Volleyball Injuries Managing Acute and Overuse Disorders William W. Briner, Jr, MD; Holly J. Benjamin, MD THE PHYSICIAN AND SPORTSMEDICINE - VOL 27 - NO. 3 - MARCH 1999 This page is best viewed with a browser that supports tables. In Brief: Most volleyball injuries are related to blocking or spiking, both of which involve vertical jumps. The most common acute injuries include ankle and thumb sprains, and common overuse injuries include patellar and shoulder tendinitis, suprascapular neuropathy, and low-back injury. Symptoms will usually resolve with conservative treatment, which may include activity modification, such as reduced jump training or jumping on a sand surface, and technical instruction. Players who have significant symptoms from suprascapular neuropathy may require diagnostic electromyography and MRI before surgical decompression. V and two-player contests on outdoor sand courts. Given the number of players and the potential rigors of the game, acute and overuse injuries are to be expected. Fortunately, most can be managed by primary care physicians. Familiarity with injuries common to volleyball can facilitate diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation and promote prevention. Sport-Specific Skills Volleyball players perform a variety of maneuvers that are unique to the sport, and each poses a risk of injury. Play begins with an underhand or overhead serve, delivered jumping or standing. The opposing team usually starts offensive play with a standard bump-set-spike pattern. With arms extended and the hands held together below the waist, a player will bump or pass the serve by playing the ball off both forearms. The ball is then "set" by a teammate who, with both hands overhead, directs it toward the net, where another teammate jumps and attacks or spikes the ball, using an overhead arm swing. The goal of spiking is to generate a powerful hit into the opponent's court. | |
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