Volleyball Injury Treatment for Your Athletic Career Health

Get the best treatment for overuse and other career-limiting sports injuries.

The most common volleyball injuries can generally be classified into one of two categories: traumatic injuries or overuse injuries. Overuse injuries occur over time due to stress put on the muscles, joints and soft tissues without proper time for healing, while traumatic injuries are the result of sudden force or impact. Whatever the source of your pain, Rothman Orthopaedics provides vigorous, compassionate volleyball injury treatment to help you get back in the game as soon as possible.

Traumatic Injuries

Traumatic injuries are usually accompanied by pain and/or weakness immediately upon impact/occurrence. Common volleyball traumatic injuries include:

• Ankle Sprains – Ankle injuries are the most common in volleyball players and the worst for lost playing time. Ankle sprains should be immobilized for as short a time as possible to allow quicker rehabilitation, followed by daily rehabilitation exercises to decrease the risk of reinjury. Usually, injuries can be treated nonoperatively with bracing and physical therapy or home rehabilitation exercises. Continued pain after several weeks should prompt further evaluation.

• Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury – Female athletes incur ACL injuries more frequently than their male counterparts do. Examination by a physician and MRI are often used to confirm the ACL injury. Depending on the severity of the injury, most ACL volleyball injury treatment will begin with variations on the R.I.C.E (rest, ice therapy, compression, and elevation) method. When more conservative methods fail, surgical procedures may be recommended.

• Finger Injuries – Common finger injuries include fractures, dislocations, and tendon and ligament tears. Treatment can vary significantly depending on the injury, but first aid will always begin with ice and immobilization.

Overuse Injuries

Overuse injuries tend to begin as mild pain that disappears during warm-up. Left untreated, the pain becomes more and more pervasive until eventually, it is occurring all the time. Common volleyball overuse injuries include:

• Rotator Cuff Tendonitis – The mechanics of serving and spiking heavily depend on the rotator cuff muscles for power and movement. Actual tears in the rotator cuff are uncommon in young players, but these muscles can get irritated with overuse.

• Patellar Tendonitis – Patellar tendonitis is inflammation of the tendon that connects the kneecap to the shin bone. Patellar tendon straps are helpful in unloading the stress to the patellar tendon and are often the first line of treatment. Physical therapy and athletic training services focused on stretching and strengthening are also helpful. Specific attention to landing from jumping (eccentric contraction of the quadriceps muscles) in rehabilitation is often beneficial. Occasionally, patellar tendonitis persists despite therapy and surgery is required.

• Lower Back Pain – A common source of chronic pain among volleyball athletes, the lower back is prone to sports-related muscle or ligament strain. The pain usually resolves with rest, physical therapy, and athletic training services

Beyond Short-Term Volleyball Injury Treatment

Research has shown that once injured, the body is more likely to be injured again upon returning to the game. To prevent acute injuries from becoming chronic recurrent injuries, it is critical that athletes receive careful evaluation from a sports medicine provider to ensure accurate diagnosis and a comprehensive treatment program. While typical volleyball injury treatment will allow the athlete to return to competition once they can perform their sport-specific skills pain-free, Rothman Orthopaedics' aim is to rehabilitate beyond the absence of symptoms. It is our goal not only to get you back into play but to facilitate your whole health and prevent further or recurring injuries.

Your volleyball injury treatment should not only minimize pain and injury but also sustain your athletic career as long as is desired and healthy for you. If you have any questions about your risk or if you are already experiencing any pain, your first step should be to consult your physician right away. For more specialized treatment, visit us hereor contact us at 1-800-321-9999.