3 Most Common Basketball Injuries & How to Prevent Them

Injuries can be frustrating and not to mention painful, if you are a basketball player, you've probably had your fair share of injuries because of the nature of the sport. (quick change of pace or sharp change of directions)

However, there are factors that can lower the risk of injuries occurring on the court, in this article we will go through some of the most common ones and share some tips on how you can protect yourself.

 

 

1. Rolled/Sprained Ankle

Perhaps the most common injury on the court because of the sheer amount of ways it can occur. A rolled ankle can vary in severity and can lead to anywhere from a minor sprain to a severe ankle injury. 

Although ankle sprains seem like no big deal, if not allowed to properly heal it could lead to the ankle being permanently weakened and have less range of motion. So it would be best to try and avoid sustaining a severe sprain in the first place.

 

How you can prevent them:

• Watch your landing: Too often an ankle sprain occurs when you land awkwardly or land on someone else's foot. Always be aware of where your foot is and try to land correctly, all it takes is one wrong landing to suffer from this painful injury.

• Get some protective gear: Investing in good ankle protection gear can go a long way, they help to keep ankle joints supported and in place and greatly reduces the chances of rolling your ankle when landing awkwardly.

We recommend: Rigorer Laced Ankle Brace w/ Straps [RA007]

 

 

 

2. Knee/Ligament Injuries

Basketball requires extensive stop and go and cutting maneuvers which can put the ligaments and menisci of the knee at risk. This is especially affects players who play more frequently (3-4 times a week).

This injury is relatively common and can put you out of action for several months at a time, in some cases it could even require corrective surgery which can take even longer to heal.

 

How you can prevent them:

• Keep your lower body well conditioned: Your lower body plays a crucial role in supporting your knees, having strong core, glutes & hamstrings greatly alleviates the stress placed on your knees, so allocating some time to strength and conditioning training will effectively help you lower the chances of injuries and boost your performance on the court.

• Equip your knees with protection: Knee protection gear provide support & compression for your knees, they help in absorbing impact from bumps & falls minimizing the damage done to your knees. This will be very helpful in the long run as your knee condition deteriorates at a much slower rate.

We recommend: Rigorer Upgraded Knee Pad Sleeve [KP201]

 

 

 

3. Finger/Wrist Injuries

Since the game is played primarily with your hands, it doesn't come as a surprise that hand injuries are among the most common form of basketball injuries that occur. You can get injured simply by receiving the ball the wrong way or even as you try to break your fall with your hands.

Injuring your hands/fingers will have a direct negative impact on your ability to play basketball, thus you should do all you can to prevent these forms of injury.

 

 How you can prevent them:

• Watch your fingers: Being mindful on how you receive the ball is one of the advice of many basketball players, it might seem like simple advice but you will be surprised at how effective it is when trying to prevent hand/finger injuries.

• Tape up your fingers: Using a sports tape is a popular way basketball players effectively prevent finger jams and other finger injuries. They provide strong and reliable finger and can even make your shot more accurate. If you are looking for a more budget friendly solution, finger sleeves are a great choice, they more or less serve the same purpose and can be re-used.

We recommend: Rigorer Finger Sleeve [FS003]

 

 

 

 

Injuries are and always will be a part of basketball, an injury is bound to occur sometime within your years of playing. However, that doesn't mean we cannot reduce the frequency and severity of these injuries and allow ourselves to continue playing the game we love!