Preventing Foot and Ankle Basketball Injuries

The Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) Boys and Girls Basketball seasons will tip off on 11/29. Student athletes will be working hard to try to reach the postseason and chase the dream of winning it all!

Now, basketball can certainly be an enjoyable pastime (depending on your personal preferences), but a foot or ankle injury steals the enjoyment like a defender swiping the ball from a driving player! Let’s take a look at some ways to lower your loved one’s risk of injury so he or she can keep hoisting up threes or blowing by defenders with crossover moves.

Some of the best basketball injury prevention tips include:

• Have the right footwear. Too often, we have to treat a patient for a sprained ankle that could have been avoided if he or she had been playing ball with basketball shoes and not running ones. Running shoes are great if you are running, but do not offer the ankle support that a basketball player—even a recreational one—needs!
• Stretch regularly. When weekend warriors hit the courts after a week of sedentary activities, they have an increased likelihood of suffering a soft tissue injury (Achilles tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, etc.) that can linger. The risk of this happening can be greatly diminished by a regular stretching regimen. Want help putting one together? Our foot specialists can help!
• Strengthen those leg muscles. In addition to being limber, you also want the muscles in your lower body to be strong. This helps to support the bones so they can absorb the physical forces that come from running and jumping, which will lower your risk of developing a painful stress fracture.
• Drink lots of water. Staying properly hydrated while playing basketball, or any sport, is essential for regulating body temperature and preventing cramping, but it also helps your lower limbs to absorb essential nutrients. Body tissues rely on nutrients to stay strong, healthy, and reduce your risk of injury.

These basketball injury prevention tips will help improve your odds of staying in the whole game, but there really isn’t any way to completely eliminate injury risk from any physical activity. The good news, though, is that many athletic injuries are treated with the use of nonsurgical care. Even better? You can come see us here at Wilks Advanced Foot Care for a professional diagnosis and effective treatment plan to get you back on the court as soon as possible.

Contact us for more information by calling (541) 673-0742 or schedule an appointment with our Roseburg, OR office online today. We will provide the care you need.