involvement.
Ultrasound and MRI imaging can sometimes help assess tendon inflammation, degeneration or tearing.
The TFCC (Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex) is an important structure on the little finger side of the wrist that helps stabilise the joint during rotation, gripping and weight-bearing.
TFCC injuries are increasingly common in padel, tennis and gym training, particularly during twisting movements, heavy loading through an extended wrist or falls onto an outstretched hand.
Patients often describe pain on the ulnar side (little finger side) of the wrist, especially during forehands, serves, push-ups or pressing exercises in the gym.
Clicking, catching and a feeling of weakness or instability are also common.
In some cases, symptoms may only appear during sport-specific movements, making specialist assessment important for accurate diagnosis.
Main symptoms include:
A wrist sprain occurs when the ligaments supporting the wrist are stretched or torn, most commonly after a fall onto an outstretched hand.
This is particularly common in padel and tennis where players may dive, slip or brace themselves during a fall. While some sprains are relatively minor, others can involve significant ligament injury and ongoing instability if not identified early.
Symptoms may include swelling, bruising, pain with movement and reduced grip strength.
Some patients continue playing assuming they have “just strained the wrist,” when in reality there may be more significant ligament damage requiring specialist review.
Ganglion cysts are fluid-filled swellings that commonly develop around the wrist joint or tendon sheaths.
They may appear gradually or following repetitive irritation from racket sports, gripping activities or gym training.
Some ganglions are painless, while others can cause discomfort during wrist extension, gripping or weight-bearing through the hand. Patients often notice a visible lump that changes in size over time.
Although ganglion cysts are benign, they can sometimes be associated with underlying joint irritation or ligament problems, particularly in active individuals who place repetitive stress through the wrist.
Not all wrist fractures are immediately obvious on initial assessment or standard X-rays.
Occult fractures are small or hidden fractures that may continue causing pain despite being difficult to detect early on. Stress injuries can also develop gradually due to repetitive loading through the wrist, particularly in athletes undertaking high training volumes or weight-bearing exercises.
Persistent pain after a fall, ongoing tenderness, swelling or pain that fails to improve over time should not be ignored.
Early diagnosis is important because untreated fractures or stress injuries can occasionally lead to prolonged pain, reduced function or delayed healing.
You should seek a medical assessment if you have:
Sam Gidwani says:
“Persistent wrist pain should never simply be ignored and trained through.”
At London Bridge Orthopaedics, diagnosis begins with an expert clinical examination, understanding how the injury happened, training load, grip mechanics and symptom triggers.
Investigations may include:
“Many active patients assume wrist pain is something they simply need to push through. In reality, early diagnosis often means faster recovery and less time away from sport.”
At London Bridge Orthopaedics, treatment is always tailored to the individual.
The right plan depends on the diagnosis, severity of symptoms, sporting goals, work demands and how long the problem has been present. For many patients, successful treatment does not mean simply stopping activity altogether, it means identifying the cause of pain and addressing it properly.
Treatment is usually highly successful when started early and often includes:
Importantly, complete rest is rarely the answer.
Tendons typically respond best to carefully graded rehabilitation that improves their capacity to tolerate load over time.
As Adel Tavakkolizadeh explains:
“Successful tendon treatment is usually about restoring strength and resilience progressively, rather than simply stopping activity altogether.”
A holistic approach is particularly important with wrist injuries. Pain is often influenced not only by the wrist itself, but also by grip strength, forearm conditioning, shoulder control, training volume, technique, recovery and equipment choice.
This is why expert diagnosis and a joined-up treatment plan matter.
Many wrist injuries improve without surgery when managed early and correctly.
This does not always mean complete rest. More often, it means temporarily reducing aggravating movements while maintaining fitness and modifying training intelligently.
For example:
Rehabilitation is one of the most important parts of recovery.
Depending on the condition, therapy may include:
Specialist hand therapy can be particularly valuable after ligament injuries, tendon problems and surgery.
