Basketball Ankle Injury Prevention Info Basketball Ankle sprain: An ankle sprain is simply an abnormal stretching of the ligaments surrounding your ankle, or, in severe ankle sprains, a tearing of those ligaments. There are two types of ankle sprains. The first is the inversion sprain, which occurs when the ankle turns so that the foot faces inward toward the other foot. The other type of ankle sprain is the medial ligament sprain, which occurs when the ankle turns so that the foot is facing outward.
Ankle sprains range from first degree to third degree. First degree ankle sprains are mild with some swelling and stiffness. Second degree ankle sprains have some tearing of the ligaments with moderate to severe pain and swelling. Individuals with second degree sprains will have trouble walking. Third degree ankle sprains are a total tear of a ligament. They are generally immediately painful with severe swelling. However, the pain from some third degree ankle sprains goes away after a while, even though the injury remains.
Broken Ankle from Basketball: In addition to ankle sprains, the same types of injuries may cause a broken ankle. With an ankle fracture, a bone has actually been cracked or broken. Many times, a broken ankle will exhibit the same signs as a sprain, and the only way to know whether the injury is a sprain or facture is to have it x-rayed.
Achilles Tendonitis from Basketball: In addition to ankle sprains and broken ankles, Achilles tendonitis is a common injury in all running sports. This occurs when the Achilles tendon, which is the largest tendon in the ankle area, becomes inflamed through overuse or overextension. It is particularly common with over use on a hard surface, such as a basketball court. The symptoms range from ankle stiffness and pain to inability to walk.
Tips to prevent an ankle injury in basketball:
- Warm up and stretch prior to playing or practicing.
- Wear proper footwear. Shoes that don’t fit or are substandard can increase risk of ankle injury.
- Train for ankle flexibility, strength, and balance. By incorporating Achilles tendon stretching and mobility exercises into a workout routine, the ankle keeps a high range of motion. A limited range of motion can increase the chance of an ankle injury.
- Balance is also important, and should be considered in all running and jumping. When an individual lands on one foot, off balance, the likelihood for an ankle sprain is increased.
- Consider wearing an basketball ankle brace when training and playing basketball. A good ankle brace can help keep the ankle from turning, particularly when landing jumps. A few great ankle braces for basketball are the Aircast Ankle Brace – Aircast AirSport Ankle Brace, Aircast Ankle Brace - Aircast A60 and DonJoy Stabilizing Ankle Brace
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