🌟 Volleyball Shoulder Pain: Why Spiking Hurts & How Physiotherapy Fixes It

Spike.
Serve.
Block.
Repeat.

Volleyball demands powerful overhead movements — and your shoulder pays the price.

If you’re starting to feel pain at the front or top of your shoulder after training or matches, you’re not alone.

Shoulder pain is one of the most common injuries in volleyball players, especially hitters and servers.

The good news?
Most cases are treatable — and preventable — with the right physiotherapy approach.

Let’s break it down. 👇

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🦴 Why Volleyball Players Get Shoulder Pain

Every spike involves:

• Rapid arm elevation

• Extreme external rotation

• Explosive internal rotation

• High-speed deceleration

That’s a lot of stress on a small joint.

Over time, repetitive overhead loading can irritate:

✔️ Rotator cuff tendons
✔️ Biceps tendon
✔️ Shoulder capsule
✔️ Subacromial space

But here’s the key:

📌 Shoulder pain is often a movement problem — not just a tendon problem.

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🔍 The Real Causes Behind Shoulder Pain in Volleyball

1️⃣ Weak Rotator Cuff

The rotator cuff stabilises the shoulder during powerful movements.

If it’s weak, the joint becomes overloaded.

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2️⃣ Poor Scapular Control

Your shoulder blade (scapula) must move smoothly when you spike.

If it’s unstable or poorly controlled, strain increases.

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3️⃣ Thoracic Spine Stiffness

Limited upper-back mobility forces the shoulder to move excessively.

This increases impingement risk.

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4️⃣ Overtraining Without Recovery

Back-to-back tournaments
Extra training sessions
Insufficient rest

The shoulder never gets time to adapt.

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5️⃣ Poor Spiking Mechanics

Dropping the elbow
Overarching the lower back
Early arm acceleration

These increase stress on the joint.

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🚩 Warning Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore

⚠️ Pain when lifting your arm
⚠️ Pain during spiking or serving
⚠️ Shoulder weakness
⚠️ Clicking or catching sensation
⚠️ Pain at night

If symptoms persist beyond 1–2 weeks, it’s time for assessment.

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💪 How Physiotherapy Fixes Volleyball Shoulder Pain

At Benphysio, we don’t just treat the painful shoulder — we assess the entire movement chain.

✔️ Load Management

Adjust training intensity to allow healing without complete rest.

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✔️ Rotator Cuff Strengthening

Progressive strengthening to improve joint stability.

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✔️ Scapular Control Training

Improves shoulder blade coordination and reduces overload.

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✔️ Thoracic Mobility Work

Restores upper-back movement to reduce shoulder strain.

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✔️ Manual Therapy

Releases tight structures and improves joint mechanics.

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📍 Volleyball Shoulder Treatment in Kuala Lumpur

If you’re a volleyball player in KL, Bangsar, Puchong, Ampang, Cheras, or Kota Damansara, early physiotherapy can prevent minor irritation from becoming a chronic injury.

The earlier you intervene, the faster and safer your return to sport.

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⏳ How Long Does Recovery Take?

Mild cases: 3–6 weeks
Moderate cases: 6–10 weeks
Chronic overload: 3 months or more

Recovery depends on:

• Consistency

• Strength progression

• Technique correction

• Load management

📌 Complete rest alone is rarely the answer. Structured rehabilitation is.

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❓ FAQs: Volleyball Shoulder Pain

1. Can I keep playing with shoulder pain?
Mild cases may continue with load modification. Sharp or worsening pain should be assessed.

2. Is it just inflammation?
Not usually. It’s often a load and control problem.

3. Should I ice my shoulder?
Ice may reduce symptoms temporarily but won’t fix underlying weakness.

4. Do I need an MRI?
Most cases improve with physiotherapy without imaging.

5. Can poor posture cause shoulder pain?
Yes. Rounded shoulders and thoracic stiffness increase overload risk.

6. Is surgery common?
Rarely needed unless there is a major tear.

7. When should I see a physiotherapist?
If pain affects performance or lasts more than 1–2 weeks.

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📌 Conclusion: Stronger Shoulder, Better Performance

Volleyball shoulder pain isn’t random.

It usually means:
👉 Stability is lacking
👉 Mobility is restricted
👉 Load exceeds capacity

Physiotherapy helps rebuild strength, restore movement, and prevent recurrence.

Because the goal isn’t just to spike again.

It’s to spike stronger — without pain.