Injuries among volleyball players: a comprehensive survey of the literature

Can the history of injury influence shoulder isokinetic torque parameters in volleyball players?

The aim of the present study was to compare shoulder internal rotator and external rotator isokinetic parameters in concentric and eccentric contractions between volleyball players with and without a history of shoulder injury. Thirty male volleyball players participated of this study, divided into two groups: with a history of injury (WHI) in the dominant shoulder (11 athletes; age: 19.4 ± 3.6 years) and no history of injury (NHI) (19 athletes; age: 18.3 ± 2.9 years). The peak torque (PT) and concentric (Con) and eccentric (Ecc) PT angles in internal (IR) and external rotation (ER) at velocities of 60 and 180°/s were measured. The conventional (Con_ER:Con_IR), functional spiking (Ecc_ER:Con_IR), and cocking ratios (Ecc_IR:Con_ER) were calculated. No significant differences were found between groups for PT and PT angle, or for conventional, functional spiking, and cocking ratios. However, the spiking ratio was considered low (0.87) in the WHI group. Moreover, for the spiking ratio in the WHI group, PT at 60°/s occurred at different angles. We conclude that previous injury in shoulder did not affect the peak torque, as well as conventional, spiking or cocking ratio. However, the PT angles at 60°/s used to calculate the spiking ratio shifted due the prior injury.

Percutaneous transverse pinning for metacarpal fractures: a clinical trial

INTRODUCTION

Metacarpal fractures account for 25%-50% of all hand fractures and may negatively impact hand function and ability to work. Percutaneous transverse pinning of non-articular metacarpal fractures allows mobilisation immediately after the procedure.

METHODS

Between March 2017 and February 2022, 56 patients undergoing percutaneous transverse pinning for unstable metacarpal fractures were prospectively recruited. We investigated surgical outcomes in terms of Patient-rated Wrist/Hand Evaluation (PRWHE) and pre-and post-operative radiographic evaluation. The Student t-test was used to compare the means of PRWHE values after surgery. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

The mean age was 40.21 ± 17.9 years (range of 16 to 86 years). The average operating time was 27.96 min. The mean follow-up period was 14.3 ± 6.4 months (from 2 to 41 months). The mean PRWHE score was 6.5 ± 1.8. None of the patients had clinically observable rotational deformities, and the functional outcomes were satisfactory.

CONCLUSION

Percutaneous transverse pinning for non-articular metacarpal fractures restores excellent function, and imaging results are satisfactory. Further high-quality clinical trials are required to validate these results on a larger scale.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

II, prospective cohort study.

Enhancing Volleyball Athlete Performance: A Comprehensive Review of Training Interventions and Their Impact on Agility, Explosive Power, and Strength

Volleyball is one of the most globally renowned sports in terms of global popularity. The game is a team sport that both men and women can participate in. The gameplay relies heavily on physical activities such as jumping, landing, and quick movements, often causing strain on the musculoskeletal system and leading to injuries. For this reason, agility training is crucial to improving a player's ability to change direction swiftly as and when required by the gameplay. Although it is relatively safer than other team sports, actions like jumping, blocking, and spiking can lead to potential injuries. Properly monitoring the training loads and injury prevention during training should be the major focus in formulating a holistic training methodology in volleyball training. The main goal of this literature study is to evaluate the impact of various training interventions on agility and other performance parameters specific to volleyball players. The range of research approaches and interventions described in this literature review highlights the significance of agility in volleyball training. In many studies, the use of tailored training programs for volleyball has been shown to have positive effects on agility, strength, and jump performance. Although there are limitations to the study design and sample size, the findings from this review necessitate the need for better scientifically informed training programs to reduce injury risk while enhancing player's overall performance potential. To conclude, the current literature review highlights the importance of agility training in volleyball, providing insights into effective training strategies and highlighting the low quality of evidence, suggesting the need for well-structured research on the topic.

Injuries and complaints in the Brazilian national volleyball male team: a case study

BACKGROUND

The literature reports a vast amount of epidemiological information on injuries in volleyball athletes. However, little is known about the incidence of injuries in elite athletes of international level participating in major competitions, such as world championships and Olympic games. The objective of the study was to analyse the incidence of injuries in elite professional volleyball athletes, and the prevalence of complaints reported by athletes.

METHODS

This is a case study in which data were collected between April 2018 and August 2021. All the athletes called to play for the Brazilian national male volleyball team during the analysis period participated. From the athletes' medical records, the occurrence of injuries (injurious events that lead to a time off from activities) and complaints (discomforts that did not lead to a time off from activities) were analysed. Frequency data were used to calculate incidence, prevalence and ratios.

RESULTS

From 41 athletes who played for the team during the analysed period, 12 athletes had 28 injuries and 38 athletes reported 402 complaints. For injuries, an incidence of seven injuries/1,000 h of competition and two injuries/1,000 h of training was observed. The average recovery time of the athletes was 10 days. The regions with the highest prevalence of injuries were the knee (111/1,000 athletes) and ankle (69/1,000 athletes). For complaints, 402 complaints required 1,085 treatment sessions, with the regions with the highest prevalence of complaints being the knee (261/1,000 complaints) followed by the shoulders (236/1,000 complaints). Athletes aged above 23 years and those playing as middle blockers and outside hitters presented a higher prevalence of injuries and complaints.

CONCLUSIONS

Almost one-third of the athletes had injuries and almost all athletes reported complaints during the study period. Injuries and complaints were more prevalent in the knees. Complaints caused a high demand for the healthcare team. To manage risk of injuries for overload, specific injury prevention strategies are needed and should be included as an essential component of the training plan for elite volleyball players.

