IMPACTO OF SHOULDER INJURIES ON THE PERFORMANCE OF VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS AND THE ROLE OS PHYSIOTHERAPY

Abstract

Introduction: Volleyball is a sport composed of repetitive and high-intensity movements, mainly involving the upper limbs, especially the shoulder joint, thus making athletes more exposed to the development of musculoskeletal injuries in this joint complex. It is based on movements such as serving, attacking, and blocking with high biomechanical demands, favoring the onset of pain, inflammation, and functional alterations, jeopardizing the athletes' sporting performance. In this context, physiotherapy plays a role in preventive work and also in the rehabilitation of these injuries, reducing pain, improving function, and enabling a safe return to activities. Objective: To analyze the impact of shoulder injuries in volleyball athletes and highlight the role of physiotherapy in the rehabilitation and prevention of these injuries. Methodology: This is a descriptive and qualitative literature review, conducted through searches in the SciELO, PubMed, and BVS databases, between February and May 2026, with articles published between 2021 and 2026 in Portuguese and English. Keywords such as “shoulder injury”, “volleyball”, “sports physiotherapy”, “shoulder pain”, “rehabilitation”, and “prevention” were used, combined with Boolean operators. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 8 articles were selected to compose the final sample of the study. Results: The analyzed studies demonstrate a high occurrence of shoulder injuries in volleyball athletes, caused by mechanical overload, overhead movements, and muscle imbalances associated with excessive training. Furthermore, the study indicates that pain is a functional limiter, directly interfering with the athletes' sports performance, affecting their mobility and reducing their muscle strength. Thus, the study highlights the contribution of physiotherapy in the prevention and rehabilitation of these injuries, so that the athlete can safely resume their activities. Conclusion: It is concluded that shoulder injuries represent a functional problem in volleyball athletes, thus making the physiotherapist's role fundamental in a preventive and rehabilitative way, to maintain function, improve sports performance, and enhance the athletes' quality of life.