GITNUXREPORT 2025

Volleyball Injury Statistics

Volleyball injuries often involve ankles, knees, shoulders, and are higher in females.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

Female volleyball players have a higher incidence of ACL injuries compared to males, with rates approximately 6-11 times greater

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Female volleyball players have a 2-3 times higher risk of ACL injury during landing maneuvers than male players

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The risk of injury increases with player age, with athletes over 18 experiencing injury rates up to 2 times higher than younger players

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Female adolescent volleyball players have a higher prevalence of Osgood-Schlatter disease, affecting about 10-15% of active players

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In female volleyball players, hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle can influence injury risk, particularly for ligament laxity

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Approximately 25-30% of volleyball injuries involve the ankle

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Overuse injuries account for about 20% of volleyball injuries

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The shoulder is the most common upper limb injury site in volleyball players, accounting for 15-25% of injuries

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Volleyball players experience an average of 3-4 injuries per 1,000 athlete exposures

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The incidence of stress fractures in volleyball players is approximately 2-4 per 1,000 athletes annually

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Youth volleyball players sustain anterior shoulder dislocations at a rate of roughly 0.4 per 1,000 athlete exposures

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The rate of concussion in volleyball is approximately 0.03 per 1,000 athlete exposures, relatively low compared to other sports

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Women’s volleyball has a higher injury rate than men’s volleyball, with some studies reporting up to 60% higher injuries

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The incidence of finger injuries, including sprains and dislocations, accounts for about 10-20% of volleyball injuries

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The lifetime prevalence of shoulder injury in volleyball players can reach up to 66%, especially among frequent players

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ACL injury rates in volleyball are estimated at around 0.2-1 per 1,000 athlete exposures, higher than some other sports

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Approximately 15-20% of volleyball injuries are classified as severe, requiring more than 3 weeks of recovery

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The incidence of labral tears in volleyball players engaged in overhead activities ranges between 2-5%, with higher rates in collegiate athletes

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The incidence of lower back pain in volleyball players is estimated to be about 10-15%, often related to repetitive jumping and landing

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Over 60% of youth volleyball injuries occur during gameplay, with the remaining during practice sessions

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The incidence of patellar tendinopathy in volleyball players is approximately 7-12%, with higher prevalence among collegiate and professional athletes

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Injuries tend to decrease in occurrence during the off-season, but the risk remains due to reduced conditioning

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The overall injury rate in recreational volleyball is lower than in competitive volleyball, but injuries are still common, with about 1-2 injuries per 1,000 hours played

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Jumping is a predominant movement associated with knee injuries in volleyball players

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Most volleyball injuries occur during the collision and blocking phases, particularly when players land

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The most common injury mechanism in volleyball is landing incorrectly after a jump, leading to ankle or knee injuries

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Approximately 80% of shoulder impingement syndrome cases in volleyball players are related to overuse, particularly in hitters and setters

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The use of knee braces in volleyball may reduce the risk of knee injuries by approximately 30-50%

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The average recovery time for a sprained ankle in volleyball is between 1-3 weeks, depending on severity

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Up to 36% of all volleyball injuries involve the knee, primarily ligament sprains

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Overhead shoulder injuries are most common among spikers, accounting for roughly 45% of shoulder injuries

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The median time loss for shoulder injuries in volleyball is around 2-4 weeks, with severe injuries taking longer

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The most common site of traumatic injury in volleyball is the ankle, accounting for 30-40% of cases, often resulting from landing or twisting

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Approximately 10% of volleyball injuries involve the head or face, mainly from collisions or falls

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Pre-season training and strengthening programs have been shown to reduce ankle injury incidents by up to 40%

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The use of neuromuscular training programs can reduce injury risk by up to 50%, especially for ankle and knee injuries

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Key Highlights

Approximately 25-30% of volleyball injuries involve the ankle
Overuse injuries account for about 20% of volleyball injuries
Female volleyball players have a higher incidence of ACL injuries compared to males, with rates approximately 6-11 times greater
The shoulder is the most common upper limb injury site in volleyball players, accounting for 15-25% of injuries
Volleyball players experience an average of 3-4 injuries per 1,000 athlete exposures
Jumping is a predominant movement associated with knee injuries in volleyball players
The incidence of stress fractures in volleyball players is approximately 2-4 per 1,000 athletes annually
Most volleyball injuries occur during the collision and blocking phases, particularly when players land
Youth volleyball players sustain anterior shoulder dislocations at a rate of roughly 0.4 per 1,000 athlete exposures
The average recovery time for a sprained ankle in volleyball is between 1-3 weeks, depending on severity
Up to 36% of all volleyball injuries involve the knee, primarily ligament sprains
The rate of concussion in volleyball is approximately 0.03 per 1,000 athlete exposures, relatively low compared to other sports
Women’s volleyball has a higher injury rate than men’s volleyball, with some studies reporting up to 60% higher injuries

Did you know that nearly a third of volleyball injuries involve the ankle, and female players face up to 11 times higher risk of ACL tears, highlighting the sport’s hidden injury risks?

