The prevention of musculoskeletal injuries in volleyball: the systematic development of an intervention and its feasibility

Vincent Gouttebarge,Johannes Zwerver,Marije Van Sluis,Evert Verhagen

doi:10.1186/s40621-017-0122-y

Abstract

BackgroundA scientific research project has started in the Netherlands with the aim of developing and implementing an evidence-based intervention to prevent the occurrence of musculoskeletal injuries among young and adult recreational volleyball players. This article describes (i) the systematic development of the intervention; and (ii) the assessment of its feasibility in terms of relevancy, suitability and usability.Systematic development of the interventionThe development of the intervention was based on the Intervention Mapping structured and systematic process. First, the needs assessment conducted among the main actors within recreational volleyball revealed that an intervention was needed for injury prevention, ideally embedded prior to a volleyball activity (training or match) within the warm-up, delivered by trainers/coaches, and available in an application for smartphone/tablet or website. Second, the objective and target groups of the intervention were defined, namely to prevent or reduce the occurrence of finger/wrist, shoulder, knee and ankle injuries among both young and adult recreational volleyball players. Third, preventive measures and strategies (e.g. core stability, strength and balance) were selected in order to accomplish a decrease in injury incidence. Last, the intervention ‘VolleyVeilig’ was finally developed, a warm-up programme including more than 50 distinct exercises and lasting 15 min.Feasibility of the interventionA quasi-experimental research based on a one-group post-test design was conducted over a period of 3 weeks among 41 volleyball players and five coaches from five adult recreational teams, who were asked to use the intervention. Degree of relevancy, suitability and usability of the warm-up programme ‘VolleyVeilig’ were measured among players and coaches on an 11-point scale (varying from ‘completely disagree’ to ‘completely agree’).All groups of exercises within the warm-up programme were positively assessed with regard to their relevancy, suitability and usability, mean scores ranging from 7.7 to 8.3. Group interviews revealed especially that the warm-up programme in its current form was not suitable as a pre-match warm-up.ConclusionThe warm-up programme ‘VolleyVeilig’ developed in order to prevent or reduce the occurrence of musculoskeletal injuries in recreational volleyball was positively assessed by volleyball players and coaches with regard to its relevancy, suitability and usability. Before its nationwide implementation, the effectiveness of the intervention on injury reduction among volleyball players should be conducted.

Highlights

A scientific research project has started in the Netherlands with the aim of developing and implementing an evidence-based intervention to prevent the occurrence of musculoskeletal injuries among young and adult recreational volleyball players
The group interviews confirmed that: (i) players and coaches were very pleased with the six phases of 5 to 6 weeks as this coincides with the regular periodization of a volleyball season; (ii) the videos and texts describing the exercises of the warm-up programme were necessary for their optimal execution; and (iii) the warm-up programme could be executed within the intended time of 15 min
The systematic development of the intervention was based on parts of the Intervention Mapping (IM) process, involving all main actors within recreational volleyball

Summary

Introduction

A scientific research project has started in the Netherlands with the aim of developing and implementing an evidence-based intervention to prevent the occurrence of musculoskeletal injuries among young and adult recreational volleyball players. The objective and target groups of the intervention were defined, namely to prevent or reduce the occurrence of finger/wrist, shoulder, knee and ankle injuries among both young and adult recreational volleyball players. Musculoskeletal injuries among volleyball players can be either acute or overuse injuries, and occur principally in the fingers/wrists, ankles, shoulders and knees (Dutch Consumer Safety Institute 2015; Kilic et al 2017). These injuries lead to substantial direct and indirect healthcare costs and are likely to induce impairments in daily life, sport and/or work (Verhagen et al 2005). With regard to the high incidence of musculoskeletal injuries among volleyball players and its negative consequences and societal impact, one might expect effective preventive measures to be available, especially for the common finger/wrist, shoulder, knee and ankle injuries

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