Physiotherapy
Volleyball involves constant overhead motions with spiking and blocking which makes players susceptible to overusing the shoulder and finger muscles. Vulnerable to injury, players might not be aware of the risks involve when these injuries occur.
The following are likely injuries that players might experience while playing volleyball:
SPRAINED ANKLE – Most common among volleyball players, a poor landing can cause the body to go over on the foot causing ankle sprains. These sprains may be associated with fractures or cartilage injuries. If pain continues, further evaluation is required.
BACK INJURY – Volleyball players are at risk of stress fractures in the lower back called spondylolysis. Repeated hyperextension (arching backwards) of the lower back when serving and blocking irritates the joints on either side of the spinal column, which are called the facet joints, and over time can cause pain. If this is accompanied by pain that radiates down thelegs and numbness or weakness in the foot or ankle, the culprit may be a herniated disk.
FINGER INJURY – During volleyball, activities such as blocking, setting and digging makes the fingers susceptible to injuries. Finger sprains, fractions, tendon tears, ligament tears and dislocations may occur.
SHOULDER INJURIES – Shoulder rotator cuff tears and shoulder impingement can occur during spiking and serving while playing volleyball. The suprascapular nerve may become compressed causing specific weakness. Shoulder muscles get irritated or fatigued with overuse.
KNEE INJURY – Patellar tendinitis, or inflammation of the tendon that connects the kneecap to the tibia, occurs when doing repetitive blocking, spiking and forceful jumping. Otherwise called jumpers knee, these tendons work hard the most when it comes to jumping and landing.
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