Demographic and Gender-Specific Risks

Female volleyball players have a higher incidence of ACL injuries compared to males, with rates approximately 6-11 times greater
Female volleyball players have a 2-3 times higher risk of ACL injury during landing maneuvers than male players
The risk of injury increases with player age, with athletes over 18 experiencing injury rates up to 2 times higher than younger players
Female adolescent volleyball players have a higher prevalence of Osgood-Schlatter disease, affecting about 10-15% of active players
In female volleyball players, hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle can influence injury risk, particularly for ligament laxity

Demographic and Gender-Specific Risks Interpretation

While the net may be the battlefield for female volleyball players, these statistics reveal that their greatest challenge lies in navigating the elevated risks of ACL injuries—particularly during landing, hormonal fluctuations, and age-related factors—highlighting the urgent need for tailored prevention strategies rather than just emphasizing the game’s glory.

Injury Incidence and Epidemiology

Approximately 25-30% of volleyball injuries involve the ankle
Overuse injuries account for about 20% of volleyball injuries
The shoulder is the most common upper limb injury site in volleyball players, accounting for 15-25% of injuries
Volleyball players experience an average of 3-4 injuries per 1,000 athlete exposures
The incidence of stress fractures in volleyball players is approximately 2-4 per 1,000 athletes annually
Youth volleyball players sustain anterior shoulder dislocations at a rate of roughly 0.4 per 1,000 athlete exposures
The rate of concussion in volleyball is approximately 0.03 per 1,000 athlete exposures, relatively low compared to other sports
Women’s volleyball has a higher injury rate than men’s volleyball, with some studies reporting up to 60% higher injuries
The incidence of finger injuries, including sprains and dislocations, accounts for about 10-20% of volleyball injuries
The lifetime prevalence of shoulder injury in volleyball players can reach up to 66%, especially among frequent players
ACL injury rates in volleyball are estimated at around 0.2-1 per 1,000 athlete exposures, higher than some other sports
Approximately 15-20% of volleyball injuries are classified as severe, requiring more than 3 weeks of recovery
The incidence of labral tears in volleyball players engaged in overhead activities ranges between 2-5%, with higher rates in collegiate athletes
The incidence of lower back pain in volleyball players is estimated to be about 10-15%, often related to repetitive jumping and landing
Over 60% of youth volleyball injuries occur during gameplay, with the remaining during practice sessions
The incidence of patellar tendinopathy in volleyball players is approximately 7-12%, with higher prevalence among collegiate and professional athletes
Injuries tend to decrease in occurrence during the off-season, but the risk remains due to reduced conditioning
The overall injury rate in recreational volleyball is lower than in competitive volleyball, but injuries are still common, with about 1-2 injuries per 1,000 hours played

Injury Incidence and Epidemiology Interpretation

While volleyball keeps players soaring and spiking, a notable 25-30% of injuries target ankles and shoulders—reminding us that even in a sport of finesse, the cost of high-flying can be injury high; nonetheless, with relatively low concussion rates and injuries decreasing in the off-season, diligent conditioning remains the true ace.

Injury Mechanisms and Causes

Jumping is a predominant movement associated with knee injuries in volleyball players
Most volleyball injuries occur during the collision and blocking phases, particularly when players land
The most common injury mechanism in volleyball is landing incorrectly after a jump, leading to ankle or knee injuries
Approximately 80% of shoulder impingement syndrome cases in volleyball players are related to overuse, particularly in hitters and setters

Injury Mechanisms and Causes Interpretation

These volleyball injury statistics underscore that while players aim high with their jumps and smashes, it's often the misstep in landing or overuse—rather than the fight for victory—that sidelines them most; a reminder that in volleyball, agility and technique can be as vital as athleticism.

Injury Prevention and Epidemiology

The use of knee braces in volleyball may reduce the risk of knee injuries by approximately 30-50%

Injury Prevention and Epidemiology Interpretation

While knee braces may not turn volleyball players into invincible skywalkers, they certainly offer a protective boost—cutting knee injury risk by up to half and keeping the game safe and spirited.

Injury Types and Locations

The average recovery time for a sprained ankle in volleyball is between 1-3 weeks, depending on severity
Up to 36% of all volleyball injuries involve the knee, primarily ligament sprains
Overhead shoulder injuries are most common among spikers, accounting for roughly 45% of shoulder injuries
The median time loss for shoulder injuries in volleyball is around 2-4 weeks, with severe injuries taking longer
The most common site of traumatic injury in volleyball is the ankle, accounting for 30-40% of cases, often resulting from landing or twisting
Approximately 10% of volleyball injuries involve the head or face, mainly from collisions or falls

Injury Types and Locations Interpretation

While volleyball's high-flying action keeps fans on the edge of their seats, its injury statistics—highlighting sprained ankles, knee ligament sprains, and shoulder woes—serve as a sharp reminder that even the most skilled spikers are vulnerable to the game's physical toll, with recovery ranging from a brief 1-3 weeks to longer setbacks, and the ankle remaining the most common battlefield for injury.

Preventative Measures and Training

Pre-season training and strengthening programs have been shown to reduce ankle injury incidents by up to 40%
The use of neuromuscular training programs can reduce injury risk by up to 50%, especially for ankle and knee injuries

Preventative Measures and Training Interpretation

Implementing pre-season training and neuromuscular programs isn't just about boosting performance—it's a game-changing tactic to serve up fewer ankle and knee injuries on the volleyball court.