Abstract:
Volleyball has become a very popular sport globally over the last 30 years. The International
Federation of Volleyball represents about 150 million players in approximately 170 countries.
While a large body of research has been conducted regarding the nature and prevalence of
volleyball injuries internationally, very little has been done locally or on the African continent to
assess the status of injuries incurred at professional or amateur levels. The purpose of this study
was to determine prevalence of volleyball related Musculoskeletal injuries among Yayo town
volleyball team in Ilu Aba Bor Zone, Ethiopia. An exploratory, descriptive, non-experimental
approach was used for this study on 50 volleyball players at the Yayo town volleyball team. The
research was used a mixed research approach which made the use of both quantitative and
qualitative approach. Primary and secondary sources of data were used for the study. In this
attempt, data were collected through questionnaires, structured interviews and observations
check list. After the data had been collected, it was analyzed using simple statistical techniques
(tables, figures and percentages) and descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviations) of the
Statistical Package for Social Science version 21.0 (SPSS). The result of the study indicates that
most of the volleyball players sustained one or more injuries in the season, giving a prevalence
rate of 86%. The incidence rate was 1.1 injuries per player. Injuries prevalence was higher
among female players (40%) than male players (46%). Among the injured players, knee injury
was occurred at the highest rate of 34%, followed by injuries in the ankle with 16%. Players in
the left and right front row were more exposed to injury at the time of blocking and spiking,
higher injury occurred without contact with other players. The study also found that
physiotherapy intervention is required for players. Based on the findings of the study the
researcher concludes that, higher injury prevalence and the risk among players, Ankle and knee
injuries are the most common injuries and players in the left and right front row injured during
spiking. Finally, the physiotherapy needed to treatment after injury and players participate in
preventive programs.
