Ways to prevent volleyball injuries
Volleyball is a sport in which players have to be athletic and also have gymnastic qualities in order to excel. It requires various elaborate movements of the body that cannot be accomplished unless the muscles are well toned and flexible enough to perform
those actions.
For instance, a spiker needs to be able to jump high enough and hit the ball with force so that it makes a steep landing on the opposite side of the court. On the other hand, a server also should be able to jump high and have such strength in the shoulder
and arm to be able to hit the ball with sufficient force. Likewise, the libero needs to be agile so that he or she can perform quick movements and also possess strong forearms so that an incoming serve can be properly received.
When volleyball players indulge in all such actions and various other movements, they are vulnerable to injury and more often than not, get injured. There are several common injuries that volleyball players can suffer such as back pain, hand and shoulder
injury as well as ankle sprain. All these kinds of injuries can either be severe or less so. However, if certain measures are taken, these injuries can be prevented or healed in time so that they do not have a prolonged affect.
Rotator Cuff Injury is one in which the muscles of the shoulders that allow the circular motion of the arm are affected in such a way that either the tendon is ruptured or is inflamed. If a player suffers from the Rotator Cuff Injury, there are several things
that can be done to relieve the pain. In case the injury is not severe, the shoulder should be rested and iced for two to four days. In other cases, physical therapy might be needed to soothe the pain. However, if the player suffers from a severe form of the
injury, then a sports injury specialist should be visited as ultrasound or a laser treatment may be required at this stage.
One of the most common types of injury that volleyball players suffer while on the court is Ankle Sprain. Given that the players usually have to jump high or dive low many times during a game, it is expected that they would sprain their ankle at one point
or the other. An Ankle Sprain is a result of stretching or tearing of the ligaments and this injury can have three degrees depending on the severity of the problem. In case the injury is not severe, a player should give the ankle a rest and put ice on it.
Along with that, no weight should be put on the ankle at least for a period of 24 hours. In case the injury incurred to the ankle is of a mild nature, then it is a good idea to protect the ankle by taping it or providing it with a support such as crutches.
However, severe forms of the injury require cross friction massage, the use of anti inflammatory medication as well as rehabilitation treatment.
Despite the fact that volleyball players face the problem of getting injured every now and then, the enthusiasm to play never fades. This is clear by the following quote of an anonymous person, “Give it your all on the sprawl, Drop a pancake and keep it
clean, Find the target, put ‘em on the hook then dish it up, flare and catch some air, Check the set, bring some heat and watch them bail!”
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely of the writer’s and do not reflect bettor.com’s official editorial policy.
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