Basketball+Injuries+Q+and+A

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I asked my uncle, Dr. P.D.T., who is an orthopedic surgeon, to answer some questions about basketball injuries. 1. If you play basketball in high school or college are you more prone to injuries or arthritis later in life? ** Yes. You are more prone to injuries during your participation in that sport. However, I think you are much healthier because you participate in sports and in the long run I would encourage people to participate in sports they enjoy. I do not think you are at greater risk for arthritis later in life unless you suffer a significant injury like torn ligaments in your knee or ankle requiring surgical repair. **2. Are there serious risks to playing basketball in high school or college?** Again, you are at greater risk for an injury during participation but I don't think there are long-term negative consequences. I would recommend participation. It promotes cardio-vascular fitness, strong bones and joints and a healthy lifestyle. **3. Do you treat a lot of sport or basketball related injuries?** Yes! Usually knee or ankle related injuries. Sprains of the ankle are the most common. These are usually fairly minor but common. These are easily treated with taping or bracing and not likely to lead to long term problems. There is a condition called "Jumper's Knee" which is seen almost exclusively in basketball players. It's more technical name is Patellar Tendonitis. It is an inflamation of the patellar tendon which attaches to the bottom of the knee-cap. Basketball players get this most frequently because when you jump, you exert tremendous tension on that tendon, usually in excess of 4 or 5 times your body weight. The thing that irritates it most is when you land after jumping and try to stop. It's usually treated with physical therapy and an anti-inflammatory drug such as Advil. Sometimes we prescribe a special strap that goes around the knee over the patellar tendon. Rafal Nadal, the number one ranked tennis player in the world, wears that strap. Finger injuries are also very common in basketball players. Jammed-fingers or hyper-extended finger. Occasionally fractures are seen. These can usually be treated by taping the injured finger to an adjacent finger. The stiffness and discomfort usually resolves in about 6 weeks and may occasionally require some occupational therapy which is like physical therapy by a hand specialist. **4. Do you think those injuries could have been prevented?** Usually a good stretching regimen and a good warm-up routine can prevent these types of injuries...although not always. Ankle sprains usually occur when you come down and land on another player's foot, twisting your ankle.
 * 5. How long do you think it would take for a person to recover from an average injury? **Most routine sprains and tendon injuries improve or recover in about 4-6 weeks. Occasionally surgery is required to treat ruptured ligaments. This can result in three months recovery time which usually involves lots of physical therapy and reconditioning of the knee or the ankle, depending on which is injured. After an injury requiring surgery to correct, a brace is usually recommended for future sporting activities.



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