The impact of warm-up with the volleyveilig approach on upper extremity function in female volleyball players

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the impact of the VolleyVeilig program on enhancing upper extremity performance in female volleyball players. While previous research has focused mainly on lower extremity injury prevention, there remains a significant lack of studies examining how structured warm-up routines can influence upper extremity performance in the sport. A quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test was used. Thirty female volleyball players, aged 16 to 21, were randomly divided into two groups: VolleyVeilig intervention group and traditional warm-up group. The VolleyVeilig warm-up consisted of light aerobic exercises, dynamic stretching, agility and reaction drills, as well as volleyball-specific skill drills conducted over six weeks. In contrast, the traditional warm-up included light aerobic activity, dynamic stretching, and volleyball-specific skill drills. Upper extremity performance indices including upper extremity balance and Davis tests were measured before and after the intervention. Statistical analyses, including the covariance analysis, and paired t-tests, were conducted using SPSS. Findings revealed a significant improvement in dynamic balance (Effect Size = 0.58, p = 0.001) and upper limb stability (Effect Size = 0.27, p = 0.001) in the VolleyVeilig group compared to the traditional warm-up. Additionally, significant enhancements were noted within the VolleyVeilig group from pre-test to post-test (p = 0.001). However, the small sample size and limited participant diversity may affect the generalizability of the findings. These findings indicate that the VolleyVeilig warm-up program effectively enhances dynamic balance and upper limb stability, potentially improving performance and reducing shoulder injuries. Coaches and sports therapists can integrate this 15-20-minute program into regular training sessions, incorporating aerobic exercises, dynamic stretching, and sport-specific drills, while adapting it to individual player needs for injury prevention such as shoulder impingement and rotator cuff strain, and performance optimization.

Keywords: Balance; Injury prevention; Upper limb stability; Volleyball; Warm-up.