What Basketball Players Should Know about Injury Prevention
As fun as a pick-up game of basketball is and as wonderful a sport it can be for cardio and fitness, it can put certain physical strains on your body. And whether you play basketball for leisure or for a team, you can be certain those stresses from either the outside – getting bumped or knocked down – or from internal pressures – to run faster, jump higher and hone the ability to pivot your body in a split second – can take a toll over time.
That’s why you’ll see chiropractors on the medical staffs of NBA and college teams now. And if professional and collegiate players can benefit from chiropractic care and pain management, then you can, too.
A chiropractor can treat many of the most common basketball injuries, such as:
- Ankle/Foot: This includes ankle sprains, as well as Achilles tendonitis.
- Back: This includes muscle strains, spasms or pulls.
- Knee: This includes sprains and patellar tendonitis or “jumper’s knee,” as well as ACL and meniscus tears.
- Shoulder/Arm/Hand: This includes jammed fingers and inflamed rotator cuff muscles.
- Stress Fractures: These include fractures from overuse in the feet or lower leg or tibia (also known as shin splints).
- Hip/Thigh: This includes deep thigh bruises and pulled hamstrings.
Many of these injuries can be caused either by overuse and trauma from physical contact, quick stops and starts, and short, intermittent bursts of activity during the game. To prevent them here are some tips:
- Get a pre-season physical and maintain proper fitness.
- Warm up thoroughly before each game.
- Wear supportive basketball shoes with skid-resistant soles and use protective gear.
- Make sure the court is clear of debris and well-lit, play by the rules and use good technique.
- Stay hydrated.
- Keep ice, a first aid kit and the number of the team physician or nearest medical center close in case of injury.
If you’re an athlete who’s seeking chiropractic care to treat a sports-related injury or to prevent injury and improve athletic performance on the court, then give Dr. Todd Goldman at Total Chiropractic Care and Wellness in Medford a call at (631) 447-2299 today.
He can help with conditioning and exercises to enhance speed and flexibility, manipulations to improve range of motion and adjustments to strengthen balance and improve posture and alignment. Studies have shown regular chiropractic care help athletes recover more quickly and heal properly, so they can get off the bench and back on the basketball court.
Next in the Chiropractic Care for Leisure Sports Series: Biking
