Volleyball injuries presenting in casualty: a prospective study

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Epidemiology
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Sports injuries represent a significant public health concern.
• Volleyball is a popular sport with a notable incidence of injuries.
• Understanding injury patterns is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively record and analyze sports injuries in Arhus, Denmark, in 1986.
• To specifically evaluate volleyball-related injuries, their incidence, and consequences.
• To identify injury types, affected body parts, and factors influencing rehabilitation duration.

Main Methods:

• Prospective recording of all sports injuries (n=5222) at two casualty departments.
• Specific focus on volleyball injuries (n=278), constituting 5.3% of total sports injuries.
• Follow-up questionnaire three years post-injury to assess rehabilitation and long-term consequences.

Main Results:

• The overall sports injury incidence was 1.9 injuries per 1000 inhabitants per year.
• Hand, finger, and ankle sprains were the most common volleyball injuries.
• Female players sustained more hand/finger injuries, while males had more ankle/foot injuries.
• Knee and ankle injuries resulted in the longest absences from sports participation (6% and 31%, respectively).
• Chronic injuries were relatively infrequent.

Conclusions:

• The study highlights the need for enhanced prophylactic measures in volleyball.
• Specific techniques like blocking and overhand passing require improved safety protocols.
• Interventions should focus on reducing the incidence and severity of hand, finger, and ankle injuries in volleyball players.