Gouttebarge (2020) Preventing injuries among recreational adult volleyball players Results of a prospective randomised controlled trial
The article reports a prospective cluster‑randomised controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of an exercise‑based warm‑up programme, "VolleyVeilig", in reducing musculoskeletal injuries among recreational adult volleyball players in the Netherlands during the 2017–2018 season. Six hundred seventy‑two players from 73 teams were allocated to an intervention group (n=348) that received access to the VolleyVeilig programme via a website and app, or to a control group (n=324) that continued usual warm‑up routines. Injuries (acute and overuse) were monitored fortnightly using the Dutch version of the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre (OSTRC) questionnaire. The primary outcome was the incidence rate of acute injuries; secondary outcomes included overuse injury prevalence, injury severity, and injury burden (time‑loss days). Results showed a 21 % lower acute injury incidence in the intervention group (8.9 vs 11.3 per 1,000 h), with a crude hazard ratio of 0.82 (95 % CI 0.69–0.98). Adjusted models did not reach statistical significance. No significant differences were observed for overuse injury prevalence, injury severity, or injury burden, although the burden was slightly lower in the intervention group. Coach‑reported adherence to the programme averaged 73 % of volleyball activities, with 68 % of teams classified as highly adherent. The discussion interprets the modest injury reduction in the context of recreational sport, compares it with injury‑prevention programmes in other sports, acknowledges limitations (self‑reported data, potential contamination, lack of control‑group injury‑prevention activities), and recommends implementation of VolleyVeilig in recreational volleyball together with further evaluation using the RE‑AIM framework.
Topics
Rationale and Objective: Addressing High Injury Rates in Recreational Volleyball
Explains the public health burden of musculoskeletal injuries in Dutch recreational adult volleyball and introduces the need to test the VolleyVeilig warm‑up programme.
Study Design and Participant Recruitment
Details the prospective cluster‑randomised controlled trial, randomisation of two competition regions, inclusion criteria, sample‑size calculation, and baseline characteristics of 672 players.
Intervention Description: The VolleyVeilig Warm‑up Programme
Describes the exercise‑based warm‑up protocol, delivery via a password‑protected website and mobile app, weekly progression of exercises, and the intended injury‑preventive mechanisms.
Results: Acute Injury Reduction and Other Injury Metrics
Presents incidence rates, crude and adjusted hazard ratios, prevalence of overuse injuries, severity, injury burden, and adherence statistics.