The Influence of Athletes' Age in the Onset of Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE

Whether sport participation is a risk factor for osteoarthritis (OA) development or progression is controversial. Mechanical overload, injuries, genetics, and acquired disorders concur to the onset of OA, with high variability between sports and participants. This study investigated the association between participation in specific sports and the risk of developing knee and hip OA in athletes at different ages. We hypothesized that young athletes who are exposed to high levels of physical activities have a greater risk of developing OA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. PubMed, Google scholar, EMABSE, and Web of Science were accessed in October 2021. No time constrains were used for the search. All the published clinical studies reporting data about relationship between physical activity, OA, and age were included.

RESULTS

The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale resulted in a final score ≥7 for all studies, attesting good quality of the methodological assessment. Data from 27,364 patients were retrieved. The mean age was 48.2±16.7 years. In all, 21.8% were women.

CONCLUSIONS

Our systematic review suggests an association between high levels of physical activities and knee and hip OA in men younger than 50 years. People who practice intense physical activity, such as professional athletes or heavy workers, are more prone to develop early-onset OA.

Volleyball-related Adult Maxillofacial Trauma Injuries: A NEISS Database Study

INTRODUCTION

Craniofacial trauma among athletes of various sports has been well detailed and described. Despite this research, there is a dearth of literature describing the nature of facial trauma secondary to volleyball, despite its global popularity.

METHODS

A cross-sectional analysis of volleyball-related facial trauma was conducted using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database from 2009 to 2018. Patient demographics (age, sex, and race), medical injury information (injury type and location), and disposition (observed and discharged, admitted, deceased) were collected and analyzed. χ2 testing was performed to compare categorical variables.

RESULTS

A total of 235 volleyball-related facial traumas were recorded with an estimated 10,424 visits occurring nationally. The majority of injuries were among young adults aged 20 to 29 years (52.3%) and was evenly distributed for men and women. Lacerations were the most frequent injury type (37.9%), whereas the face was the most common site of injury (41.7%). The majority of fractures involved the nose (71.4%) and among individuals aged 20 through 49 (90.5%). Males had significantly more lacerations than females (75.3% vs 24.7%), whereas females had significantly more contusions/abrasions (64.5% vs 35.5%) and concussions (72.9% vs 27.1%).

CONCLUSIONS

Volleyball-related craniofacial injuries can vary depending on patient demographics. This information can help with the development of safety and preventative measures for individuals participating in the sport.

Sex differences in the consumption of over-the-counter analgesics among amateur volleyball players

Background

Compared with the normal adult population, athletes of several sport disciplines, such as endurance sports, ball sports, cycling and swimming, have higher use of over-the-counter analgesics (OTC analgesics). The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology of OTC analgesic use in volleyball players as a typical competitive sport discipline. One particular focus was placed on the analysis whether the athletes’ use of OTC analgesics was influenced by their performance motivation.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey among amateur volleyball players was carried out using a web-based sports questionnaire. The study included athletes of both sexes, 18 years and older, currently playing in a German volleyball league. The athletes’ sport-related complaints were evaluated regarding the use of OTC analgesics. The use of OTC analgesics by athletes was compared with their performance motivation, based on the „Achievement Motives Scale - Sport” (AMS-Sport) questionnaire.

Results

The analysis of 114 completed questionnaires of amateur athletes revealed that the use of OTC analgesics was sex dependent, with a higher prevalence of use in female players (60%) versus male players (38%). The main reasons for consumption of OTC analgesics were pain in the head, knee and shoulder. The most frequently taken drug was ibuprofen, most often taken at competitions and over a period of 4 years (median). The analysis of the AMS-Sport questionnaire revealed that a logistic regression model for estimating the probability of drug use can be explained by the factors hope of success and years of playing practise in female players but not male players. In females, an increase in the factor hope of success resulted in a lower probability of OTC analgesic use, while an increase in years of playing practise resulted in a higher probability of use.

Conclusion

The average duration that volleyball players in this study took OTC analgesics was higher than that of the German population, and OTC analgesic use was more prevalent in female than male volleyball players. Thus, to reduce the prevalence of OTC analgesic use, educational programs should be implemented in sports teams; and, to reduce direct and indirect social pressure, sports teams should also receive sex-specific psychological support.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13102-021-00273-5.

Failed Surgery for Patellar Tendinopathy in Athletes: Midterm Results of Further Surgical Management

Background:

Tendon injuries are commonly seen in sports medicine practice. Many elite players involved in high-impact activities develop patellar tendinopathy (PT) symptoms. Of them, a small percentage will develop refractory PT and need to undergo surgery. In some of these patients, surgery does not resolve these symptoms.

Purpose:

To report the clinical results in a cohort of athletes who underwent further surgery after failure of primary surgery for PT.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

A total of 22 athletes who had undergone revision surgery for failed surgical management of PT were enrolled in the present study. Symptom severity was assessed through the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment Scale for Patellar Tendinopathy (VISA-P) upon admission and at the final follow-up. Time to return to training, time to return to competition, and complications were also recorded.

Results:

The mean age of the athletes was 25.4 years, and the mean symptom duration from the index intervention was 15.3 months. At a mean follow-up of 30.0 ± 4.9 months, the VISA-P score improved 27.8 points (P < .0001). The patients returned to training within a mean of 9.2 months. Fifteen patients (68.2%) returned to competition within a mean of 11.6 months. Of these 15 patients, a further 2 had decreased their performance, and 2 more had abandoned sports participation by the final follow-up. The overall rate of complications was 18.2%. One patient (4.5%) had a further revision procedure.

Conclusion:

Revision surgery was feasible and effective in patients in whom PT symptoms persisted after previous surgery for PT, achieving a statistically significant and clinically relevant improvement of the VISA-P score as well as an acceptable rate of return to sport at a follow-up of 30 months.