Basketball is definitely one of the more physical team sports. Professional basketball players spend several hours a day training and keeping themselves in tip-top shape. But regardless of how fit these athletes are, there is always a risk of pushing their bodies too hard to the point of injuring themselves. And sometimes, no matter how fit they are, athletes could figure in a freak accident that could cause serious injury.
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The most common injuries in basketball are sprains and strains. The most affected areas are the ankles, knees, lower back, hands, and wrists. Depending on the severity, a player may resume playing or mqy be forced to sit the game out.
As outlandish as it may seem, eye injuries are pretty common in basketball. When players move around and attack the hoop, players could get poked in the eye with a finger or hit with an elbow. Most eye injuries are not severe as most players could shrug them off and continue playing. However, some players have resorted to wearing protective eye gear during the game due to past eye injuries.
Knee injuries are uncommon but severe. Players put so much strain in their knees with all the non-stop running, jumping, and shifting of their weight. This can cause them to injure their medial collateral ligament. This injury can be treated with ice. However, if it’s the anterior cruciate ligament or ACL that’s injured, a player could be out for months, sometimes even for an entire season.
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Hello there! My name is Mike Volitich. I’m a sports therapy student at UCLA. When I have free time, you’ll find me outdoors playing ultimate frisbee and other recreational sports. If you’re interested in more information on sports, visit my Facebook page.
