Common Basketball Injuries

What’s keeping you on the bench or in the trainer’s room this basketball season? Ankle sprains, shin splints, knee injuries, and jammed fingers are some of the most common injuries keeping players in the trainer’s room. These injuries are very common in basketball and can affect your playing time. Considering the increased amount of running, cutting, and jumping that is involved.

Those injuries involving the ankle specifically are classified as lateral ankle sprains and medial ankle sprains. They can be graded upon the severity of the injury. Grades I through III. Grade III being the most severe and may require surgery in some cases. Ankle injuries account for 15% of all athletics injuries. 20% to 40% develop chronic pain and instability. The lateral ankle sprain injury occurs on the outside of the ankle. This is the most common ankle sprain. The player can land or step on another player’s foot and feel the ankle “roll” onto its side. By following the treatment outlined by your athletic trainer or physical therapist, the athlete can fully recover from these injuries. Treatment will consist of RICE, an acronym for: rest, ice, compression, elevation. Also taping and bracing can be utilized for ankle support as your ankle heals.

Again due to the amount of quick movements in basketball, the knee can susceptible to injury as well. A knee sprain is similar to the ankle sprain in terms of severity, grades I through III. The ligaments involved include the MCL, LCL, ACL and PCL. These are abbreviations for medial, lateral, anterior, and posterior cruciate ligaments. These knee sprains need to be braced and the player must sit out as the ligament heals. A more severe tear involving a complete rupture of the ACL presents with the knee feeling unstable and giving away. Playing with a torn ACL can tear the padding in the player’s knee known as the meniscus. The meniscus helps pad the upper thigh bone and lower shin bone.

Overuse injuries involving the lower leg also include a condition known as shin splints. This condition is caused by poor conditioning programs or over training before your body is ready for a more strenuous program.

Jumpers’ knee or patellar tendonitis is another overuse condition. RICE and low impact conditioning can help with these conditions. Jumpers’ knee involves inflammation at the bottom front of the knee cap where the thigh or quadriceps muscle attaches. Proper stretching and strengthening the exercises can help with these conditions.

Some traumatic injuries that can occur in basketball players that can put you on the sideline include jammed fingers and muscle strains or “muscle pulls”. The hamstrings and quadriceps are the most common muscle pulls. Treatment includes proper rest, stretching and gradual progression into basketball drills. Jammed fingers can be taped to allow the ligaments and tendons to heal.

Stay out of the trainer’s room and be aware of these most common basketball injuries this season. Enjoy the rest of your season, and don’t be caught off guard. If you have any of these signs and symptoms or injuries describe in this article, please contact your athletic trainer or health care professional for medical advice. Ask questions and be proactive about your health.

Go to www.wellingtonortho.com to find an office close to you.