Women’s volleyball is the second
most popular sport after football (soccer).1 Volleyball players are
most likely to become injured during a competition, but the majority of
injuries happen during pre-season.2 From 2004 to 2009, lower limb
injuries ranked the highest on the injury list at 51.1%.3
Lower body injuries may include ligament
sprains, muscle strains, and tendinitis.4 Outside hitters are at the
top of the list for lower limb injuries, followed by middle blockers, then liberos.
Ligament
sprains and muscle strains are the highest ranked for NCAA women’s volleyball.
The next most common types of injuries are upper limb injuries (21.3%),
torso and pelvis injuries (13.8%),
concussions (4.1%), and head, face, and neck injuries (2.3%).5
The majority of the 53.1% of
lower body injuries to players are ankle sprains.6 Inversion ankle
sprains occur at the net with contact between the blockers and hitters. That
being said middle blockers and outside hitters take the majority of ankle
sprains, caused by a blocker landing on a hitter's foot.7
Upper limb injuries that occur
are mainly over use. Shoulder dysfunction can range from rotator cuff injuries
to SICK scapula (scapular malposition, inferior medial border prominence,
coracoid pain and malposition, and scapular dyskinesis).8
Knowing that lower body, and specifically the ankles, are most prone to injury, to what extent would you recommend ankle braces. Should they be considered for preventative measures or only in reaction to an injury? When I played, I was very fortunate to only have minor ankle injuries and they were almost always suffered at the net while hitting or blocking. Additionally, we were made to wear ankle braces on both ankles all the time. I've always been curious how smart that was.
ReplyDeleteThe the highest extent, I believe ankle braces should be used. Ankle braces are a preventative measure. Using them only to protect an injury happens but they is not their sole purpose. Yes, we see players playing without them all the time, that is at the players risk. If they refuse to wear them that were coach's support comes into play. Forcing your players to wear ankle braces is a very smart move, it decreases the mobility of the ankle, for instance, if a player were to land on an opponent's foot and roll their ankle the extent of the sprain may be lessened with the limited mobility from the brace compared the the mobility allowed by not wearing braces.
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