In selected cases, ultrasound-guided injections may help reduce pain and inflammation, allowing more effective rehabilitation. These are usually considered when symptoms are limiting progress despite appropriate therapy.
Some injuries benefit from temporary splinting or taping to reduce stress while tissues settle.
Understanding why the injury developed is key to preventing recurrence. Patients are often advised on:
As Adel Tavakkolizadeh explains:
“The best outcomes usually come when treatment looks beyond the painful area and addresses the whole kinetic chain.”
Surgery is only recommended when clinically appropriate, and usually after careful assessment of non-surgical options. Common reasons surgery may be considered include:
At London Bridge Orthopaedics, surgery is never viewed as a shortcut. It is one part of a wider recovery pathway.
As Simon Owen-Johnstone notes:
“An operation can repair anatomy, but rehabilitation restores function.”
Modern hand and wrist surgery can deliver excellent results when performed for the right indication, at the right time, with the right rehabilitation support.
Depending on the condition, benefits may include:
Many procedures are now minimally invasive or arthroscopic, using smaller incisions and often allowing quicker early recovery.
Examples include:
Wrist Arthroscopy
Used for diagnosis and treatment of TFCC tears, loose bodies, inflammation and ligament injuries. Often associated with less soft tissue disruption and faster early rehabilitation.
Fracture Fixation
Modern fixation techniques can help restore alignment and enable earlier guided movement.
Tendon and Ligament Reconstruction
Can improve stability and function after more significant injuries.
Ganglion Excision / Nerve Decompression
Often successful in reducing persistent symptoms affecting sport or everyday activities.
Sam Gidwani comments:
“When surgery is indicated and paired with high-quality rehabilitation, outcomes can be extremely rewarding for patients.”
Surgery alone rarely completes the job. Recovery depends heavily on what happens afterwards.
Post-operative rehabilitation may include:
Without appropriate rehab, stiffness, weakness and delayed recovery are more likely.
This is why London Bridge Orthopaedics works closely with experienced physiotherapists and hand therapists to guide each stage of recovery.
Return timelines vary depending on the procedure and sport, but many patients successfully return to:
The focus is not simply returning quickly, but returning well—with strength, movement and resilience rebuilt.
Patients benefit from an integrated model of care combining:
This joined-up, holistic approach gives patients the best chance of lasting recovery rather than short-term symptom relief alone.
Consultant Hand and Wrist Surgeon with specialist expertise in hand trauma, wrist arthroscopy, nerve compression syndromes, reconstructive surgery and complex upper limb conditions. Mr Gidwani is known for combining advanced surgical expertise with a patient-focused approach.
Consultant Upper Limb Surgeon specialising in shoulder, elbow, hand and wrist conditions. He has extensive experience treating sports injuries, trauma and degenerative problems, always prioritising conservative care where possible.
Consultant Upper Limb Surgeon with extensive experience in shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand conditions. Mr Tavakkolizadeh has held a Consultant post at King’s College Hospital since 2008 and specialises in minimally invasive and arthroscopic techniques, sports injuries, fractures and complex soft tissue problems.
He is particularly valued for his calm, considered and holistic approach, working closely with physiotherapists and rehabilitation specialists to optimise recovery.
Minor overload injuries sometimes settle, but pain lasting more than two weeks should be assessed.
Not always. Many cases can be diagnosed clinically or with X-ray/ultrasound first.
Continuing through pain can worsen some injuries. It depends on the diagnosis – make sure you get it checked out.
Often 6 – 12 weeks with correct treatment, though chronic cases may take longer.
Usually when there is structural damage, instability, fracture or failed conservative treatment.
Yes, most patients do, with graded rehab and proper load progression.
If you have wrist pain from padel, tennis or gym training, early diagnosis is key. Many conditions become harder to treat if ignored. With the right expertise, most patients can return to sport stronger and more confident.
If symptoms are limiting your sport, training or work, an assessment with the hand and wrist team at London Bridge Orthopaedics can help identify the cause and create a clear recovery plan.
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