Year: 2025 | Month: September | Volume: 15 | Issue: 9 | Pages: 343-350
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20250936
Prevalence of Upper Limb Musculoskeletal Pain Among Volleyball Players in Gujarat: A Cross-Sectional Study
Khushi Patel1, Dr. Ragbi Patel2, Rutika Tamboli3, Dr. Heena Patel4, Dr. Shivani Patel5
1,3Intern, 2,4Assistant Professor (PT), 5Tutor
Nootan College of Physiotherapy, Sankalchand Patel University, Visnagar, Gujarat, India.
Corresponding Author: Dr. Ragbi Patel
ABSTRACT
Volleyball is a dynamic, high-intensity sport that demands frequent and repetitive upper limb movements such as spiking, serving, setting, and blocking. These actions place considerable biomechanical stress on the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand, increasing the risk of musculoskeletal pain and related functional impairments. Despite rising awareness about sports injuries, there is limited evidence on the prevalence and impact of such conditions among volleyball players in Gujarat. To address this gap, a cross-sectional study was conducted over three months among 200 volleyball players aged 18–35 years, selected through convenient sampling. Both recreational (65%) and competitive (35%) players participated. Data collection involved a Google Form-based questionnaire incorporating the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) scale to assess symptoms, functional limitations, and the impact on quality of life. Ethical consent was obtained from all participants prior to data collection. Findings revealed that shoulder pain was the most prevalent complaint (72%), followed by wrist pain (55%), elbow pain (38%), and thumb pain (23%). More than half of the players (54%) reported functional limitations, and (44%) experienced associated symptoms such as stiffness or tingling. Pain-related sleep disturbances were reported by 28% of players, while 41% acknowledged an overall decline in quality of life. The study concludes that upper limb musculoskeletal pain is highly prevalent among volleyball players in Gujarat, significantly affecting performance, daily function, and emotional well-being. Early preventive measures, targeted physiotherapy, and injury awareness programs are crucial to protect athletes’ health and career longevity.
Key words: Volleyball, Upper limb pain, Musculoskeletal disorders, DASH questionnaire