Here are 7 common volleyball injuries in young athletes:
Lower back pain
Lower back pain is common among volleyball players and is related to muscle or ligament strain. The back is placed under a huge amount of strain when jumping, bending backwards and twisting.
Shoulder injuries
Since volleyball players repeatedly use their shoulders for spiking and blocking, overuse injuries of the shoulder are common. Shoulder impingement syndrome can occur when muscles or tendons become pinched during movement, causing pain or discomfort.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury
As with an ankle injury, most ACL injuries in volleyball players occur when a player lands awkwardly after jumping. ACL tears are associated with a “popping” sound and immediate swelling in the knee.
Knee injuries
Volleyball requires repetitive jumping which puts a lot of stress on the patellar tendon. At some point, almost half of volleyball athletes develop patellar tendinitis—known as “jumper’s knee”.
Finger injuries
Fingers are especially vulnerable to injury in volleyball. Finger injuries, such as dislocations, tendon tears and ligament tears frequently occur during digging, setting and blocking.
Ankle injuries
Ankle injuries are the most common volleyball injury. An ankle sprain can occur from landing incorrectly, directional changes, jumping or someone stepping on the foot.
Rotator cuff tendinitis
The rotator cuff muscles are important in generating the necessary power to move the shoulder during serving and spiking. These muscles can get irritated or fatigued with overuse.
Many common volleyball injuries can be prevented. A varied workout routine with proper rest periods will reduce the risk of volleyball injuries.
