I have sprained both ankles twice and have torn ligaments in both knees. I love volleyball. Should i continue?

Question

I absolutley LOVE volleyball. It is my passion. I am only in high school and have already sprained both ankles twice each and have torn ligaments in both knees. I wear knee braces and ankle braces. It seems like sometimes it isn't enough though. I don't want to give up volleyball, but I mobility of my legs. When I get older I want to be able to run with my kids and even hold my grandkids. (long way away in the future). But I don't want to be restricted from doing things I love in the future because of what I did in high school. I am WAY too active to give it up but I don't want to be in any more pain than I need to. My parents want me to stop playing because they don't want to see me hurt. I don't blame them, but they don't know how much i love it. It's hard, you know. Even when I would go to the doctor's office, they would know me by heart and they would say "what did you hurt this time?" Hearing that it kind of hurts. I need your help. Please send me some advice. I'd appreciate it.

Answer 1

I love volleyball too! You may want to ask your doctor what they think you should do, and if playing volleyball would make it worse. If the doctor says that you would be fine, then buy ankle and knee braces. I had a tournament last Sunday (because we play off season) and I saw many girls wearing ankle braces on both ankles. Also one of my teammate's sisters wears a knee brace under her knee pad. Just give it time, and everything with be okay in the end.

Good luck and keep playing volleyball!

Answer 2

i've torn my ligament on my right knee also, and the doctor

just told me that i would be fine, that i could keep playing

volleyball after resting the knee up for about 4 weeks?\

you'll be ok, i loveeeeeee volleyball also! do what you love

but just don't get up after your accident and just start playing.

your body needs rest, to heal and get better and grow stronger

just rest up those knees and ankles for a while i'd say 6-8 weeks! and keep them up on pillows and ice! that'll keep

the swelling down.

i didnt listen to the doctor when he told me that and i started

playing again, and when i got hurt again on the same knee

it got worse. the swelling would'nt go down! till this day my

knee is still swollen and its been 6 months!

Answer 3

I know this is a hard descision to make, volleyball is a fantastic game and I love playing it too.

I have kinda gone through this, but not to the severity you have...I have hurt my knee a few years ago and this season and had to make some choices. I was able to keep playin because I now use a knee brace, which limits mobility playin a bit but its worth it. But since i play university it mad eme want to play more because I realized that i was running out of time to play at a high level.

In all honesty I would say that since you are still in high school you have more time...so depending on how recently you did hurt yourself I would say take a year off to recover more and let your knee and ankles heal more.During this time you can get physio done to help strenghthen them as well. I know that is not a optimal option, but it might be a good one...that way you will still be able to play at a later time. But if you are in grade 12 and this might be your last year I would understand entirely if you decided to play....like i said earlier I would.

But like you said you have to weigh the positives and the possible negatives/injuries. A buddy of mine broke his neck last year but was lucky enough not to have severe permanent damage, and he loved nothing more then playing hockey...but after he healed the doctor told him that he couldn't play for a year because even if he got hit slightly he could hurt himself for life or even be paralyzed. It ate at him inside watching his team play, but he knew the risk was to great. So you just need to make sure your not gonna premanently hurt yourself. I know your injury may not be as severe as a broken neck and possibly being paralyzed, but just making a point.

So do what you feel is right, maybe get a doctors opinion (even tho I know a athlete never wants to hear what a doctor thinks they should do, its almost never what we want to here). But whatever you decide I hope it all goes well for you, its a great sport to play and I understand your dilema. GOOD LUCK!!!!

and if you have any other questions feel free to ask

Answer 4

I would suggest that you keep playing, but not at very competitive level.

When I play open volleyball games, I tend to stay a little farther away from the net when blocking, which lead to some deflected instead of "roofing" block. I didn't quite like that, but I knew I was trying to avoid any further accident so that it was kind of "justified"... it is just a pick up game.

When I got into tournament, it would be a different story. I tend to reach more over the net, and I was so "careless" about my ankle... and I got involved in some minor incidents.

As you hinted, go with your heart, but take care of yourself for your future (your kids and your grand kids :)

Answer 5

well u shouldnt continue b/c if u sprin ur ankle again then u will beak it or just have twisted i a good one!and the same thing happened 2 me and i kept playing and i broke my ankle 2 and sprined my knee 2 and it suck b/c i had to wait a year to play volleyball and all?! it suck! but if u r that active then u could just practice and make ur ankle stronger then when it is stronger then u can play again and all! that is wat i did and now i am the best player on the team and u have to just keep trying ?!with luv emm?!

Answer 6

hellz ya. do wateva your heart leads you too n rok on!!