In Barcelona, Rafa Nadal remains resting at the Teknon clinic on Tuesday after undergoing a pulsed radiofrequency treatment aimed at several nerves in the left foot where the injury lingers. The therapy, confirmed by Nadal’s team, is a temporary measure designed to dampen nerve activity and reduce pain. A new session could be considered in the coming two weeks if the healing process requires it.
Just days earlier, Nadal celebrated his 14th Roland Garros title, and his medical team arranged for a routine check with the physician who has been by his side throughout this season. Dr. Angel Ruiz-Cotorro, the personal doctor of the Spanish Tennis Federation and director of the Mapfre Tennis Medicine Clinic, supervised the procedure. The focus of the intervention was on the small, sensitive nerves that contribute to the painful sensations in the affected region. The intent was to temporarily numb the nerve, limiting pain while the body begins its natural healing process. This approach aligns with current practices employed to manage localized nerve irritation in high-performance athletes.
In comments shared with Cadena Ser this morning, Ruiz-Cotorro outlined the plan. He indicated that Nadal’s management needed a more proactive step to address the issue, and that the team would monitor Nadal’s response over the next three to four days to assess any improvement, with a longer-term outlook spanning roughly two weeks. The doctors emphasized that the treatment could be adjusted based on how the foot responds during this critical window.
According to the statement, Nadal will maintain a period of normal activity as symptoms allow. Training on the court may continue if the evolution remains favorable, with the medical team closely guiding the balance between rest and activity. The overall objective is to preserve Nadal’s fitness while controlling pain, enabling him to train safely and monitor progress as the healing unfolds. If the response is positive, continued on-court work would proceed under careful supervision.
There is also recognition within the team that a second session could be necessary if the first one does not yield the desired trajectory. The announcement noted that the decision would depend on how the injury evolves in the following week, underscoring the cautious and dynamic nature of Nadal’s recovery strategy. This approach reflects a broader strategy used in elite tennis where targeted nerve modulation can create a window for tissue recovery without compromising performance. Source: Cadena Ser