Biomechanics and Management of Shoulder Injuries in Volleyball: From Risk Factors to Prevention and Rehabilitation

Volleyball includes repetitive overhead movements such as spiking and serving, which place extremely high demands on the shoulder joint, leading to a high incidence of injuries. This article reviews the specific biomechanical loads, epidemiological characteristics, training-related risk factors, injury mechanisms and prevention strategies of shoulder injuries in volleyball players. During the puncture, the shoulder joint undergoes significant external rotation and abduction, accompanied by high impact forces, increasing the risk of chronic and acute injury. Clinical manifestations usually include pain, limited movement and loss of strength, and are diagnosed as impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tear and lip lesions. Epidemiological evidence indicates that the incidence of shoulder pain in volleyball and other overhead sports is very high. Due to the large volume of training and insufficient recovery, the risk is particularly high among outstanding athletes and young people. Training volume, technical errors, muscle imbalance and insufficient recovery will further increase the risk of injury. Effective prevention requires a multi-faceted approach, including strength training, scapular stability exercises and dynamic chain optimization. This review integrates current evidence on sports biomechanics, training load, and clinical outcomes to clarify the mechanism of shoulder joint injuries in volleyball and propose targeted prevention and rehabilitation strategies.