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 MARCH 31, 2007 March Madness and Basketball Injuries If you're inspired by March Madness to go shoot some hoops, be aware that more than 1.4 million injuries related to basketball are treated at hospitals, doctors' offices, ambulatory surgery centers, clinics, and hospital emergency rooms in the US each year. Here's a look, from head to foot, of the injuries you might encounter on the court, and how to treat them: Head Injuries - Dive after a loose ball or go up for a rebound and you can take a blow to the head, causing bruises, which should be iced down; concussions, which need rest; and broken noses, cheeks, and jaws, which should be iced down with pressure applied to reduce the swelling and bleeding and then x-rayed. Shooter's Shoulder - When you go up for shot with your arm straight up and your opponent knocks your arm backward, you may end up with a partial or full shoulder dislocation. Put the shoulder back in joint, then strengthen the rotator cuff muscles with exercise. Wrist Injuries - Fall on the floor and you can sprain or even break your wrist. It's hard to tell if a wrist is broken without an x-ray, so see a sports doctor who knows the difference between the two. Finger Fractures - When a deflected pass hits the end of a finger, you can break a finger or rupture a tendon and a piece of bone can break off with it. Ice the finger until the swelling subsides. If pain persists, get an x-ray to see if it's broken. Hamstring Pull - Drive hard to the basket and you can pull a hamstring. Rest and ice your leg muscle, then do a stretching program. Knee Injuries - Change direction suddenly while running and you can tear your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or cartilage. An ACL tear requires reconstructive surgery, and it may take six months or more of strenuous physical therapy before you recover fully. For a small cartilage tear a knee brace may be enough. If your knee hurts for more than a few days, see a doctor. Calf Pull - The stress of leaping can cause a muscle pull in your calf. Rest for a few days and ice the calf muscle often during this time. Then begin a stretching program. Ankle Sprain - Step on another player's foot while coming down for a rebound or running up the court and you can sprain an ankle. Use the RICE formula - Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation - followed by range-of-motion exercises. |
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