Basketball is a sport in which players must be at peak performance levels both physically and mentally. Participants need to have incredible endurance, mental agility and physical abilities. The game involves running, jumping and an immense array of activity for the arms and hands, so it’s no wonder that basketball injuries are quite common. Some, however, are much more common than others, and treatment for these types of injuries varies from person to person.
Ankle Injuries: Any sport that involves a lot of running combined with a tendency to pivot and change directions on the spot puts the ankles at increased risk. As a result, one of the most common basketball injuries is a sprained ankle. This type of injury occurs when motions force the ankle either too far inward or outward, and while it’s considered a relatively minor injury, it can be incredibly painful. Thankfully, most sprained ankles are not serious and are easily treated with rest, ice and compression. In the case of more painful injuries, elite sports therapy options including physiotherapy and exercises can both help relieve pain and reduce recovery time.
Strains of the Muscles: Everything from a hamstring injury to an overexerted calf muscle can occur in the game of basketball, and while typically not serious, muscle injuries can take players of all skill levels out of the game for days or even weeks at a time. In more serious cases such as when a shoulder injury is present, healing time can be even more substantial, and returning to regular activity can take even longer. Typical treatments for various types of muscle injuries include compression, ice, elevation and medications like NSAIDS (non steroidal anti inflammatories). However, there are also alternative treatments that can be very beneficial to muscle related basketball injuries. Treatments like cryotherapy a.k.a cryosauna, where liquid nitrogen is used to supercool the skin’s exterior prompting multiple healthful healing benefits have proven very effective in the treatment of muscle injuries. In fact, Cryotherapy Toronto clinic offered by Cryotherapy Health and Wellness Inc. is becoming more and more popular for this reason. Athletes find the cold sauna therapy useful both in the case of injuries as well as for regular use to speed recovery following performances.
Tears of the ACL: ACL injuries are common in many sports, but they are common basketball injuries given the extreme use of the legs during the sport. Typically, ACL injuries are treated in two ways, either surgically or non surgically. Which is right often depends on how often sports activity is expected in the future for an individual. A torn ACL does on its own, and no amount of exercise, medications or therapy can change that. If high energy activity is an important part of the affected individual’s life, then repairing the ACL via surgical means is the only method of treatment. However, many people choose not to go forward with the procedure if they don’t anticipate heightened risk of further injury from activity.
Patellar Tendonitis: The proper and healthy functioning of the knees is incredibly important to the game of basketball, and therefore it’s not a wonder that damage to the knee comprises a large part of common basketball injuries. Running, jumping and quick pivoting put a lot of strain on the tendon that connects the shin bone to the knee cap, and tendonitis of this particular crucial connector is not uncommon. Knee pain treatment for patellar tendonitis typically includes icing, resting, stretching and using braces and splints if applicable. However, like many types of inflammatory injuries, patellar tendonitis may also benefit from the use of cryotherapy, a procedure in which the healing benefits of at home icing are amplified immensely. It’s an up and coming form of knee injury treatment but has been used in a great many types of sports related injuries on top of its use in many medical conditions, even those of the skin such as psoriatic arthritis. Cryotherapy is used additionally for chronic pain management, which makes it even more popular amongst athletes.
Finger Injuries: Passing a ball back and forth may not seem like a task that comes with much risk of injury, however damage to the fingers are some of the most common basketball injuries experienced by players. Jamming the fingers and dislocating them are both common basketball injuries, and these less serious happenings are often treated with splints. However, serious finger related basketball injuries do occur, and they are often treated with surgery, most often of the tendons that can become severely damaged during play.