Injuries in the basketball world
A sport of springs, jumps, and quick stops is bound to take a toll on the legs, knees, and feet. Basketball players see their fair share of injuries, typically from overuse or minor trauma. Usually, they heal and return to the court. But that’s not always the case. Sometimes, a basketball player who gets blindsided gets sidelined.
Injured NBA players
Every NBA team has an athletic trainer waiting to rush on the court if something goes wrong. And sometimes, things really go wrong.
Grant Hill
Injuries
Sprained ankle-turned-fracture
What happened
After continuing to play on the sprained ankle, it became an ankle fracture, which then became a potentially fatal methicillin resistant infection.
Shaun Livingston
Injuries
Torn ACL, torn lateral meniscus, sprained MCL, dislocated patella
What happened
Landed awkwardly after missing a layup.
Andrew Bodut
Injuries
Broken right hand, sprained wrist and dislocated elbow
What happened
Swung too far on the rim after a fast-break dunk.
The big 3
The three most common injuries in basketball are:
1. Ankle sprains
Nickname
Rolling your ankle
What is it?
One or more ligaments of the ankle are torn or partially torn.
Light treatment: Rest, ice, compression & elevation
Heavy treatment: Physical therapy
Helpful gear: KT Tape, ankle support & walking boot
2. Patellofemoral pain syndrome
Nickname
Jumper's knee
What is it?
The back of the kneecap coming into contact with the tigh bone.
Light treatment: Rest, stretching, ice, quadriceps strengthening
Heavy treatment: Physical therapy
Helpful gear: KT Tape, knee support & arch support
Plantar Fasciitis
Nickname
Policeman's Heel
What is it?
Inflammation on the bottom surface of the foot.
Light treatment: Rest, stretching & massage therapy
Heavy treatment: Phycical therapy, corticosteroid injections, surgery
Helpful gear: KT Tape, night splints, motion-control running shoes
Preventing ankle sprains
While ankle sprains are injuries most don’t expect to happen. As a match goes on and our body starts tiring, we usually start to lose control over muscle strength. This muscle strength is used to keep our feet in proper form (read – preventing ankle sprains from a bad jump).
The only things that can help is training and expanding the limits of your body so you can keep on going for longer. The other option it to use tape or a small ankle support to help stabilize certain muscles and joints.
If you do end up with a sprained ankle, make sure to put ice on the ankle as soon as possible to reduce swelling. Get your foot some rest, and when you restart traing, use KT Tape to give your foot the extra support that it needs. Make sure to check out our ankle taping guide to help you out.
Preventing jumper's knee
Tight quadriceps and hamstrings can put unwanted stress and tension on the patellar tendon. Stretching both these muscles can help prevent jumper’s knee.
Strengthening the quadriceps (by doing leg extensions for example) and other muscles around the knee provides extra support to cope with impact from high jumps. If you are rehabbing from this injury, don’t forget to start your strength training with limited weights to prevent additional injuries.
Preventing plantar fasciitis
Inflammation on the bottom of the foot, a stubborn injury that starts of as a minor irritation but can develop into a more serious injury when not treated accordingly. Rest, stretch the foot and include some massaging to help the foot to heal.
As with many physical injuries, body imbalances (tight muscles and muscle imbalance) often lies at the root cause. Stretching the tight muscles will most of the time relieve pain. Ofcourse take in consideration that stretching any muscle takes repetitive action. Combined with low impact exercice like swimming or cycling, the plantar fasciitis should slowly but surely fade.
