Common Basketball Injuries

Basketball is a popular sport for both youth and adults. Due to the nature of jumping sports, the most injured area in basketball is the ankle.

Ankle sprains are common with the most common mechanism being stepping on another player’s foot. However, probably the most publicized injury associated with basketball, especially females, is injury to the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL). This injury is very serious and more often needs surgery in those who are interested in returning to pivoting, jumping, and cutting sports like basketball.

A prevention program designed around proper jumping and landing mechanics has been shown to decrease the chances of getting a serious knee injury.

Head

  • Concussion

Knee

  • Medial Collateral Ligament Sprain (MCL)
  • Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tear
  • Patellar Tendinitis (Jumper’s Knee)
  • Osgood-Schlatter Disease
  • Meniscus Tears

Ankle

  • High Ankle Sprains – Syndesmosis Sprains
  • Peroneal Tendon Injuries
  • Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD) of the Talus

Lower Leg

  • Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (aka “shin splints”)
  • Stress Fractures of the Tibia

Foot

  • Stress Fractures of the Foot