Common Volleyball Injuries and Why They Happen

Volleyball injuries often involve the ankle, knee, shoulder, and fingers due to repeated jumping, landing, blocking, and overhead hitting. Indoor and beach players can develop sudden problems (such as an ankle sprain) or slower-building overload pain (such as patellar tendinopathy and rotator cuff tendinopathy).

If symptoms persist beyond normal post-training soreness, start with our sports injury physiotherapy hub and the key region guides for knee pain & injury and shoulder pain. Similar jumping sports such as basketball injuries can show comparable landing-load patterns.

In NCAA women’s volleyball surveillance (2014–2019), the overall injury rate was 6.73 per 1000 athlete-exposures, with knee and ankle injuries among the most common.¹

Where Do Volleyball Injuries Occur?

• Ankle — landing on another player’s foot near the net (13.8% in NCAA surveillance)¹
• Knee — repeated jump-landing load and sudden deceleration (14.6%) including patellar tendinopathy¹
• Shoulder — repeated serving and spiking load, often linked with rotator cuff tendinopathy
• Hand and fingers — ball contact causing sprains or dislocations
• Lower back — repeated extension and rotation, sometimes linked with lower back pain

Why This Sport Causes Injuries

Volleyball demands explosive jumping, rapid deceleration, and frequent overhead hitting. Indoor courts can increase landing forces, while sand challenges ankle, hip, and trunk control, which may change technique under fatigue.

Load also builds fast during tournaments. When strength, technique, sleep, and recovery do not match volume, tissues become less tolerant. Over time, that mismatch can contribute to volleyball injuries, particularly around the knee and shoulder.

Who Gets Injured?

Volleyball injuries affect:

• Competitive juniors during growth spurts, finals series, and tournament blocks
• Recreational players returning after time off
• Athletes who spike jump volume too quickly (extra sessions, extra games, extra reps)
• Players with previous ankle sprains, knee pain, or shoulder irritation

Fatigue can reduce landing control late in matches. As a result, some athletes lose jump height, lateral speed, or overhead power before they notice clear pain.

Most Common Volleyball Injuries

• Ankle Sprain
  Often occurs after a contested landing near the net.
• Patellar Tendinopathy
  Gradual tendon pain linked with repeated jump loads and poor recovery.
• ACL Injury
  Can follow an awkward landing or rapid change of direction with knee instability.
• Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy
  Overhead serving and spiking may irritate the rotator cuff and reduce power.
• Lower Back Pain
  Repeated extension and rotation can irritate the lower back, especially during heavy weeks.

How Physiotherapy, EP & Massage Can Help

Physiotherapy for volleyball injuries focuses on movement quality, tissue tolerance, and sport-specific load planning. Your physiotherapist may assess:

• Jump and landing mechanics (including single-leg control)
• Ankle stability and balance under fatigue
• Knee strength, tendon tolerance, and training load history
• Shoulder strength, control, and overhead volume
• Trunk and hip capacity for repeated jumps and digs

Treatment may include progressive strength programs, tendon loading plans, manual therapy, taping or bracing advice, and a graded return-to-sport progression. Exercise physiology can help build conditioning for long rallies. Massage may support comfort and recovery between sessions, but it should sit alongside exercise and load management rather than replace them.

See our sports injury physiotherapy hub for the full pathway.

When To See a Physiotherapist

Consider booking an assessment if you notice:

• Persistent swelling, bruising, or joint instability
• Pain lasting more than 7–10 days or returning every session
• Reduced jump height, confidence, or landing control
• Recurrent ankle rolling or “giving way”
• Shoulder pain during serving, spiking, or the next morning

Early assessment often leads to a safer and faster return to sport.

Injury Prevention Tips

• Increase jump volume gradually, especially before tournaments
• Build calf, quad, glute, and trunk strength for better landing control
• Include shoulder strength and control work for overhead tolerance
• Use a structured warm-up and practise controlled landings
• Plan recovery days after heavy blocks (sleep, nutrition, and lower training load)

Returning Safely to Volleyball

Return with graded exposure and a next-day symptom check. Rebuild conditioning so fatigue does not drive poor landings or late-match errors. Refine technique and loads before full competition.

FAQs

What are the most common volleyball injuries?

Common volleyball injuries include ankle sprains, knee tendon pain, shoulder overload problems, and finger sprains.

Are beach volleyball injuries different from indoor volleyball injuries?

Beach volleyball injuries often involve more ankle and hip control demands due to sand, while indoor volleyball injuries more often relate to repeated high-impact landings on a firm court.

How long does jumper’s knee take to settle?

Some cases improve in weeks, although long-standing tendon pain often needs several months of progressive loading and smarter jump volume.

Can physiotherapy help volleyball shoulder pain?

Yes. Physiotherapy may help by improving shoulder strength, control, and tolerance to overhead load.

If volleyball injuries are limiting your training, our physiotherapists can assess movement, guide load management, and support a safe return.

References

1. Chandran A, Morris SN, Lempke LB, Boltz AJ, Robison HJ, Collins CL. Epidemiology of injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association women’s volleyball: 2014–2015 through 2018–2019. J Athl Train. 2021;56(7):666-673.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8293869/

2. Juhan T, Bolia IK, Kang HP, Homere A, Romano R, Tibone JE, Gamradt SC, Weber AE. Injury epidemiology and time lost from participation in women’s NCAA Division I indoor versus beach volleyball players. Orthop J Sports Med. 2021;9(4):23259671211004546.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8085369/

3. Sandler CB, Green CK, Scanaliato JP, Sandler AB, Dunn JC, Parnes N. Comparison of volleyball-related injuries at US emergency departments between high school and collegiate athletes: a 10-year NEISS database study. Orthop J Sports Med. 2023;11(6):23259671231180534.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10333631/

4. Gonzalez Fayão J, Rossi DM, de Oliveira AS. Risk and protective factors for shoulder complaints in indoor volleyball players: a comprehensive systematic review. Phys Ther Sport. 2024;65:145-153. doi:10.1016/j.ptsp.2023.12.011.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ptsp.2023.12.011