Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center

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Information about project titled 'Load monitoring and overuse complaints within elite volleyball players'

Load monitoring and overuse complaints within elite volleyball players

Details about the project - category Details about the project - value
Project status: Ongoing
Project manager: Chris Skazalski
Supervisor(s): Roald Bahr, Rodney Whitely

Description

Background: The use of sensors to monitor jump load in volleyball is becoming increasingly popular worldwide but has provided a greater number of questions than answers to many coaches and staff working in elite volleyball programs thus far. Relationships between loading and injuries have been reported in other team sports, but studies in volleyball are lacking. Previous studies in volleyball have shown that players who performed the most hours of training or match play were more likely to develop jumper’s knee complaints. However, jump load is not the same for all players as there is large jump variability among players depending on their position and role in the team. The relationship between individual jump load and jumper’s knee complaints and other overuse complaints in volleyball is currently unknown.

Aim: To examine the relationship between jump load and knee, low back, and shoulder complaints in elite men’s volleyball players.

Methods: Elite university and professional men’s club volleyball teams will be recruited for this study. All teams must use the same sensors on a daily basis to monitor individual jump loads. All players will complete weekly OSTRC overuse injury questionnaires to record complaints throughout the season.

Implications: This will be the first study of its kind to examine the relationship between individual jump load and knee, low back, and shoulder complaints within elite volleyball players. Knowledge obtained from this study will have the opportunity to inform training decisions and possibly decrease common overuse complaints in future volleyball players.