Edward V. Craig, M.D: Sport: Basketball

Sports and Fitness: Basketball

Overview
When all-star guard Kobe Bryant went down with an ankle injury during the National Basketball Association finals, every Los Angeles Lakers fan groaned. Fortunately for Lakers fans, Bryant's injury was only a moderate sprain. After a few days rest, he returned to play and his team went on to win the NBA championship.

Kobe Bryant is not alone. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the total cost of basketball-related injuries in l998 was over $6.62 billion. The AAOS also notes that many basketball injuries can be avoided or reduced by proper conditioning and training, proper care of the court and strict adherence to the rules of the game.

Basketball has come a long way since James Naismith invented the sport back in 1891. Considered the one major sport completely of U.S. origin, it now numbers more participants than any other team sport. Approximately 29.1 million Americans age seven or older played basketball in 1999. Initially conceived as an indoor recreational activity, basketball is played as frequently outdoors, in schoolyards, backyards even driveways. "Shooting hoops" is as American as apple pie. From these humble domestic beginnings, basketball has expanded to every corner of the globe. The center you cheer for on your favorite NBA team is as likely to be African or Lithuanian as American.

Parents' Corner

From appropriate training and conditioning to proper selection of equipment. Learn methods of preventing basketball injury to your child.

Click here for our Frequently Asked Questions section.

Training

Basketball is one of the most widely played sports in America. Regardless of age or skill level, most everyone can play the game. All that is required is a ball and a basket. But as with all sports, some degree of physical preparation is required for performance and injury protection.

Click here for more information on training for this activity.

Injuries

For a so-called "noncontact sport", basketball causes many injuries. It's a game of quick stops and starts, putting enormous stress on the musculoskeletal system. Adding to the possibility of injury is the fact that the sport is frequently played on hard, uneven surfaces. Many basketball-related injuries stem from overuse, stressing an area over and over until it's damaged. Baby boomers (players aged 35 to 54) seem to be particularly at risk. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that over 45,000 baby boomers visited emergency rooms in 1998 with basketball-related injuries.

The most common basketball injuries are:

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) - Located at the front of your knee, the ACL may be injured when too much force is placed on the knee in a bent position. When an ACL ruptures or tears, you may hear a pop or feel the knee snap out and back into place.

Meniscal Injuries - The menisci lie between the two main bones within the knee, the shinbone and thighbone. The menisci act as shock absorbers. The pivoting activities of basketball can induce a meniscal tear, causing knee pain.

Ankle Sprains - Ankle sprains occur frequently in basketball. Sprains often happen when weight is applied to a foot which is on an uneven surface. You may hear a snap or pop at the time of injury.

Collateral Ligament Injuries - The knee has two collateral ligaments attached to the thighbone and shinbone. These ligaments provide stability to the knee. Because of the rapid pivoting of basketball, collateral ligament injuries are fairly common.

Hamstring/Groin Injuries - The primary muscle running down the back of the thigh gets strained or pulled when it's stretched too far and too rapidly. Microscopic tears in the hamstring create minor strain, while severe tears may rupture the muscle.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear

Lateral Collateral Ligament Injury

Patellar Tendonitis

Meniscal Tear

Achilles Tendon

Product Considerations

Knee: Compression Sleeves
Knee compression sleeves give added support, increasing stability and helping to reduce swelling in an injured knee. Patients that have light sprains may be directed to use a compression sleeve during the early stages of rehabilitation. Other patients that have ongoing knee problems or chronic conditions may be recommended to use a sleeve on a daily basis. These sleeves are less restricting than most other knee supports and can be worn under loose fitting clothing.

Knee compression sleeves can be used to treat:

Light swelling.

Light knee strains.

Chronic inflammation.

Degenerative joint disease.

Ankle: Braces
Ankle braces are often prescribed for ligament instability, tears, or sprains. The brace provides increased stability and may be used by patients suffering from ankle injuries or other chronic conditions. While walking or during other daily activity, the brace allows for normal movement of the ankle and foot. During athletic activity, the brace can also be worn to provide additional stability for the ankle, and can be comfortably worn with most varieties of shoes.

The brace is typically sized to correspond to shoe size, yet some varieties fit to small, medium, or large dimensions. The two general types of braces are slip-on, or lace-up, although there are also numerous sub-categories of braces that are prescribed depending upon the underlying condition, the amount of stability desired or the intended use of the brace.