Can I keep playing padel or football with cartilage damage in my knee?

Why pivoting sport is demanding

Padel and football combine sudden stops, sideways lunges and twisting on a planted foot. These movements create high shear forces across the joint surface. A knee with a contained, partial-thickness defect may tolerate this well. A large full-thickness defect, a loose flap or a knee that is also unstable is more likely to swell and deteriorate under the same load.

Signs it is time to pause

• The knee swells after most games or training sessions
• Swelling takes more than a day or two to settle
• The knee catches, locks or gives way during play
• Pain is changing how you move or sprint
• You need painkillers before playing to get through a match

How to keep playing more safely

• Build quadriceps, hamstring and hip strength year-round, not only when it hurts
• Warm up properly, especially in air-conditioned indoor courts after a hot day outside
• Reduce the number of matches per week rather than stopping completely, if symptoms allow
• Choose supportive court shoes suited to the surface
• Mix in cycling or swimming to keep fitness without impact

If you play several times a week through Qatar's cooler months, plan rest days between sessions.

Getting a plan from a knee surgeon

Whether you can continue depends on the size, depth and location of the defect and the health of the ligaments and meniscus. At Aman Hospital in Doha, Dr. Gelber reviews your MRI, examines the knee and discusses your sport goals, from casual padel with friends to competitive football, before suggesting a plan.