BASKETBALL INJURIES

Basketball was first introduced to the world in 1891 by Dr. James Naismith, using a s
occer ball and two peach baskets. Today's high-speed, physical sport scarcely rese
mbles the original game. With modern basketball's fast pace game come many oppo
rtunities for injuries. It is estimated that more than 1.6 million injuries are associated
with basketball each year.
We took a look at some of the most common injuries faced by basketball players acc
ording to a report from the National Athletic Trainers' Association.

1. Foot/Ankle Injuries
Injuries to the lower extremities were far and away the most prevalent according to th
e report, with foot and ankle problems being the worst offender. Whether it's rolling a
n ankle, getting awkwardly hit in a scramble for the ball, or accidentally getting stepp
ed on, basketball naturally leaves athletes more open to these types of injuries.

2. Hip/Thigh Injuries
Pivoting, running, jumping, and rebounding all place extra strain on the legs and hip
s, leaving players open to a variety of injuries. Hip strains and bruises can occur from
contact on the court or over-extending of muscles and ligaments.

3. Knee Injuries
Severe injuries like ACL tears are not as common in basketball as they are in high-c
ontact sports, but knee injuries -- mostly minor sprains and strains -- still have the thir
d highest incidence of occurring in basketball.

4. Wrist/Hand Injuries
It's actually surprising that these aren't more common given that the game is played
primarily with the hands, but only around 11% of basketball injuries occur to the wrist
/hand/forearm according to the study.

5. Head/Face Injuries
Bumping heads with another player or taking an accidental elbow to the face is never
a fun situation. Getting hit in the face with the ball is probably even worse, given the i
mminent embarrassment.

Probable Causes
● Finger injuries can occur due to contact with the ball
● Sudden changes in direction that put the ligaments and menisci of the knee at
risk for injury.
 ● A traumatic blow to the knee can injure the medial collateral ligament (MCL) o
r the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
● Deep bruising can occur from having one player’s knee strike another player i
n the thigh
● A rapid increase in activity level or training (overtraining).
● An ankle injury to a child has the potential to damage the growth plate. In this
case a sports health professional should be consulted.

Probable Causes Analysis

● Finger injuries can occur due to contact with the ball

A mallet finger is usually caused by a ball striking the tip of a player’s finger, or when
a player breaks their fall with their hands.

● Sudden changes in direction that put the ligaments and menisci of the knee at
risk for injury.

Risk factors for knee injury include overuse, improper training, having osteoporosis,
and playing high-impact sports that involve sudden changes in direction. Knee injurie
s are generally caused by twisting or bending force applied to the knee, or a direct bl
ow, such as from sports, falls, or accidents.

● A traumatic blow to the knee can injure the medial collateral ligament (MCL) o
r the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

The medial collateral ligament (MCL) is one of the four ligaments that are critical to
maintaining the mechanical stability of the knee joint.
The ACL keeps the knee stable. The injury can happen when your foot is firmly plant
ed on the ground and a sudden force hits your knee while your leg is straight or sligh
tly bent. This can happen when you are changing direction rapidly, slowing down wh
en running, or landing from a jump.

● Deep bruising can occur from having one player’s knee strike another player i
n the thigh

Deep thigh bruising (contusion) is another common basketball injury, typically cause
d by an opponent's elbow or knee inadvertently striking a player's thigh muscles. Inj
uries such as this often can't be prevented. However, having a comprehensive yoga
or stretching program -- along with weight training -- can lesson the impact of the inju
ry.

● A rapid increase in activity level or training (overtraining).

Overtraining occurs when a person exceeds their body's ability to recover from stren
uous exercise. People who are overtrained cease making progress, and can even be
gin to lose strength and fitness.
Most athletes will recover from overtraining syndrome within 4-6 weeks up to 2-3 mo
nths. This will all depend on a few factors such as how overtrained you really are, ge
netics, and age. Determining how overtrained you are can only be answered by the a
mount of time it takes you to recover.

● An ankle injury to a child has the potential to damage the growth plate. In this
case a sports health professional should be consulted.

If a fracture goes through a growth plate, it can result in a shorter or crooked limb. A
growth plate fracture affects the layer of growing tissue near the ends of a child's bon
es. ... An injury that might cause a joint sprain for an adult can cause a growth plate f
racture in a child.

People who stretch their joints/muscles, exercise properly and doesn’t overtrain them
selves can prevent basketball injuries. Wearing protective gears can also prevent fro
m further injuries.

Injury Prevention
Wear gym shoes that fit snugly, are non-skid and have high tops, Use a mouth guar
d, ankle braces and safety glasses. Warm up and stretch before each session, Use p
roper technique and follow the rules. Do not wear jewelry. Play on a clean, dry, safe
surface. If you are injured, take the time needed to heal before you return to sports.

R.I.C.E. method

Rest the injured area. Ice the injured area for 20 minutes every 2 hours. Apply a Co
mpression wrap (like an Ace bandage) to reduce swelling. Elevate the injured area to
a level above the heart.