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Know The Most Common Basketball Injuries

Basketball is a fast-paced game with explosive action that puts particular stress on feet, ankles, and knees. Understanding how stress is linked to injury is the first step to prevention. We identify the basketball injuries we treat most frequently, and explain why they happen.

Basketball has come a long way since Dr. James Naismith invented it in 1891 to give his physical education class an indoor sport to play during harsh winter months. The first game ended in a brawl; one boy was knocked unconscious and other players sustained black eyes. There was even one separated shoulder. Today’s sport is less violent, but injuries still occur.

Players no longer use a soccer ball and two peach baskets to score, but basketball remains a fast game and a contact sport. Annual basketball-related injury estimates are over 1.6 million, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has reported more than half a million injuries requiring emergency room treatment in a single year. The majority of these injuries are caused by player contact, falls, and abrupt direction changes on the court. Impacts with a flying ball can also cause injury. At Summit, the most common basketball injuries we see are a result of trauma or overuse.

Traumatic injuries are caused by sudden, forceful contact. In basketball players, the common traumatic injuries we treat include:

Overuse injuries develop over time in players who regularly perform at an intense level. Older, higher-level players are more susceptible to these injuries than children and casual players. Common overuse injuries include:

At Summit, we are committed to providing the preventative resources you need to keep you safe at every level of skill and competition. If you are injured, our sports medicine specialists are here with knowledgeable care and advanced medical treatments to support your recovery and return to your sport.

Summit Orthopedics offers comprehensive sports medicine expertise

From Olympians to pro athletes to kids in youth sports and those that just want to be more active—Summit Orthopedics delivers expert care by fellowship-trained sports medicine physicians. If you are recently injured or concerned about ongoing pain, Summit Orthopedics sports medicine specialists have the expertise to evaluate your discomfort and develop a plan to quickly and safely help you get back to being active.

Start your journey to stronger, healthier athletic condition. Find your sports medicine expert, request an appointment online, or call us at (651) 968–5201 to schedule a sports medicine consultation.

Summit has convenient locations across the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin. We have state-of-the-art centers for comprehensive orthopedic care in Eagan, MNVadnais Heights, MN, Plymouth, MN, and Woodbury, MN, as well as several additional community clinics.

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