Basketball is a well-loved sport, whether it be playing it or watching it. Your whole body is engaged as an athlete. So, you can tell that there are many injuries associated with it too some are muscle sprains while some serious ones may need you to consult an orthopedic surgeon. Here are all of the common basketball injuries players can suffer from.

Common Injuries In Basketball Players

Muscle Strain

This is probably one of the most common injuries in basketball players out there and not just that, it can occur in anyone who plays a lot of strenuous sports. Muscles are basically elastic pieces of flesh that are attached to the bones with cartilage and other things. They engage the body in various movements, but at the end of the day, they’re still muscles, and there is only a certain point to which you can extend or flex them.

In basketball, there is a lot of jumping, flexing of the hands, and stretching of the limbs to throw the ball into the basket and one wrong move can lead to a strain in the muscle. It will be a tugging or pulling sensation and it will hurt too, especially if you try to move your body right after it has been strained.

One of the most effective ways of getting rid of strains in muscles is to ice the muscle, rest it, and massage it until the strain pulls out on its own.

Thigh Contusion

Your thighs are also very much engaged in the game of basketball. They are responsible for making you run and jump to heights and even tackle an incoming attack. Well, a thigh contusion is basically a strain coupled with bruising on the thigh. It can occur if you’ve taken a hit to your thigh or you’ve fallen down with a great impact.

The bottom line is that it is going to hurt a lot and there will be visible bruising on the thigh too, varying from a deep purple to a yellowish blue color. The bruising can also be on the knee, and it usually also happens when the thigh and knee are affected. What you want to do is rest and avoid putting too much weight or stress on the thigh and knee, and you’ll be good in no time.

ACL Tear

The front of the knee all the way to your thigh and shin bone, houses the anterior cruciate ligament or the ACL. This is a really important ligament that is responsible for making the leg very free in all sorts of movements. Well, this ligament is also at risk of getting torn and this is not good at all. It can cause limitation in movement, it can be really painful and you won’t be able to play basketball.

Again, with elastic ligaments, what can cause a tear is basically the strain that is put on said ligament that is way out of the limit. This can lead to a tear and the only way it can be healed is if you take proper rest. Some ACL tears are bad and they will need surgery to be fused together. If you see that your knee is not in good shape, is not looking how it’s supposed to look, and you hear a popping sound when you move it, then you better see a doctor immediately.

Ankle Sprain

Ankles are also very much affected when it comes to playing sports, especially basketball. Your ankles act as shock absorbers when you take a plunge and land back on the ground, and if you land the wrong way, well, then your ankle will take the brunt of the force.

The ankle also consists of a lot of joints and ligaments, and just like any other ligament, the ligaments in the ankle can also tear and that will lead to ankle pain, inability to walk, and so many other things. You want to give your ankle a breather before you walk out on the court.

Meniscus Tear

The meniscus is a circular cartilage that is located in the knee joint. It is also a shock absorber of sorts, but mainly for your knees. See, the cartilage is fleshy and soft, so it will tear too, especially if you overuse your knees a lot and that can happen when you’re playing basketball.

As far as healing is concerned, you’ll need to take proper rest and if need be, then you might also need to get a meniscus surgery done to fix the meniscus and ultimately your knee.

Achilles Tendon Tear

Joining the calf muscle to your ankle and allowing you to walk and stand on your toes is the doing of the Achilles tendon. This is a really important tendon in the body and if it tears during a hectic game of basketball, then you are putting your whole life on the line. The Achilles tendon allows you to walk perfectly and it is something that engages your toes too.

So, if you feel a pinching pain near your calf muscle, then that can be alarming and if you can’t jump or walk properly without stumbling anymore, then you need to visit a podiatry clinic Woodbridge right away.

Finger Sprains

Your fingers are also used a lot in the game of basketball. You grip the ball with it, you can sometimes serve with it and you bounce the ball with it too, which is quite heavy to begin with. So, if you add speed and force into the mix, the ball will literally feel like a rock hitting you square on the hand. So, fingers can also get sprained or fractured.

Fingers also have tiny ligaments and tendons that allow you to flex the digits and hold onto things. So, if you feel a lot of pain in the fingers, then it’s best that you get them checked, because a bit of rest and medication will do wonders.

Jumper’s Knee

Jumper’s knee is also known as patellar tendonitis and it is caused by the overuse of the knee. As the name suggests, it affects the patellar tendon and it can be caused by a lot of jumping, which is basically the gist of basketball.

So, if that is the case and you feel like your knees are jelly when you jump and you can’t seem to put weight on them because they’re painful, then it is a sign to go visit your doctor and get this fixed. Usually, a bit of rest and icing will be enough to get things back on track.

Calf Muscle Strain

The calf muscle is also a very important muscle in your leg and it can be strained too, especially if you’re playing basketball back-to-back without any warm-up or loosening your limbs. If you feel a very sharp pain in the calf muscle, then you want to stop everything and let a doctor check you. You might want to rest up, take pain medicine, and use temperature compress frequently.

Conclusion

Basketball injuries can be really hard to deal with, especially if they are not noticed and treated immediately. So, you want to ensure that you’re seeing a sports medicine specialist Woodbridge for any change in symptoms.