​What Our Junior Volleyball Screening Data Is Telling Us About Back Health

Following our recent blog on volleyball back pain, we wanted to share early insights from our Star Physio WA athlete screening program.

One of the key tools we use is the Modified Biering-Sørensen Test, which measures lower back endurance—how long an athlete can maintain a strong, controlled position under load.

In volleyball, this matters. Players jump, rotate, land, and change direction repeatedly, often while fatigued. When the back muscles tire, technique can drop, and injury risk rises.

We have been screening junior volleyball athletes aged 14 and above across multiple squads in Western Australia.

What We’re Seeing So Far

Even in this early pilot data, several clear trends are emerging:

• Large differences in back endurance between athletes of the same age

• Some athletes showing excellent endurance with no history of back pain

• Others recording low endurance scores, including some with current or previous back pain

• A small group achieving very high scores, often older or more physically mature athletes

Importantly, volleyball back pain is not just about strength.

Several athletes with a history of pain performed very well on testing, while some pain-free athletes fatigued early. This tells us that back health is influenced by many factors, including:

• Endurance

• Growth and physical maturity

• Training load

• Recovery

• Movement quality

Why This Matters for Volleyball Athletes

When back endurance is low, the spine tends to fatigue earlier in training sessions and matches.

Once fatigue sets in:

• Jump and landing technique can deteriorate

• Spinal control reduces

• Movement efficiency drops

• Injury risk increases

This is especially relevant during growth spurts, busy competition periods, and tournament play.

The good news?
Back endurance is highly trainable, and many problems can be addressed before pain ever starts.

Our Screening Approach at Star Physio WA

At Star Physio WA, we don’t rely on one test alone.

The Modified Biering-Sørensen Test is combined with:

• Plank endurance testing

• Functional movement screening

• Training load review

• Injury and pain history

This holistic approach allows us to:

• Identify athletes who may struggle later in the season

• Guide safe strength and conditioning progressions

• Reduce unnecessary rest or missed court time

• Support long-term athlete development

This is especially important for junior volleyball athletes navigating rapid growth and increasing training demands.

The Takeaway

Volleyball back pain isn’t random—and it’s rarely caused by one single issue.

Early screening gives us the opportunity to stay ahead of pain, rather than reacting once an athlete is already struggling.

This pilot data is helping us refine benchmarks for WA volleyball athletes and improve how we support juniors as they grow, train harder, and compete at higher levels.

We are now just 10 weeks away from the Australian Youth Beach Volleyball Championships which Aaron will be attending as WA Team Physio. All WA athletes must be screened prior to the tournament. The sooner your screening is undertaken, the sooner we can help fine tune your program to keep you injury free! Book your screening now!

Concerned About Volleyball Back Pain?

If you or your athlete has back pain, recurring tightness, or fatigue-related performance drops, early screening can make a big difference.

Our Volleyball WA physio Aaron Tay and the Star Physio Team work closely with junior and elite volleyball athletes across WA. Screening is available to all Volleyball WA members, not just state team juniors, at a heavily discounted rate!