Key Takeaways
- Basketball players, both men and women, are more than twice as likely to get injured in a competition than in practice.
- Players can prevent injuries by wearing proper equipment, stretching before competition and conditioning with cardio.
- Learn how to treat injuries using the R.I.C.E method and the importance of concussion management!
- For a speedy recovery following a basketball injury, encourage players to train with resistance products to strengthen the joints and muscles.
Top Products in This Article
Basketball is the third most popular high school sport in the United States. In fact, it was estimated in 2020 that there were nearly 1 million high school basketball players between boys’ (540,769) and girls’ (399,067) basketball teams.1 Of those athletes, over 35,000 go on to compete in college at a Division I, II, or III level. With that many athletes, there are bound to be injuries. Before game time, athletic trainers and coaches can prepare their athletes for what type of basketball injuries are seen the most and when they’re most likely to occur. Share this basketball injury guide with your athletes for tips on how to prevent and treat injuries from basketball.
Get the Facts About Basketball Injuries
- How frequent are basketball injuries?
- When do basketball injuries occur?
- What types of injuries are most common?
How to Prevent Injuries
Treatment Tips
Exercises for Recovery
Get the Facts About Basketball Injuries
How frequent are basketball injuries?
According to the 2020-21 National High School Sports-Related Injury Surveillance Study, both male and female basketball players suffer an injury 1.87 times per 1,000 exposures. An exposure is defined as any appearance in a practice, game, scrimmage, or other organized team activity.2 Keep in mind that COVID-19 may have affected these results.
As far as high school sports go, these numbers are below the average across all high school sports. While previous injury reports concluded that basketball is a safer game for men than women, the sport overall it features a lower risk of injury than most other high school sports. However, knowing when and in what situations these injuries occur is important for giving athletes the best treatment possible.
When do basketball injuries occur?
The mentioned study of high school sports injuries covered nine sports and the players who suffered injuries more frequently in games than in practice. For both boys’ and girls’ basketball, players were more than twice as likely to get injured in a competition than they were to in practice. The intensity of real games is clearly much more dangerous than the controlled environment of practice.
Two physical mechanisms account for roughly half of all injuries:
- Collisions with another player
- Jumping and landing
Those two mechanisms are responsible for even more injuries among male athletes. Female athletes are at an increased risk of injuries caused by overuse and heat illness as well as rotations around a planted foot.
What types of injuries are most common?
In terms of basketball plays, there are two culprits accounting for approximately half of all injuries as well:
- Rebounding
- General play (most likely activity between other basketball activities)
What types of injuries are most common?
| National High School Sports-Related Injury Surveillance Study2 |
| Body Region | Male | Female |
| Ankle | 38.6% | 21.5% |
| Head/Face/Neck | 14.6% | 15.6% |
| Knee | 10.9% | 23.0% |
| Hip/Thigh/Upper Leg | 4.9% | 5.9% |
| Hand/Wrist | 7.4% | 12.4% |
| Shoulder | 2.6% | 1.5% |
| Trunk | 5.3% | 1.6% |
| Lower leg | 6.3% | 4.0% |
| Arm/Elbow | 0.5% | 0.2% |
| Foot | 2.8% | 4.3% |
| Other | 0.0% | 0.9% |
| Systemic | 6.0% | 9.2% |
The splits between boys’ and girls’ basketball are largely non-existent. Both share the same top-four injuries by frequency. After that, male and female athletes are susceptible to different injuries at varying degrees but all less than 10%.
Ankle injuries are easily the most common for male athletes while being common among female athletes as well, although to a lesser extent. Next, head/neck and knee injuries occur most frequently, with female basketball players suffering knee injuries at a significantly higher rate than males.
|
|
How to Prevent Injuries
Injuries are going to be part of the game no matter what you do. However, there are some good tips for reducing the risk of injuries occurring.
Proper Equipment
This may seem obvious, but starting with the right equipment is crucial. That means well-fitting shoes with non-skid bottoms and high tops. Ankle injuries are the most common injury for basketball players and they are typically in the form of a rolled ankle. Based on what we know about the situations that injuries occur during, it’s likely that rolled ankles are caused by two things: players rolling their ankles while running between possessions and players coming down on an ankle while rebounding. Having shoes that grip the court and support the ankle is the first step in preventing injuries.3
Good Conditioning
Fatigue and exhaustion are especially prevalent sources of injury in girls’ basketball but are still an issue in the boys’ game. Good conditioning means having players physically prepared for a full game via cardio exercises during practice. It also means listening to players and paying attention to who has been playing a lot and may need a substitution.
Stretching Before Games and Practices
Most teams will warm up before games. Stretching and jogging or other exercises that increase players’ heart rates are great ways to warm up. It’s also important to warm up before practices with cardio and calisthenics that get your players ready. Scale up from lighter exercises to more intense ones as practice begins.
Treatment Tips
R.I.C.E
Ice is every athletic trainer’s go-to treatment option for minor injuries, like ankle or knee sprains. Icing injuries is simple if you follow the R.I.C.E method:
- Rest - rest the affected area for 24 - 48 hours
- Ice - apply ice for 20 minutes every two hours
- Compression - use a compression wrap or brace that has is snug but not too tight
- Elevate - raise the affected body part above your heart to reduce pain and swelling
Concussion Treatment
Concussions are commonplace in nearly every sport including basketball. Player collisions, which cause numerous injuries, are a situation that can create hits to the head and, in turn, concussion.
Extra rest and relaxation are healthy for athletes after suffering a concussion. An increased amount of time spent sleeping is typical for players in the days following a concussion. Start their return to physical activity with light exercises and gradually increase their workload in the following days. Be sure to monitor their progress closely during this process.
Dealing with Pain and Soreness
Athletes are no strangers to pain but that doesn’t mean they have to simply tough it out. Braces can support the injured joint or ligament to prevent further injuries. They also limit movement which prevents painful motions and increases in weight placed on the body part.
On top of icing, topical analgesics can provide immediate pain relief for minor injuries without open wounds. Stopain is a fast-acting option for rolled ankle, sprains, and general muscle soreness.
Exercises for Recovery
Make sure you have your doctor’s approval before beginning any rehabilitation exercises. Here are some ideas to get you started!
Toe Flexion for Ankle Sprains
- Start in a sitting position with your legs extended.
- Place a THERABAND Resistance Band on the bottom of your foot while holding the slack from the toes and heel.
- Flex your toes away and into the band.
- Hold this position for briefly then slowly return to the starting position.
THERABAND Mini Ball Terminal Knee Extension for Knee Sprains
- Lay on your back and place a THERABAND Mini Ball under your knee.
- Lift your heel from the floor by extending your knee.
- Hold this position and then slowly return to the starting position.
THERABAND FlexBar Wrist Ulnar Deviation for Wrist Injuries
- Tightly hold both ends of a THERABAND FlexBar at chest level, with your wrists facing the ground.
- Using the hand you want to exercise, curl your hand inward toward your body.
- Hold for 2-3 seconds and then slowly release.
References
- Smeyers@ncaa.org. (9 April, 2019). Estimated Probability of Competing in College Athletics. NCAA.org, National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/3zWjUVa
- Collins, C. Ph.D, Robison, H. MS, LAT, ATC, & Burus, T. MAS. (2021). National High School Sports-Related Injury Surveillance Study, 2020-21 School Year. Datalys Center. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/3N8VFpH
- Anonymous. Preventing and Treating Basketball Injuries. Seattle Children's Hospital. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/2VsDfKE
Medical Disclaimer: The information provided on this site, including text, graphics, images, and other material are for informational purposes only and are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other healthcare professional with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.
