5 Most Common Volleyball Injuries
As is the case with virtually any physical sport, volleyball players are at risk of getting injured during a game or practice. While nearly any type of injury is possible in volleyball, some tend to occur more frequently than others. Let’s take a look at some of the most common volleyball injuries.
What are the most common volleyball injuries?
- Ankle Sprains
- Patellar Tendonitis
- Rotator Cuff Tendinitis
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury
- Lower Back Pain
1. Ankle Sprains
Ankle sprains are the most common volleyball injuries players can experience. Sprains are common and typically do not have a serious effect on the player. Ankle sprains are typically the most common injury among most athletes as they can easily occur during play, due to the amount of running and jumping. Ankle sprains that are not treated can turn into fractures or ligament/tendon injuries. If not treated correctly playing time is not avoided, ankle sprains may need surgery to fix. Players should only return to play if the ankle is no longer in pain and there has been a multi-week period of no play.
2. Patellar Tendonitis
Patellar Tendonitis, also known as “Jumper’s Knee” is the next most common volleyball injury. Patellar Tendonitis is when the tendon that connects the kneecap to the bone becomes inflamed. This is common in volleyball players due to their frequent jumping to spike, block, or serve. Volleyball players need to pay attention to the way they land from a jump in order to avoid patellar tendonitis. Patellar tendonitis can be treated with physical therapy and training. If strengthening of the tendon does not work with therapy and athletic services, the player may need to get surgery in order to fix the injury.
3. Rotator Cuff Tendinitis
Rotator Cuff Tendinitis is an injury that affects the player’s shoulder. Rotator Cuff Tendinitis occurs when the muscles in the rotator cuff of your shoulder get worn and irritated. In volleyball, players risk injuring their rotator cuff muscles through frequent hard serves and spikes. While it is common, the injury is rare in younger players. Typically, older players experience rotator cuff tendinitis. Physical therapy is typically recommended to treat rotator cuff tendinitis and can be enough to eliminate pain.
4. Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries are a common injury of many athletes across all sports, including volleyball. Most ACL injuries in volleyball occur from jumping and landing in a way that harms the knee or by making quick cuts. An ACL injury is unable to heal alone and needs immediate medical attention to reconstruct. Players are unable to get back to playing until this procedure is done and the proper recovery time is allotted. This can take anywhere from six to nine months. ACL injuries commonly jeopardize an athlete’s potential to continue playing the sport.
5. Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain is a common injury that occurs from playing volleyball. Volleyball players often face pain in their lower back from muscle or ligament strain. Lower back pain occurs from constant play and is very common in many athletes. It can be the result of hard spiking and serving or bending to receive the ball. Lower back pain can be treated with rest and physical therapy if needed. Typically this is a chronic pain that does not harm the players’ daily life or volleyball career. Lower back pain can escalate to greater issues which would then need to be examined by a doctor.