Rectus Abdominis Injury in Elite Volleyball Players

In this case series, three elite college-level female volleyball players between 21 and 22 years old experienced acute abdominal pain during an overhead swinging motion. All three athletes were diagnosed with acute rectus abdominis (RA) muscle strain using musculoskeletal ultrasound, without the need for MRI. Each athlete sustained severe RA injury resulting in substantial loss of playing time and warranted a focused rehabilitation program, which emphasized core strengthening, physical modalities, and altering athletes' hitting technique. RA muscle strain is a relatively infrequent, yet potentially severe, injury in elite volleyball players that necessitates early diagnosis and treatment to avoid prolonged or incomplete recovery.