Prevention of shoulder injuries in volleyball players: The usefulness and efficiency of a warm-up routine

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the efficiency of a warm-up routine focused on shoulder injury prevention in volleyball players. Design: Prospective study. Setting: University. Participants: Eight recreational volleyball teams (44 males, 49 females) were included in the study and assigned to two different groups (prevention or control) in a blinded way. In the prevention group, the players had to perform specific exercises at the beginning of each training session twice a week. Main outcome measures: Injuries were recorded monthly in both groups with an online questionnaire. Results: A significant decrease in the total number of injuries as well as in the severity of the injuries was observed in the prevention group in comparison to the control group (p = 0.0001-0.013). For the shoulder, a decrease in injury incidence was also observed in the prevention group. This decrease reached significance in male players (p = 0.045). Conclusions: The program appears to be efficient to reduce the risk of shoulder injuries in recreational volleyball players. Adjustments in the duration and in the contents of the program will have to be made to further improve compliance and better meet the requirements of both players and trainers.