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 OCTOBER 28, 2008 Ankle and Feet Most Commonly Injured During Basketball New research shows the most commonly injured body parts in basketball are the ankle or foot, which result in 40% of injuries to high school players. You might think the knee is the most-often injured site during basketball, but knee injuries accounted for 15% of injuries, followed by the head, face, or neck (14%), and the arm or hand (10%), all far behind the number of foot and ankle injuries, according to a recent study published in October in the online issue of the American Journal of Sports Medicine and conducted by researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital. The ankle sprain is the basketball player's bête noire. It usually results from a player stepping on another player's foot while coming down from a jump or while running up the court. Anything but the most minimal ankle sprain should be seen by a doctor and x-rayed to check for a possible fracture. Treatment for a sprained ankle includes the RICE formula - Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation - followed by range-of-motion exercises. You can bear weight on the ankle once you can walk with a normal heel-to-toe gait. Muscle-strengthening exercises are important in preventing another sprain. Taping or bracing the ankle may also help support the ankle while you are recovering. Basketball players must pay heed to foot pain. They have a high incidence of stress fractures. If you experience a sudden pain in the front part of the foot while running, it may be a stress fracture. If both the top and bottom of the foot hurt and the foot swells up, have it x-rayed to see whether any bones have cracked. |
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