Upper Limb Biomechanics During the Volleyball Serve and Spike

Background:The shoulder is the third-most commonly injured body part in volleyball, with the majority of shoulder problems resulting from chronic overuse.Hypothesis:Significant kinetic differences exist among specific types of volleyball serves and spikes.Study Design:Controlled laboratory study.Methods:Fourteen healthy female collegiate volleyball players performed 5 successful trials of 4 skills: 2 directional spikes, an off-speed roll shot, and the float serve. Volunteers who were competent in jump serves (n, 5) performed 5 trials of that skill. A 240-Hz 3-dimensional automatic digitizing system captured each trial. Multivariate analysis of variance and post hoc paired t tests were used to compare kinetic parameters for the shoulder and elbow across all the skills (except the jump serve). A similar statistical analysis was performed for upper extremity kinematics.Results:Forces, torques, and angular velocities at the shoulder and elbow were lowest for the roll shot and second-lowest for the float serve...