As the name suggests, overuse injuries are the result of repetitive use. They occur over time, when stress or trauma to the body’s soft tissues (muscles, tendons, and joints) isn’t given proper time to heal. Overuse injuries, also known as repetitive stress injuries, are common in people just starting out with a sport who do too much too fast. These injuries begin as a small, nagging ache or pain and can grow into a debilitating injury if they aren't treated early. Tendonitis is an injury that occurs over time. Tendons are the tough, fibrous tissue throughout the body that connect muscles to bones. Sometimes the stress of repeated motion causes tendons to become irritated or inflamed, and that’s called tendonitis. Tendonitis is usually accompanied by a deep, persistent pain.

Acute or traumatic injuries are the result of a sudden force or impact, and can be quite dramatic. Some common traumatic injuries in basketball include knee injuries, wrist sprains, injuries to the meniscus, finger fractures, hamstring pulls or tears, muscle sprains, and Achilles tendon ruptures. Ankle sprains are the most common injury in basketball and often occur when one player steps or lands on the foot of another. Another scenario leading to an ankle sprain is when a player changes direction quickly and the ankle rolls too far to the outside edge.

The most severe of the common basketball injuries are the knee injuries. Knees are sprained, have a torn meniscus or, worse, suffer a torn ligament. These injuries can happen with the certain torque that comes from twisting and jumping during basketball.

Both overuse and acute injuries can result from overuse, lack of rest or lack or proper warm ups. There are some things to keep in mind if you want to stay in the game. 

• WARM UP! It’s important to warm up before you play and stretch afterwards.  Slowly and gently, hold each stretch for 30 seconds. Warm ups should be sports-specific, which means the movements of your warm up should closely resemble the movements you’ll be performing during practice or play. Muscles and joints function more efficiently when their temperature is raised and blood flow is increased.

• Wear supportive basketball shoes with skid-resistant soles. Shoes should fit snugly. Ankle supports can help reduce ankle sprains.

• Use protective equipment (mouth guards, knee & elbow pads).

• Use proper technique and play by the rules.

• Check courts before play – clean off rocks or debris. Avoid courts that are not properly lighted in the evening.

• If you wear glasses, use safety glasses or glass guards to protect your eyes.

• Use a mouth guard to protect your teeth and mouth.

Did you know?

A sprain is an injury to a ligament, which is the tough, fibrous tissue that connects bones to other bone. Ligament injuries involve a stretching or a tearing of this tissue.

A strain is an injury to either a muscle or tendon. Depending on the severity of the injury, a strain may be an overstretch of the muscle or tendon, or it can result in a partial or complete tear.