Basketball Injuries – Causes, Treatment & Prevention

Basketball injuries are a concern for anyone who partakes of this activity on even an occasional basis. As would be expected for a running sport that requires plenty of rapid acceleration, twisting and turning to evade an opponent, knee and ankle injuries form a large portion of the potential injuries from which a basketball player occasionally needs to recover. This category includes ankle sprains and even occasional fractures.

However, basketball is also a contact sport and, as such, collisions between players and occasionally even between players and fixtures around the court are constant hazards. They can result in facial injuries (especially to the eyes or mouth). An awkwardly caught pass can also cause acute injuries such as jammed fingers or a sprained wrist.

We will cover both prevention and treatment strategies in more detail later on this page. However, as with any potentially harmful event, ” an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. We will therefore also spend some time discussing injury prevention.

Common Basketball Injuries

Some of the more common basketball injuries include:

Upper Body Injuries

Upper body basketball injuries can include:

Wrist Injuries

Injuries to the wrist or fingers resulting from an attempt to catch a sharp pass. More specifically, the player can suffer a broken or sprained finger or thumb as a result of such an attempt.

Wrist and/or hand injuries can also result from a collision between players or from a fall that a player attempts to break using an outstretched hand. In most cases, these injuries are relatively minor and can be treated using orthopedic tape or a thumb/finger splint allied to ice/cold packs and rest for a few days.

Facial Injuries

Facial cuts and other similar injuries are also a potential cause of harm when playing basketball. As mentioned above, collisions between players can happen, particularly when players on opposing teams are contesting a loose ball.

Of particular concern in these situations is the potential for injury to the teeth or other parts of the mouth. Injuries to the face may require stitches and bandages to prevent possible infection. If the injury is an oral one, it may require dental treatment to remove damaged teeth. While recovering, the player may be required to use a face guard to reduce the potential for re-injury.

Of course, wearing a mouthguard is an excellent way to proactively prevent injury to the teeth, tongue and gums as a result of a traumatic blow to the mouth.

Concussions

As with any sport involving physical contact between players, basketball players can experience concussions if they collide with another player or fall to the ground and suffer a sharp blow to the head. Most concussions will require days or weeks of rest and other treatments that are discussed further here. Wearing a mouthguard can be an effective way to reduce the potential severity of a concussion injury.

Lower Body Basketball Injuries

In terms of overall frequency, most sports injuries associated with basketball tend to be to the lower body and specifically to the ankles and knees:

Knee Ligament Injuries

The knee is particularly vulnerable to injury among basketball players. The sport, by its very nature, requires plenty of sharp acceleration and twisting/turning manoeuvres. These in turn can place great demands on the knee joint. The specific areas that tend to come under the greatest stress are the ligaments and meniscus of the knee. Knee ligament tears and damage to the meniscus are the most common basketball related knee injuries.

The most common type of ligament injury in basketball tends to involve the medial collateral ligament. Most of these injuries can be treated conservatively with a hinged knee brace or orthopedic tape to provide support to the injured ligament while it heals naturally. Ice and anti inflammatory medications are also useful to relieve pain.

Although the medial collateral ligament tends to be damaged most often, the anterior cruciate ligament, if damaged, can present a much more serious problem to a basketball player. Frequently, such an injury can put a player out of action for the rest of the season and may also require corrective surgery.

Ankle Sprains/Fractures

As with any sport requiring plenty of running, ankle injuries form a significant portion of the injuries experienced by basketball players. Ankle sprains are not uncommon. Fortunately, many of the ankle injuries can be treated conservatively and will respond well to a few weeks of months of R.I.C.E. treatment.

Deep Thigh Bruises

Deep thigh bruises (also called quad contusions) represent another category of injuries that basketball players risk. This is a particularly painful type of injury that involves damage to the muscles at the front of the thigh. It is usually the result of a direct blow to the front of the thigh that results in those muscles being crushed against the thigh bone. In treating these injuries, the R.I.C.E. strategy (rest, icing, compression and elevation) will normally suffice. Players can be expected to return to action withina few days or weeks depending on the severity of the injury.

Lower Leg Stress Fractures

Another type of injury that can be traced to the significant amount of running required in basketball in a stress fracture of the leg. These fractures are typically experienced in the lower leg or foot areas. Treatment will normally require a cessation of training and competition as part of an overall suspension of any weight bearing activity. The player may have to use crutches or a wheelchair to get around for a few weeks.

In addition, immobilization of the fractured area using a cast may be a part of the treatment. This treatment will need to continue until the injury is healed and the athlete can move around freely with no pain whatsoever.

How To Prevent Basketball Injuries

Complete prevention of basketball injuries is not a realistic goal. However, it is possible to significantly reduce the risk of their recurrence by taking some or all of the following precautions:

• Try to stay properly hydrated at all times, and particularly during training or competition;
• Warm up and stretch properly before commencing basketball (or indeed any other form of) activity;
• Take steps to stay as cool as possible when playing in hot indoor conditions;
• Try to maintain a high overall level of fitness. Strength training can be particularly beneficial in helping tom reduce the risk of injuries;
• Avoid sudden increases in your activity level. Instead, the player should gradually increase his or her activity level over a period.
• If an injury does occur, resist the temptation to return to activity prematurely. Instead, the player should resume activity only when completely pain free and he/she has been cleared to return by a qualified health care advisor.