What Are Some Typical Injuries That Result From Playing Basketball, And What Can I Do To Prevent Them?

July 1, 2009— -- Question: What are some typical injuries that result from playing basketball, and what can I do to prevent them?

Answer: Common basketball injuries include injuries to your mouth, jammed or broken fingers, ACL injuries, injuries to your ankle, or sometimes fractures in your feet. Ways to avoid these injuries include working on how you land. We found that, in women, practicing how you land -- we call this neuromuscular training -- is helpful in preventing ACL injuries. Using a mouthguard when you play can help you keep your teeth, and watching your rebounding technique can help you protect your fingers. These are easy ways of preventing basketball-related injuries.