Every year, millions of individuals all over the world play volleyball as a sport or for recreation. Due to the increased popularity of the sport throughout the years, the number of volleyball injuries has increased. Even though volleyball injuries have the lowest record for injuries among all major sports, volleyball players face the risk for both overuse and traumatic injuries.
What are the common volleyball injuries?
Since volleyball involves repetitive overhead movements such as blocking and spiking, players are at risk for overuse injuries of the shoulder. Additionally, the players are susceptible to finger injuries.
Management of volleyball injuries
During spiking and serving in volleyball, the rotator cuff muscles are vital in generating the required power to move the shoulder. Even though rarely torn among young players, these muscles can end up irritated or fatigued with overuse. Oftentimes, getting enough rest and physical therapy can help manage the pain. In case the pain persists, a doctor should be consulted.
Finger injuries
The fingers are highly susceptible to injuries while playing volleyball such as setting, blocking and digging. The common volleyball injuries involving the fingers include dislocations, fractures and ligament or tendon tears.
If the individual could not bend the finger, it is best to consult a sports healthcare professional or trainer. The treatment can vary drastically depending on the injury sustained by the individual.
Ankle sprains
Ankle injuries are the most common volleyball injuries and the culprit for lost playing time. The sprain must be immobilized for a short time as possible to allow faster rehabilitation.
A sprain requires an 8-week course of daily rehabilitation exercises to reduce the risk for re-injury in the future. In most cases, injuries can be managed with bracing and physical therapy or rehabilitation exercises at home. Occasionally, ankle sprains might be linked to indirect fractures as well as cartilage injuries. If the pain persists after several weeks, it requires further evaluation including an MRI or X-ray.
Patellar tendonitis
This involves inflammation of the tendon responsible for connecting the patella to the tibia. Patellar tendonitis is quite common among athletes who engage in repetitive, forceful jumping actions such as blocking and spiking in volleyball.
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury
Most cases of ACL injuries among volleyball players occur during awkward landing after jumping. In most cases, the ACL tears are linked with a “popping” and immediate swelling of the knee.
Low back pain
Always remember that the low back is the usual source of chronic pain among volleyball players. The typical cause is linked to ligament or muscle strain. The pain usually resolves with rest, physical therapy and appropriate training.
Prevention of volleyball injuries
Most injuries during volleyball can be avoided by observing correct training procedures and the following:
- Utilize right strength training practices for the shoulders, lower back and legs
- An external ankle support must be used such as an ankle brace or tape to prevent the ankle from rolling over, especially those who sustained a previous sprain.
- It is recommended to minimize the amount of jump training on hard surfaces.
- Perform proper warm-up with stretching and light aerobic exercises and properly cool down after practice.