Shoulder Pain and Injuries in Volleyball Athletes

First Published: August 2017
Updated: September 2025

Whether your volleyball athlete is just starting their season or has been training year-round, shoulder pain is not normal and can hinder an athlete’s performance. When a volleyball player is thinking about shoulder pain, they likely aren’t focusing on communication with their teammates or on the next big play.

What Causes Shoulder Pain in Volleyball Athletes?

A bad warm-up session, poor mechanics, strength deficits, a sudden increase in intensity or volume of play, or lack of rest can all be possibilities of why a volleyball player’s shoulder may hurt.

What Are Shoulder Injury Prevention Tips for Volleyball Athletes?

Athletes should properly prepare for their season with strength training including upper body, core and legs. Hitting a volleyball requires the whole body working together to generate a powerful swing, so focus should include more than just the upper body. During a competitive season, maintenance workouts should be done 1-2 times per week and once a season has been completed, the athlete should be given 1-2 weeks off to let the body properly rest and recover.

A proper warm-up will also help prevent shoulder pain. A light jog followed by dynamic stretching is a great place to begin. Throwing and downballing the volleyball back and forth with a partner or against a wall and a banded warm up will help the shoulder be ready to hit. Begin hitting the volleyball with 50 percent effort and increase with each swing.

Mechanics Are Key!

If an athlete is having chronic, nagging shoulder pain, odds are it could be his or her hitting mechanics. Talk to a professional who is educated on proper hitting mechanics and errors that can lead to injury. Video analysis is a great tool to analyze form as it allows us to pick up on any biomechanical errors and provide real time feedback to the athlete to help correct their form.

Because hitting takes the whole body, a proper approach should be made to the ball to build momentum. Once in the air, the core, chest, shoulder and elbow need to work together to create maximum power. The non-hitting arm should stay high as a guide until ball contact and follow through down by the athlete’s side.

When Should You Get Your Athlete's Shoulder Checked?

Soreness at the beginning of a season or after a long tournament that resolves within a day is normal. Ongoing pain before, during or after play should be questioned. This can be a sign of rotator cuff tendinopathy or impingement. Immediate sharp pain after a hard swing, fall, or awkward hit should also be a red flag. Common injuries that occur are muscle strains, labral tears and subluxations (partial dislocation). If using ice and rest does not help your athlete’s pain, they should seek advice from a sports medicine physician. Sports injuries are treated best when caught early!

A healthy, strong volleyball player will be most effective on the court. If you’re concerned your student athlete has a shoulder injury, contact our Sports Medicine department at Nationwide Children's Hospital at 614-355-6000 to schedule an appointment.

If you would like to schedule a volleyball biomechanics analysis, contact our Sports & Orthopedic Physical Therapy Department at 614-722-2200.