Basketball Injuries

Basketball is a fast-paced game that requires agility, strength, eye-hand coordination, cardiovascular conditioning, and extended periods of short burst speed. Due to the the fast-paced nature of basketball virtually all joints, tendons, muscles, and ligaments of the human body are placed under a fairly high level of stress.

Regularly playing basketball places a high level of stress on all lower body joints and soft tissue as the movements are rapid and with quick changes in direction. In addition, these types of physical movements also place a high level of stress on the entire core area and the spine as well.

This being said, many of the injuries associated with playing basketball include sprains that occur at the joints and/or strains or tears of soft tissue, including muscles and ligaments.

Below are the most common types of injuries that occur when playing the sport of basketball.

Achilles Tendonitis

Achilles Tendonitis typically occurs when a repetitive stress is placed on the tendon and gradually causes the tendon to become inflamed.

Achilles Tendon Rupture

The Achilles Tendon connects the calf muscles to the heel. A rupture can occur when the tendon is placed under a high tension.

ACL/PCL Injuries

Anterior & Posterior Cruciate ligaments cross each other in an X shape and provide stability to the knee when flexing and extending.

Ankle Sprains

Ankle Sprains occur through a twisting motion or a movement that causes the ankle to roll, causing minor tears in the ankle ligaments.

Arch Pain

Arch Pain is used to describe the symptoms associated with inflammation of the tissues under and within the middle of the foot.

Athlete's Foot

Athlete's Foot is a fungus growth that can occur on the feet and rapidly spread when the feet are exposed to a moist warm environment.

Backaches and Stress

Backaches may often occur from excess stress originating from the spine, muscles or nerves of the back region. Backaches due to stress may be a precursor to chronic lower back pain, and should therefore be taken seriously.

Back Sprains and Strains

Back Sprains and Strains are extremely common and can in range in severity from a dull pain to a highly acute sharp pain.

Blisters

Blisters are typically caused by friction between the skin and a surface and produces a fluid filled sacs on the surface of the skin.

Cartilage Injuries and Knee Disorders

Cartilage Injuries are related to damage and/or loss of cartilage that cause debilitating pain, stiffness and swelling of the knee area.

Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness

Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness is believed to be due to inflammation caused by muscle damage, however, it is not fully understood.

Finger Fractures

Finger Fractures typically occur from an acute traumatic impact to one of the finger bones, causing it to fracture.

Hamstrings Pull or Tears

Hamstring injuries are related to continuous running where quick accelerations, decelerations and sudden turns are made.

Iliotibial Band Syndrome

Iliotibial Band Syndrome is related to the iliotibial band becoming irritated and inflamed and causing pain throughout the entire knee area.

Low Back Pain

Low Back Pain is quite common and can be reduced by maintaining a healthy weight and strong back, oblique, and abdominal muscles.

Meniscus Injuries of the Knee

Meniscus Injuries of the Knee are evident by inflammation and pain assocaited with the outside and/or inside of the knee area.

Muscle Cramps

Muscle Cramps typically occur within the muscles of the lower portion of the body and are involuntary muscle contractions and spasms.

Muscle Sprains and Strains

Muscle Sprains and Strains are injuries associated with the ligament that connects bone to bone (Sprain) or connects muscle to bone (Strain).

Muscle Strains of the Back

Muscle Strains of the Back occur when the muscle fibers of the back are overly stretched and/or torn causing acute pain and soreness.

Neck Strain

Neck injuries are related to overstretching or tearing the neck muscles or the ligaments that connect to the cervical vertebrae.

Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Osteoarthritis of the Knee is the degeneration of the cartilage within the knee joint that is located between the femur and tibia bones.

Overtraining Syndrome

Overtraining Syndrome occurs in individuals that do not allow their body the necessary time to recover from an aggressive exercise routine.

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome is related to the way the patella tracks and moves along the groove of the femur bone.

Patellar Tendonitis & Ruptured Tendons

Patellar Tendonitis and Ruptured Tendons (aka Jumper's Knee) involve the tendon that connects the patella to the tibia bone.

Piriformis Syndrome

Piriformis Syndrome is defined as the piriformis muscle pressing on the sciatic nerve which is located inside the the pelvis.

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar Fasciitis is the inflammation of the plantar fascia, a thick fibrous band of tissue located on the bottom surface of the foot.

Pulled or Strained Calf Muscle

Pulled or Strained Calf Muscls occur when part of the soleus or gastrocnemius muscles of the lower leg are torn from the Achilles tendon.

Rotator Cuff Tendonitis

Rotator Cuff Tendonitis tyically occurs when the rotator cuff muscles and tendons undergo repetitive chronic stress.

Shin Splints

Shin injuries are generally due to an accumulation of repetitive stress on the front of the lower leg where the shin bone is located.

Stress Fracture of the Foot

Stress Fractures can occur when an overload of stress is placed on the foot, resulting in small fractures of the toe or metatarsal bones.

Wrist Sprains

Wrist Sprains are the result of an impact that causes the ligaments that connect bone to bone to overstretch and develop minor tears.