As reported by College Sports Scholarships, more than 800 million people worldwide play volleyball at least once each week. This is a fast-paced sport that requires quick, horizontal movements, lunges and explosive jumping. Dr. Mark A. Caselli claims that many of the lower-extremity injuries result from overuse and are related to the amount of vertical jumping done during match play. With repetitive overhead arm movements, shoulders are also subject to injuries.
Patella Tendinitis
This overuse injury, sometimes referred to jumper's knee, is very common among volleyball players. The patella tendons are used to extend your lower leg when pushing off the floor to jump vertically. With repetitive jumping, the tendon connecting the patella to your shin bone can develop small tears, which may lead to inflammation. Signs and symptoms include sharp pain while jumping, pain when you press just below the kneecap, stiffness and aching after training and a constant ache during sleep. Depending on the severity of this injury, treatment includes rest, ice, massage, light stretching, strengthening exercises and the wearing of a patella-tendon strap.
Achilles Tendinitis
The Achilles tendon, also referred to as the heel cord, attaches the base of your calf muscle to the heel bone. This tendon is put under a lot of stress when volleyball players are constantly jumping and landing while spiking or blocking. Small tears can develop in the tendon, causing inflammation and pain. Signs and symptoms of Achilles tendinitis include severe pain during training, swelling or a bump on the tendon, tenderness, stiffness in the mornings and aching at the top of the heel after workouts. You can treat most cases at home with rest, ice, elevation and anti-inflammatory medication. Once the pain is under control, light stretching and exercises can promote healing. Severe cases may require surgery.
Plantar Fasciitis
The plantar fascia is a long fibrous ligament that stretches from the bottom of your heel to the front of your foot; it absorbs shock and supports the arch of your foot. The repetitive jumping and landing in volleyball puts a lot of stress on this ligament. Poor jumping technique or shoes without adequate arch support may also lead to this injury. Inflammation occurs when small tears develop in the ligament. Symptoms include severe heel pain when you put your weight on your foot, swelling under your heel and numbness along the outside of the sole. Heel wedges, orthotics, taping and anti-inflammatory medication are used to treat plantar fasciitis.
Rotator Cuff Injuries
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that connect the upper arm to the shoulder blade and keep your shoulder stable during rotation. Volleyball players are susceptible to shoulder inflammation and irritation because of repetitive overhead arm movements. Tendinitis, bursitis or tears in the tendons are common shoulder injuries. Tendinitis may occur if the tendons become inflamed due to overuse. When the bursa, a fluid-filled sac within the shoulder joint, becomes inflamed, bursitis develops. With the weakening of the tendons, tears may develop in the tendons or muscles. Pain when reaching, a weak-shoulder feeling, pain when lying on your shoulder or when you rotate the shoulder outward are all signs of a shoulder injury. Mild injuries can be treated with rest, ice, anti-inflammatory medication, steroid injections and physical therapy. Severe injuries may require surgery.
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