We often get asked by our clients from Easts Basketball, how can Sports Physiotherapy help basketball players?
This goes for any type of athlete; Whether you’re playing Mondays Mixed Basketball at Waverley College or at the elite level for the Sydney Kings, a sports physiotherapist is a must. In terms of treating and understanding your injuries, putting practices in place to reduce injury risk and body wear down, and to keep your body working to its best, a consultation with a sports physiotherapist can save you a lot of time and trouble immediately and down the line.
In this week’s post, we thought we’d take a look behind the science of our preferred sport, and explore why you need a good Sports Physio in your life. Regardless of what or how you play, there’s no denying sports physio can help you through your injuries and even assist in injury prevention.
1.What's the Incidence of Basketball Injury? According to a study of high school basketball players by the National Athletic Trainers' Association 22% of all male basketball players sustained at least one time-loss injury each year.
42% of the injuries were to the ankle/foot
11% hip and thigh
9% knee Sprains were the most common type of injury (43%).
General trauma was the second most common type of injury (22%).
60% percent of the injuries occurred during practice highlighting the need to warm up and strap for training.
59% of game-related injuries occurred during the second half of the game, which identifies fatigue as a predisposing factor.
2. Basketball Injury Prevention The following safety precautions are recommended to help prevent help basketball injury:
• Warm up prior to playing a game or training. • Ensure you have excellent core control, proprioception, speed, strength, endurance, agility, and plyometric skills. (See some awesome core excercieses here) • Wear supportive basketball shoes with skid-resistant soles. We prefer the ones that cover your ankle, but all the new range of below the ankle shoes, so the jury is still out on these. • Use the correct technique - Jumping, running and defense. • Again sounds silly, but ensure the courts are clean and not slippery.
3. If you Are injured why should you see a Sports Physiotherapist? A. Diagnoses & Education It might sound like common sense, but a sports physiotherapist is best equipped to identify your injury and why it happened. The sports physio works on your body and gives Phys Education information on prevention and a better understanding of your body. Knowledge is power, so don’t be afraid to ask questions. For a Rec. league player like myself, the information I receive during my treatments is invaluable; learning how my body parts work, where my weaknesses are, why this has occurred, and recommended strengthening exercises during my treatment is always a winner in my humble opinion.
B. Improves your joint and muscle flexibility.
Stretching improves flexibility and your range of motion. It helps with injury prevention, particularly musculo-tendinous injuries. If you are suffering from joint limitations such as arthritis, this can also benefit from stretching and other strengthening and rehabilitation exercises.
I pulled a groin muscle playing Basketball regularly. I thought I was doing all the correct stretching of that area and couldn’t figure out what the problem was. I ended up caving in and went to see my Sports Physiotherapist. Turns out, I had really tight glutes, and because the whole area is all connected, they were contributing to my groin soreness (See Image)
After a number of treatments, rehabilitation exercises and stretches, I have not felt the pain since and have even improved my strength and flexibility.
Spring retreat’s resident Sports Physiotherapist Jason Wright is available for bookings Tuesdays & Fridays. Please take a look at his bio and booking page here.
